Bristol was our base for Chepstow's jumps opener: a 15-minute drive to the track, and a city that can feed and water you properly once the last race is run.
The Welsh Racing Festival kicks off the jumps season every October, and in 2026 it was a three-day affair (Friday 9th to Sunday 11th) in Chepstow's centenary year. It's where the first Graded race of the season is staged, the Persian War Novices' Hurdle, alongside the Silver Trophy and the Welsh Champion Hurdle. For a lot of us, it's the weekend jumps racing properly comes back.
Chepstow itself is a lovely little town, but if you want a hotel with a pool, a proper night out and some of the best cheap eats in the South West, cross the bridge and stay in Bristol. Here's where we stayed, what we ate and where we drank.
Where we stayed: DoubleTree by Hilton Bristol North
We paid £187 for two nights for two people, and for that you get a pool and spa thrown in. For a racing weekend, that's hard to beat.
The hotel sits on Woodlands Lane in Bradley Stoke, on the northern edge of Bristol, right by the M4/M5 junction. That's what makes it work for Chepstow: you're over the Severn and at the racecourse in about 15 minutes, without fighting your way out of the city centre.
What you get:
LivingWell Health Club – indoor heated pool, sauna, steam room, spa pool and a 24-hour gym. Perfect for loosening up the morning after.
Brunel's Hat – the on-site restaurant, serving British food for breakfast and dinner, plus a lounge bar with a courtyard.
The warm cookie at check-in – it's a DoubleTree, so obviously.
Parking – £8 a night in the hotel car park.
Central Bristol is 20–30 minutes away depending on traffic, and Ubers are very affordable from here. Bristol Parkway station is about 3 miles away if you're coming by train, with direct services from London Paddington.
Where we ate
Breakfast: The Yoda Food Van, Bradley Stoke
Parked up right outside the hotel, the Yoda van is famous locally for the biggest breakfast baguette in Bristol. The signature one is roughly a foot long and loaded with sausage, bacon, egg, tomato, onion, mushroom and cheese.
We went for a normal one, and to be fair it was very good. If you're heading to the races with a long day ahead, the full Yoda is the one to lay down a base with. They also do burger baguettes and loaded fries if you're passing later on.
Little Chinatown, Nelson Street
This place is unbelievable. It's a Chinese food hall in the city centre, built around an Asian supermarket, and it's as authentic as it gets.
Downstairs – Cantonese roast meats and a butcher counter.
Upstairs – a Thai restaurant on one side and a Chinese dim sum restaurant on the other.
We started in the Thai. We had beef pad gra pao, and I had khao soi with beef, a traditional northern Thai curry noodle soup. It was unbelievable.
Then we crossed over to the Chinese side for two different types of dumplings, beef cheung fun (silky steamed rice rolls) and congee with pork and century egg. This is proper Chinese food, not a sweet and sour in sight. The dim sum menu runs through all the Cantonese classics, from chicken feet to custard buns, so go hungry and order lots.
Omar's Kitchen, Bishopston
Arguably the best shawarma in Bristol, and it's on an industrial estate. Omar's sits in a unit off Merton Road, just behind Gloucester Road, and it's exactly what you want after a day at the races.
The menu is shawarma and serious smash burgers. The lamb shawarma comes on naan with raita and pickled salad, and there's a smash burger with Turkish sausage if you fancy something different. You'll often be served by Omar himself. Affordable, banging food, and handy for a night out on Gloucester Road.
Where we drank
Westbury-on-Trym
A 15-minute taxi from the hotel, Westbury-on-Trym feels like a village that happens to be in Bristol. There are around eight pubs packed into this little area, so you can easily make a crawl of it. We did two, and both poured very, very good Guinness.
The Mouse, Waters Lane – A one-room pub at the top of the hill, formerly the Royal Oak, with real fires and bare wooden floors. The beer garden is the star: a class view across the rooftops of north Bristol towards Blaise Castle, with heaters and a covered TV so you don't miss the sport. Inside, it shows Sky and TNT Sports, does homemade food and Sunday roasts, and runs a quiz on Thursdays.
The Black Swan, Stoke Lane – Known to locals as "the Dirty Duck", this one is run by Wickwar Brewery and has a proper country pub feel. It has three separate bar areas, a big west-facing beer garden and a back bar with sofas and a bigger screen for Sky and TNT Sports. Food, cask ale, dog friendly, and that Guinness.
Gloucester Road, Bishopston
Saturday night we headed to Gloucester Road, Bristol's famous strip of independent bars, and it's only a few minutes from Omar's if you want to line your stomach first.
The Bristol Flyer – A big traditional roadside pub on the main drag, refurbished and reopened in late 2024. Booth seating, a patio garden, local ciders and real ales, and a busy, easy-going crowd. A solid place to start the night.
The Gallimaufry – Then onto "the Galli", which was very good. There's no Guinness, but they had a different nitro stout that did the job. It's an arty, independent bar that has been a Gloucester Road favourite since 2012, with local artwork everywhere and beers from Bristol breweries on tap. There's a large covered and heated outdoor area, and DJs at the weekend. Ours was playing 80s music and the vibe was great. Fun fact: George Ezra once had a regular residency here.
