News
Craft Beer Festival Returns As Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials Weekend Ushers In The Flat Season
The Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials Weekend – across Friday 11th & Saturday 12th April – kickstarts a huge summer of racing at Newbury and the Racecourse’s popular craft beer festival is back to see in the flat season in style.
The two-day Spring Trials meeting – which is presented by the Racecourse’s longstanding partners Dubai Duty Free for the 30th consecutive year in 2025 – guarantees top quality action on the track as well as a host of entertainment, food and drink off it.
For the racing enthusiasts, there is high class racing featuring three Group 3 races on Saturday, including The Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (The John Porter Stakes), The Dubai Duty Free Stakes (The Fred Darling Stakes) and The Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes. Many runners will be making their seasonal reappearance ahead of lofty targets later in the year in these well supported Classic trials.
Alongside the racing and the beer festival – one ticket grants admission to both – those in attendance will be able to try their luck in the Dubai Duty Free Marquee with the chance to claim free gifts and win entry into Dubai Duty Free’s Millenium Millionaire prize draw.
Both days of the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials Weekend will welcome the return of the Racecourse’s popular craft beer festival, featuring over 30 ales and ciders from eight local breweries.
Breweries in attendance, include:
1. Arkell’s Brewery – Wiltshire
2. Bond Brews – Berkshire
3. Loddon Brewery – Berkshire
4. Longdog Brewery – Hampshire
5. Loose Cannon Brewery – Berkshire
6. Stonehenge Ales – Wiltshire
7. Renegade Brewery – Berkshire
8. Tutts Clump Cider – Berkshire
Shaun Hinds, Chief Executive at Newbury Racecourse, said: ‘’The start of the Flat season at Newbury is always an eagerly anticipated moment and this sense of anticipation is only added to by the return of our beer festival, which boasts the very best in local craft ales and ciders.
“This year’s Spring Trials meeting marks the start of our 30th year of partnership with Dubai Duty Free and we’re confident the weekend – and its bumper schedule – will start both our Flat season and milestone year with Dubai Duty Free, in style.”Clare Candy, Marketing Manager of Renegade Brewery commented: “We are excited to once again partner with Newbury Racecourse for their popular beer festival, as our collaboration continues to grow.
“This year, we’ll be bringing an exciting selection of our beers, including the popular peach Brewski, crisp hazy pale ales, and timeless classics like Good Old Boy. We’ll be hosting exclusive tastings and giveaways across the weekend – see you there!”James Robinson, Director and Head Brewer at Stonehenge Ales commented: “Stonehenge Ales is delighted to bring its traditionally crafted ales to Newbury Racecourse’s Beer Festival once again! Perfect for celebrating a big win or simply enjoying the races. Horses and beers…what’s not to like?!”
Tom Wakeford, Sales Executive at Loddon Brewer said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be working with Newbury Racecourse’s Beer Festival this year. As a proudly independent brewery with deep roots in the local brewing community, we love opportunities to share our passion for craft beer with like-minded enthusiasts. Newbury Racecourse’s Beer Festival has a fantastic reputation for bringing people together to celebrate great beer, and we’re honoured to be part of such a well-loved event. We can’t wait to showcase some of our favourite brews, meet fellow beer lovers, and raise a glass to everything that makes local beer festivals so special.”
Gemma Pym, Senior Category & Insight Manager at Thatchers said: “We are looking forward to bringing our award-winning ciders to the Craft Beer Festival at Newbury Racecourse for the first time this year. Our cider truck will be at the racecourse with racegoers able to try our Blood Orange, Apple and Blackcurrant and low alcohol Thatchers Zero. Our crisp, refreshing, smooth cider is the perfect accompaniment to a day at the races and to watch the live action unfold.”
Chris Harrison, Trade Sales Manager for Loose Cannon Brewery said: “Loose Cannon Brewery are once again proud to be involved with Newbury Racecourse and its outstanding beer festival. Beers from the heart of Oxfordshire once again at home in the home of horse racing in Berkshire.”
Alan Wright from Arkells Brewery said: “Arkells are delighted to be once again represented at Newbury Racecourse’s Beer Festival with two of our outstanding ales. We hope you enjoy drinking them as much as we did making them.”
Dean Bond, Owner and Brewer at Bond Brews said: “It’s great to see Newbury Racecourse once again supporting local breweries and the beer festival is always a great day out.”
In addition to the beer festival, course expert and former jockey David Crosse will be on hand to provide racegoers exclusive insight through parade ring tours, trips to the start and jockey talks – all complimentary.
Newbury Racecourse are delighted to be a charity partner of Greatwood Charity, who use former racehorses to educate disadvantaged children and young adults with Special Educational Needs (SEN). All racegoers on Saturday 12th April will be able to get up close with a retired racehorse from Greatwood.
Music will be playing in the Craft Beer Tent throughout the two-day meeting with a DJ on Friday and following the conclusion of racing on Saturday, popular party band, the Shadow Monkeys will be on hand to continue the celebrations and round off a memorable flat season opener at Newbury.
Tickets for the racing action – which grant free admission to the on-site beer festival are available via the button below, while all under 18s go free.
TICKETS
What’s more, tickets are available at the discounted Early Bird rate until Friday 14th March with a range of hospitality and premium experience packages also available.
