Christmas Events
2023/24
Christmas at Chelmsford City Racecourse
Christmas is a magical time of year at the racecourse. Our marquees, restaurants, and bars are excellent venues to celebrate a successful year and the holiday season with your family, friends, and colleagues. This year, we have an incredible opportunity to hire the Summer Marquee, which will be a fully decorated, heated, immersive venue perfect for parties of between 100 and 600 people on eight exclusive dates. In addition, racing at Christmas combines the thrill of an epic raceday, with corporate entertaining, there are only six dates available this festive season.
We look forward to bringing your Christmas celebrations to life.
250,000 square foot grandstand
Resturants & bars
• Permanent marquees & meeting rooms
One of only six fully floodlit All-Weather tracks in the United Kingdom
•
Raceday & non-raceday private events around the year
Anthony Coleridge Head of Private & Corporate Events
More than horseracing
Gold Package Dates
Monday 4th December
Tuesday 5th December
•
Wednesday 6th December
Thursday 7th December
•
Tuesday 12th December
•
Wednesday 13th December
Thursday 14th December
POne of the largest venues in East Anglia
15 minutes from Stansted Airport • 1,000 on-site parking
Capacity for 10 to 20,000 guests across 350 dates each year
Catering options to suit every occasion
Chestnut Package Dates
Thursday 16th November
Tuesday 21st November
Thursday 7th December
•
Monday 11th December
Thursday 14th December
Thursday 21st December
On a raceday, only the Chestnut package in the Queen Charlotte Marquee or the Gold package in the Summer Marquee are available.
The Summer Marquee
Located immediately on the right as guests enter the racecourse, the Summer Marquee is a convenient location for any event. Exclusively available with the Gold Package, on eight December dates only, the marquee will be beautifully dressed, have spectacular lighting design and a state-of-the-art sound system. This is a truly special environment that will wow your guests. Our dedicated events team will be on hand to help you plan every detail, including access to an extensive network of entertainment options to take your festive celebration to the next level.
Gold Package
Package exclusive to the Summer Marquee
• Winter warmers served on arrival including mulled wine, hot buttered rum, and mulled cider.
• Delicious, served, three-course meal, with half a bottle of wine per person during dinner, followed by tea and coffee.
• Fully dressed and heated space
• Exclusive to your party for the evening
• Magical lighting design, dramatic table centerpieces, Christmas crackers, room decor and incredible sound are included to elevate your event experience.
Dinner dance | 600
• Custom branded place cards and menus
£100 per person
• A world-class DJ to keep you and your guests dancing all night long on an illuminated dancefloor.
• Parking attendants to oversee our complimentary parking, which is provided for you and your guests.
• Fully staffed cloakroom service
• A dedicated events manager to assist you with your event from start to finish.
• Professional and welcoming security staff
• Carriages at midnight
TERRACE TERRACE 15m 8m 66m 66m BUFFET AREA BUFFET AREA WC WC
The Queen Charlotte Marquee
This stunning marquee provides everything that you could want for a luxurious Christmas party for groups of 100-300. The space has private toilets and a newly installed Art Deco bar. There are views over a sprawling terrace, and on racedays, there are unrivaled views of the track to enjoy thrilling racing.
The Club Restaurant & Lounge
Recently refurbished, The Club Restaurant & Lounge is Chelmsford City Racecourse’s premier dining experience, located on the first floor of the Grandstand. The octagonal room provides panoramic views over the entire racecourse making this an ideal venue for corporate entertaining. With a grand piano, premium bar and private kitchen, this restaurant offers the finest wines, cuisine and an elegant atmosphere for entertaining guests with seamless service.
Seated dinner | 350 Dinner dance | 300 Standing | 1000
Seated dinner | 200 Dinner dance | 120
Packages
To make your event experience seamless we have created several exciting Christmas packages that include your chosen venue, a buffet or served meal and drinks options. All our packages can be customised on request, please speak with your events manager regarding your specific requirements.
Myrhh
Available in The Club Restaurant & Lounge or the Queen Charlotte Marquee
• Access from 9am on the day to decorate your venue
• Carriages at midnight
• Your own private party space with Christmas Tree
• A welcome glass of mulled wine or prosecco
• Three-course Christmas buffet
Racing at Christmas
Chestnut
Available in the Queen Charlotte on racedays only
£70 per person
• Christmas crackers
• Live DJ + dancefloor
• ‘Make the space your own’ decoration (please speak with your event manager regarding restrictions in your chosen venue)
Frankincense
Available in The Club Restaurant & Lounge or the Queen Charlotte Marquee
• Access from 9am on the day to decorate your venue
• Carriages at midnight
• Your own private party space with Christmas Tree
• A welcome glass of mulled wine or prosecco
• Canapés on arrival (3pp)
• Three-course served Christmas meal
£85 per person
• Half a bottle of wine per person with dinner
• Christmas crackers
• After dinner tea, coffee and hot chocolate
• Live DJ and dancefloor
• ‘Make the space your own’ decoration (please speak with your event manager regarding restrictions in your chosen venue)
£120 per person
• A private venue to enjoy an evening of racing and festivities.
• Official programme for each guest, with an advert for your business included
• Beautiful, decorated Christmas Tree
• Custom branded menus and place names
• Festive centrepieces on each table, and Christmas crackers for each guest
• Private betting facilities
• Name a race, which is advertised to all racegoers and broadcast on television.
• Admission to the racecourse for all guests, with access to the Sports Bar and lobby (located in The Grandstand and the grounds.
• Private Tipster Talk before racing
• Welcome drink of mulled wine or cider
• Served three-course Christmas meal
• Mince pies and cheeseboards served after dinner with tea or coffee
• Half bottle of wine per guest
• PA system for speeches and background music
• Professional and welcoming security
• A dedicated event manager to assist you in planning the perfect Christmas event.
Package Upgrades
Unlimited drinks package +£60pp
This allows unlimited beers, wines, single spirits and mixers and soft drinks for all of your guests for the duration of your event
Mixologist package +£40pp
This includes 2 dedicated mixologists at your bar to offer a range of decadent cocktails for you and your guests
Festive welcome cocktail package -£9pp
A delicious freshly made festive treat as an alternative to your hot welcome drink offering
Canapé package - £10pp
3 canapés per person to be served and circulated on your guest arrival, pre-dinner
Festive late night bite package - £10pp
An evening informal food option to keep the energy up into the night
Corporate packages
Projection of custom bespoke company logo throughout venue £200
Custom branded video loop for inbuilt screens in space £400
Photographer £500
Branded balloons from £300
Branded favours – candles or baubles £4pp
Branded Santa hats £5pp
Branded place names / menus £5pp (included in summer package)
Sample Christmas Menus
Our talented chefs have crafted several delicious festive menus perfect for your celebration.
Canapés
Please choose either 3 items per guest (£9+VATpp) or 6 items per guest (£16+VATpp) as outlined below
Meat
Ballotine of turkey and prosciutto with cranberry (gf)
Maple glazed pigs in blankets
Duck liver parfait with pickled cucumber and cornichon (gf*)
Whisky and orange glazed pork belly with pistachio salt (gf)
Braised chicken and mulled wine brochette (gf)
Fish
Gravlax with horseradish crème and chive (gf*)
Smoked mackerel parfait with prawn and dill (gf*)
Crayfish and crab brioche (gf*)
Seared sesame tuna (gf*)
Tiger prawn with horseradish ricotta and chive (gf*)
Vegetarian & Vegan
Chestnut mushroom parfait (gf*) (vg)
White miso roasted parsnip with maple glaze (vg)
Brie and cranberry filo parcel (gf*) (v)
Squash with sage and chestnut filo roll (gf*) (vg)
Red chicory cups with walnut pesto (gf) (vg)
Santa package +£15pp
This includes a grotto area with a Santa, ready to give gifts for your guests naughty or nice
Magician package +£1000
A close-up magician to perform incredible magic at your tables for your guests
Casino package £POA
A fantastic option for additional entertainment, this includes a full casino set up for you and your guests, with all croupiers and staff
Décor packages
Table centrepieces from £30 per table (centrepieces included in summer package)
Seasonal floral table centerpieces from £30 per table
Outdoor blankets £5pp
Christmas Menu
All options are pre-order only. Please choose two options per course (plus vegetarian if required). Your choices can be adapted to suit those with specific dietary requirements. £60+VAT per person.
Starter
Honey roast parsnip soup (gf) (vg)
Ham hock terrine with homemade piccalilli on sourdough (gf*)
Classic prawn cocktail with brandy marie rose (gf)
Smoked salmon with prawn and crab ballotine (gf)
Chefs festive charcuterie with chutneys and pickles (gf*) (vg)
Main
Traditional roast Suffolk turkey with pigs in blankets and sage and onion stuffing (gf*)
Creamed butternut squash and spinach wellington with heritage tomato sauce (gf*) (vg*)
Citrus cured seabass with prawn bisque and samphire (gf)
Homemade vegetable nut roast with mushroom gravy (vg)
London porter braised beef with crispy bacon and saute Portobello mushroom (gf)
Above all served with seasonal vegetables and roast potatoes
Christmas Banqueting Menu
Available buffet-style only. £45+VAT per person.
Hot
Dessert
Classic Christmas pudding with brandy sauce (gf) (vg*)
Crisp lemon tart with raspberries (v)
Winter Pimm’s trifle (gf) (v)
Panettone bread and butter pudding (v)
Decadent yule log with berries (v)
To create a 4 course menu, a cheeseboard can be added to finish
To create a 5 course menu, a cheeseboard followed by mince pies and coffee can be added to finish
Honey and mustard pigs in blankets
Vegetarian pigs in blankets with vegetarian bacon and a maple glaze (v)
Cranberry with brie and pistachio tart (v)
Vegan applewood cheese and caramelized onion filo parcel (gf*) (vg)
Baked buttered mushroom with stilton and parmesan crumb (gf) (v)
Sausage with chestnut and thyme mini wellingtons
Miniature roast turkey toad in the hole
Roasted potatoes with rosemary (gf) (vg)
Sticky tiger prawn and sesame bao buns
Cold Caprese cane (gf) (v)
Loch Fyne smoked salmon and horseradish blinis (gf)
Selection of festive filled rolls (gf*) (vg*)
Asparagus with prosciutto and lemon
Devilled eggs (gf) (v)
Caramelised mushroom tartlets (v)
Christmas charcuterie (gf) (vg*)
Dessert
Assiette of Christmas desserts
3 Course
Preferred Suppliers
Power Fusion Electrical Wayne Jeggo jeggowayne@fusionelectricalandplumbing.co.uk
07843 280 291
AV Event Sound & Light
Paul Galley paul@eventsoundandlight.com
07770 854 327 eventsoundandlight.com
Marks Tey Radio marksteyradiopa@tiscali.co.uk
07754 016 764 / 01206 210 285 marksteyradio.co.uk
Moulsham Electrics
Tony Smith tony@moulshamelectronics.co.uk
07775 507 898 moulshamelectronics.co.uk
Furniture Hire
SJP Event Hire info@tableandchairhire.com
01702 668 333 tableandchairhire.com
Alexander Table & Chair Hire contact@alexanderhire.co.uk
01932 784445 alexanderhire.co.uk
Castle Marquees
Steve Thompson
steve@castlemarquees.com
07801 261344 / 01268 574 005
castlemarquees.com
Florists
Stock Florist Sam Raindle enquiries@stockflorist.co.uk
01277 840 350 stockflorist.co.uk
Browns Blooms and Balloons
Joanne Brown brownsbloomsandballoons@talktalk.net
01621 892 315
brownsbloomsandballoons.co.uk
C. Taylors Floristry
Charmaine Taylor ctaylorsfloristry@gmail.com
01702 200 899
ctaylorsfloristry.co.uk
Photography
Outline Photography
Rachel Goleby
07539 071 107
outlinephotographyuk.com
David Dean Photographic
David Dean 07702853074
daviddeanphotographic.co.uk
Drone Videography
Sky Imagery enquiries@sky-imagery.co.uk
07522 462 065 sky-imagery.co.uk
Coaches
Dons of Dunmow info@donscoaches.co.uk
01371 872644 donscoaches.co.uk
Entertainment DJ
Pete Gibbs pgibbs52@yahoo.com
The White Keys
Amy Syed info@thewhitekeys.co.uk
07703 735 618
thewhitekeys.co.uk
EVO Inflatables info@evoinflatables.co.uk
07968 190 946 / 01371 878 233 evoinflatables.co.uk
UK Bungee
Jon Snape jon.snape@bigbang-promotions.com
07711 037 150
ukbungee.co.uk
Dance Floor Hire Castle Marquees
Steve Thompson steve@castlemarquees.com
07801 261 344 / 01268 574 005
castlemarquees.com
8 6 3 11 7 9 5 4 10 2 1
A131
1. Main Entrance
2. Ticket Office
3. Pedestrian Tunnel
4. The Lobby
5. The Club Restaurant & Lounge
6. Sports Bar
7. Queen Charlotte Marquee
8. Parade Ring Marquee
9. Parade Ring
10. Summer Marquee
11. Owners & Trainers Marquee
Chelmsford City Racecourse, Chelmsford Essex, CM3 1QP privateevents@chelmsfordcityracecourse.com 01245 360300 chelmsfordcityracecourse.com
