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Enjoy a unique way to attend the Investec Derby Festival with an Open Top Bus Experience, positioned at the edge of the track the bus offers an elevated view of the action.
The bus will transfer guests to the racecourse and provide a gourmet cold buffet lunch as well as a Pimm’s reception and a complimentary bar throughout the day.
For those wanting more space there is a private gazebo adjacent to the bus and with the included Lonsdale Enclosure passes you are free to explore more of the racecourse too.
Location | Positioned close to the rails |
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Catering |
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Admission | Lonsdale Enclosure |
Drinks | Complimentary Bar (Beers, Wines, Selected Spirits & Soft Drinks) |
Price Guide | £399 to £449 |
Price Rating | £££ |
Positioned close to the rails
Top of Bus Viewing of Final Furlong & Winning Post
Lonsdale Enclosure
Gourmet Cold Buffet Lunch
Traditional Afternoon Tea
Waiting Staff
Our in-depth article will tell you everything you need to know.
×Open-Top buses are an integral and hugely traditional part of The Derby Festival experience, but are they suitable for corporate entertaining? If the weather is kind then they can provide a great fun experience, however, if the British weather is cold and wet you might find yourself wishing you had booked into a covered hospitality facility, with access to private toilet facilities.
The position of your bus at the racecourse is of great importance. The Lonsdale Enclosure, inside the course, is the most sought-after location for Open-Top buses, you will be opposite the Queen’s Stand and close to the Winning Post, on the rails. Only Open-Top buses are permitted into the Lonsdale Enclosure. Next to the Lonsdale Enclosure is the Walton Enclosure, which overlooks the finishing straight, where you will share the area with both single and double-decker coaches. Opposite the Walton Enclosure is the Upper Tattenham Enclosure, which also accommodates buses and coaches.
You can either elect to position the bus at the course as soon as the gates open, to get an advantageous location in your pre-booked enclosure, or you can use the bus for transport to & from the racecourse. Travelling to Epsom on an open-top bus can be a hugely enjoyable experience. Please note that if the bus is pre-parked it might prove very difficult for your guests to locate you on arrival.
Private buses are available for 20-30 guests, and some operators allow smaller bookings of 2 guests or more.
Car Park passes are not included.
Open-Top buses are invariably antiques and prone to breakdowns, however, they are fabulously atmospheric and reminders of a bygone age. Space is limited of course for setting up food and drink stations and depending on the weather, most organisers set up trestle tables and a Gazebo outside the bus. These old buses have no modern conveniences such as toilets or air-conditioning.
Your admission badge provides access to the Enclosure you have pre-booked. You will not have access to the main Grandstand or Parade Ring; however, you will enjoy elevated panoramic views from the top of the bus.
Catering consists of cold gourmet buffet lunch as well as Afternoon Tea later in the day.
Most operators include a Pimms Reception and a complimentary bar of beers, wines, selected spirits, and soft drinks. Please note that Champagne will be an extra charge.
Service is left to the waiting staff, there is not a hostess service.
A racing tipster is not included.
There are no TV monitors.
Racecards are not included but there are Tote betting facilities available close by.
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Total | 47/100 |
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Hospitality guests are required to follow a smart casual dress code. Jackets, trousers and a collared shire are encouraged. Smart denim jeans are acceptable, however, jeans must not have tears or rips. It is not a requirement that hats or fascinators are worn on any racedays outside The Derby Festival.
The racecourse postcode is KT18 5LQ for use with GPS equipment. The racecourse is just a few minutes from Epsom Town Centre on the B290 Epsom Downs Road or just off junction 9 of the M25.