Town is in the spotlight so we’ll do our best to make you proud
PUBS and clubs will be packed and the sweet scent of Guinness will waft gently down from Prestbury Park.
Bookies are already praying Galopin des Champs doesn’t do the double.
Welcome back to British jump racing’s grand finale, the Cheltenham Festival.
Some 60,000 people will be there every day.
Friday will mark 100 glorious years of the Gold Cup while Ladies’ Day has been rebranded Style Wednesday and quite right too.
Maybe Rachael Blackmore will mark it with more wins and make the Top 10 most successful Cheltenham jockeys of all time. Local business will win too, banking an extra £274million according to the University of Gloucestershire
A second Christmas, one trader told me!
Whether you run for the hills or join the fun, this week puts Cheltenham in the spotlight.
And it should be fun, and safe, for everyone.
That’s why council staff work overtime to make sure premises follow the rules, illegal street trading and touts are reported and dodgy out-of-town taxis deterred (always use a Cheltenhamplated cab, pre-booked or from a rank).
Those controversial sexual entertainment licences will enable strict regulation of the two licensed venues, keeping the public free of nuisance and performers safe.
Council officers will again wage the War on Wee pioneered by my colleague Max Wilkinson.
There’ll be extra loos, others with extended hours and liquid repellant paint to give anti-social punters a nasty surprise.
As it has done for many years, the council is working closely with the police, ambulance service, volunteer Guardians and Street Pastors, local business and the racecourse itself.
There’ll be extra patrols, mounted police, a police hub outside M&S and a mobile minor injuries unit. Bar staff will know to help if women feeling vulnerable
Ask for Angela and door staff will help us track down troublemakers.
It’s the kind of collaboration that’s won Cheltenham the nighttime Purple Flag award eight years running.
I won’t predict a Gold Cup winner (that would be a Bravemansgame..) but I’ll confidently tip hardworking council staff to do us proud again.
Enjoy your week!