Southwell (owners and trainers)
Owners’ Experience | The Paddock Preview at Southwell
We’ll start where every good owners’ day should — the food. Southwell gets this right. A proper roast with a choice of beef or turkey, served with new potatoes, steamed veg, Yorkshire puddings and plenty of gravy. The taste was spot on, but the real standout was that the food was served hot and stayed hot all day, which is exactly what you want on a raceday. Staff were friendly, welcoming and genuinely helpful, adding to a relaxed and well-run feel.
Dessert followed with a selection of homemade cakes, all of which were fabulous and seriously tasty — a real bonus and very much in keeping with the homely, owners-first feel of the place.
As an owner, you have access to the Owners’ & Trainers’ Suite, which comes with its own private balcony. This is a huge plus at Southwell. The track is very flat, meaning from the balcony you can see the entire race unfold, start to finish — a brilliant viewing experience. Even better, you’re allowed to take drinks out onto the balcony in a glass, which always feels like a proper perk of ownership.
On the drinks front, Guinness was £7.60. The bar staff were well-trained and attentive, pouring it properly every time and leaving it to settle as it should. The head was slightly on the big side, but overall it tasted good with no real complaints. Tea and coffee machines are available in the suite throughout the day, and there’s also easy access to betting facilities.
From the suite, you can see the parade ring, although you’re free to head down whenever you like — and you should. The parade ring itself is intimate, rustic and spacious, with a natural, calming feel that’s clearly great for the horses. Owners get excellent access post-race, whether that’s heading into the winner’s enclosure or visiting the wash-down and cooling area, which is a lovely space to chat with trainers and jockeys and debrief the race.
Overall, Southwell offers a friendly, welcoming owners’ experience, a fair and honest track, and facilities that make the day feel special without being overcomplicated. A lovely place to take a horse — and highly recommended by The Paddock Preview for any owner considering a visit.
