Saturday June 22, 2013 at 09:00
Map and Directions
Hello Tastourians!!
Royal Ascot has become a Tastour tradition. This is our 5th year!!! Several members join us every year, making it clear that this is a fantastic event and well worth the money.
This year’s event is fully booked. Hope you can make it next year!
Last year’s addition of an exclusive lunch and Prosecco reception inside the inner racetrack was a huge hit.
And this year, it’s going to be even better!
Picture of some of the group waiting for the Queen in the Parade Ring (the area where they give the trophies)
Photos of 2012
Photos of 2011
Photos of 2010
2009 photos
What is Royal Ascot?
And why do 300,000 attend this festival each year?
It’s
* The most popular and prestigious horse racing event of the year
* A piece of British Heritage. This is the ultimate British experience
* A chance to see the Queen and rub shoulders with her friends
* A great day out and a good excuse to get dressed up
* An experience you will never forget
* The people and hat watching
* THE social gathering of the year!
Why come with the group
* You’ll learn how to bet on the horseys & the history of hats
* We’ll drink and learn about Nino Franco, the Pearl of Prosecco
* You’ll receive inside tips on how to get the most of the day
* Our carefully arranged meeting points means you can explore and rejoin the group as you wish
* Your host will queue for an hour to reserve your spot so you won’t miss afternoon tea
* Meet others with good taste and enjoy good company
About your ticket
The Grandstand Admission ticket at Royal Ascot provides similar access facilities around the racecourse as it does for those with Royal Enclosure tickets. (Silver Ring tickets are greatly restricted.)
The Grandstand Admission ticket provides excellent facilities and viewing areas at ground level and lawn level. Grandstand Admission customers can watch the Royal Procession and the racing action from the lawns in front of the Grandstand. The Pre-Parade Ring, Parade Ring and track are both within a short walking distance, by crossing the Concourse in the main Grandstand.
Other highlights of a Grandstand Admission ticket include:
* Over 1,000 free seats are available from which to view the racing.
* Big Screen TVs on the Plaza Lawn.
* Military Bands performing in the Parade Ring before the Royal Procession each day.
* Traditional sing-along around the Bandstand after racing on each day. Free song books provided.
* Food outlets selling a variety of value for money cuisine options.
*And the best part is, you get to mix with the Royal Enclosure. To obtain a ticket to the Royal Encloser you must be recommended by two people who have attended for more than four years.
Grandstand Admission Dress Code
Ladies with a Grandstand Admission ticket are required to dress in a manner appropriate to a smart occasion. (Garden Party or Wedding Wear) Many wear hats although this is not compulsory.
Gentlemen in the Grandstand Admission area must wear a shirt and tie, preferably with a suit or jacket. Sports attire, jeans and shorts are strictly forbidden.
Hats
Just a warning, if you don’t wear a hat, you will wish you did! It is fun and all you really need is a simple feather from Accessorise.
We will be hosting a Pre-Ascot Hat hire party which will teach you the history of the British hat making industry and show you where to buy a £300 looking hat for £30!
Food on the day
Sandwiches, Salads and all the fixings will be available for purchase (next to the Champagne bar!) As well as various other concessions, such as hamburgers and greasy spoon type food to soak up the alcohol.
We will have a light lunch and several glasses of Nino Franco Prosecco before going into the betting area.
About Nino Franco Prosecco
Nino Franco Prosecco is one of the oldest wineries in the prestigious Valdobbiadene. It is highly regarded amongst wine experts with Robert Parker scoring the Primo 91 points and other labels receiving 87, and 89 points. And if you know Parker, he only scores this high for those wines that are truly exceptional. I can’t think of a better way to start the day!
Guest
This is an experience to share. Please invite your friends, the more the merrier!
How to book
Attending on your own? Don’t be nervous. Most attendees will be on their own and our events are designed to make you feel like your one of the regulars as soon as you arrive.
ASCOT is proving to be credit crunch proof! They actually went up on their ticket price this year! Two years ago, they sold out Saturday with 89,000 people and tickets were selling on ebay for over £150.
What’s included:
* Grandstand Admission (worth £80, see below)
* Tutorial on How To: Bet on the Horsey (worth £10)
* A guided Nino Franco Prosecco Tasting (worth £40)
* Canapés / light lunch to start your day inside the race track (worth £20)
* Return transport (worth £40)
* Organised meeting points (priceless)
* Booking & PayPal fee (worth £10)
Cost
- Over the years, the cost of the ticket, food/wine and minibus hire has increased by nearly 35%. This year, I thought I would try a sliding price scale based on when you buy your ticket. The price of the ticket will increase each month.
- If booked by:
- 1st May – £1551st Jun – £160
- After the 15th June £165
- Members discount: Please log in for your discount.
Membership Information: Membership is on special offer for £70 per year, you can join as a Bon Vivant and attend all monthly social drinks for free, receive exclusive invites and save up to 70% off each event. Apply to upgrade here
For all Tastour award-winning events, pre-booking early on www.tastour.com is advised due to high demand.
Notes
** We will take a luxury minibus to Ascot, enjoy a glass of Champagne on the coach and several goodluck glass in tthe inner racetrack. We will provide return tickets via train to Waterloo. This is best way to experience the picnic area and return party on the train. Allowing you to leave when you are ready. It really is the best of both worlds!
On the day
Meet fellow Tastourians at our coach pick-up location near Embankment on the south side, near the river.
Events Pre/Post Ascot
TBC Pre-Ascot Hat Party
Have you ever thought about the history of hats? We’ve put together a opportunity to learn about and try on hats which cost over £300, whilst having tea on the veranda!
Refunds
If we are able to resell your ticket, we will offer a refund, with a £20 admin fee, if emailed before the 13th May. However after the 13th May, we welcome your friend to take your place on this unforgettable experience.
Feedback from last year’s Ascot Tastour
“It was the most British day I’ve had since moving here a year ago. I saw the queen and won a little cash and got totally swept up in the people watching. ” Lisa
“A mammoth feat of organisation by Kelly made for a great day out – thanks!” Amber
Note from the organiser
I realise that this is a large amount of money to commit, especially if you are new to the group.
As the upfront cost of this event are so high, I nearly didn’t host this event in 2013, however, I’ve received several emails from past attendees and some from those who were unable to make it in previous years encouraging me to host this event. It is worth every penny and should be on every experience seekers ‘list to do before the die’. There’s horseracing… and there’s Royal Ascot. This event is truly special.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to phone me. Kelly 0791 905 3064 or email info@tastour.co.uk
Hello,
UPDATE:
Ascot is only a few months away. I hope you’re as excited as I am!
I had an email this morning with a few questions and I thought you may be wondering the same.
Do I have to bet, or gamble to go to Ascot?
No… Personally I go for the hats.
But we have had a few big winners
It says no food on the website, where are you having your picnic?
Our picnic is held inside the race track car park (which is more expensive than the normal car park, and means we take two smaller coaches as larger coaches are not allowed) The atmosphere is wonderful and it’s great to see the track from the inside, as when you’re on the inside you wonder what’s it like to be in the centre (or at least I did!). It’s a unique experience. This is also where we do the wine tasting. The Ascot website is referring to the area where they sell their own food and drink (once you go past the ticket barriers and are effectively on the outside of the race track.) Whereas our picnic is literally on the inside of the track. I hope this makes sense!
What’s included in the light lunch?
Last year we did sandwiches, canapés such as smoked salmon and beef with horseradish and various other things. Including VEGGIE options. If I’m allowed to say, a picnic lunch from the track cost £40 per person and this blew it away. Each year we do something different, and I will not know what will be on the menu until a week before. However, I do know that I aim to please and you will not be disappointed. Although I should say that although there are tables table cloths & flowers it’s clearly a picnic not a pop-up restaurant.
How much wine will be served?
This year we are tasting Nino Franco Prosecco. It’s an incredibly high-end Processo, with some bottles costing £35, which There will be several small glasses of their amazing Rustico, which retails for £18 per bottle. We’re fairly generous as we want to kickstart the day 
In previous years people have complained there was too much, or at least more than they were expecting.
Once inside, will I be able to find the group?
Yes, I’ve carefully plotted out meeting points (which improve each year) and it’s easy to find us through out the day. This means you can wonder off and rejoin us.
What’s the most traditional part of Ascot?
Either seeing the Queen
Or the singing at the Bandstand – at the end.
What’s the after party like?
It’s crazy. It’s fun. Did I mention it’s crazy? It’s about 1,000 people all having a blast – high on the air of Ascot. Not to be missed.
How do I sign up?
Here’s the link to buy your tickets: http://tastour.com/upcoming-events/?ee=73
To change your RSVP on meetup, click here
Is this a members only event? If so, how do we join?
Royal Ascot is not a members only event, however you do receive a discount, if you are a member.
For non-members, the cost is £145 until 1st April, then it will increase to £150. On the 1st of May the price will increase to £155. And +5 each month after. The members price is £140.
As a member you are able to attend all miniTASTINGs for free, and usually receive £10-30 discount on events. Plus we give out free tickets to food festivals and arrange exclusive events for members only. Membership is currently on special offer for £70. For more information and to join visit http://tastour.com/member-registration/
The Nino Franco tasting is going to be truly amazing and I’m looking forward to that just as much as the hat watching and horse racing!
Please let me know if you have any other questions!
Kelly
Register
With origins following the Norman Conquest of AD 1066, Newbury is rich in history. The first mention of Newbury, then Neoburiae, comes from a land grant in 1079. Borough status was granted in 1189 and by 1204 there was a market, corn mill and fulling mill.
About the wine:
And if you have no idea what I just said, at the very least you’ll find a few new hotspots to return to and enjoy a nice day out with fellow taste adventurers.
Heavy on Flavour… Light on the pocketbook
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