After a brief hiatus, one of Cheltenham's most cherished restaurants will reopen its doors this December.

A true icon in the town's culinary landscape, The Mayflower will aim to rekindle the flavours that have long been etched into the memories of locals and visitors alike, with new owners Jay Ahmed and Michael Raphel paying homage to the Kong family who created and ran this much-loved restaurant for over 40 years.

Diners at The Mayflower can expect a meticulously crafted menu that celebrates the diverse regional cuisines of China. The menu will showcase a myriad of influences, combining the best of classic Chinese dishes to  Cantonese  and East Asian favourites, all created with a passion for uniquely rooted recipes yet with a contemporary flair, showcasing the wonderful flavours of east Asia. 

The restaurant's interior is a blend of modern elegance and traditional Chinese design elements, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. 

Reservations will be open from mid December and bookings can be made through the restaurant's website www.themayflowerrestaurant.co.uk or by calling 01242 522426.

You can sign up to receive news from The Mayflower by clicking on the link above. 

Start your Christmas celebrations off in style with a weekend of top-quality racing on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 December.

With the big day just days away, The Christmas Meeting brings joy and excitement for all. This two-day meeting is one of the highlights of the Christmas racing calendar and kick starts the festive sporting season.

Across the two days there is top quality racing on offer, with a total of 14 races to enjoy, from the adrenaline rush of the Glenfarclas Cross-Country race to the The Virgin Bet December Gold Cup. With Grade 2 and 3 racing action, including some highly competitive Cheltenham Festival trials, including the JCB Triumph Hurdle trial and the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle trial, it is a key race meeting for Cheltenham Festival clues.

Off the track, they is a heap of entertainment for all ages across the weekend.

Friday will be filled with Christmas cheer across the racecourse with entertainment from The Hipcats performing Christmas hits on the Quevega Stage to Got2Sing Choir entertaining racegoers with Christmas Carols throughout the day.

Saturday is their Christmas Extravaganza themed family fun, including meeting Santa and his elves in Santa’s Grotto. Santa’s elves will also be there to help with your Christmas crafts including - letters to Santa, making a magical Christmas wish to leave on the special night and designing snowflakes.

Pampered Pony rides will also be available from Santa's Grotto on Saturday at 10:00 till 15:30 for children of all ages to enjoy around the tented village.

The Hipcats and Got2Sing will also return on Saturday for festive music and entertainment throughout the day.

The Tattersalls Cheltenham Sales are back on the Friday of  The Christmas Meeting, the racing sales will offer a select group of winning and placed point-to-pointers and form horses after racing in the sales ring.

Under 18’s race free and do not require a ticket to enter.

For all the information and tickets, please visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham

Returning to Cheltenham Racecourse on March 23 2024, the gala dinner offers a night of fine dining and entertainment, with plenty of opportunities to raise money for the 4Ed campaign, established in July 2022 by Gloucester Rugby as a way of generating awareness and funds following Ed Slater’s diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

The 2023 event saw over £250,000 raised for the campaign through ticket sales, silent and live auctions, and a raffle. The money generated contributed significantly towards adaptations to Ed’s home as well as creating precious memories for him, his wife, Jo, and their three young children.

​With 4Ed now adopted by the Gloucester Rugby Charitable Foundation as a restricted fund, all money raised from next year’s dinner will be used to provide bursaries for families affected by MND in Gloucestershire to access support, including funding vital equipment, changes to the home, family days out, or psychological provision.

For all information, visit www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk

Cheltenham Jazz Festival is offering audiences a sneak-peak of their exciting 2024 programme, releasing tickets for six of the acts that will grace its storied stages in the spring.

Set to headline the Festival’s iconic Big Top in 2024 are singer-songwriter Jack Savoretti and pop reggae royalty UB40. Electronica pioneers Morcheeba will also take the stage.  

Superstar saxophonist and former Jazz Warrior Courtney Pine and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Dee Dee Bridgewater will also make the trip to Cheltenham. And West African dance legends Orchestra Baobab will perform in a double-headline show with Afro Jazz innovators Nubiyan Twist. 

“This first release of tickets for our exciting 2024 programme reflects the Festival’s long-standing commitment to celebrating the influences of jazz across all musical genres,” says Ian George, Head of Programming for the Jazz Festival and co-CEO of parent charity Cheltenham Festivals. 

“We celebrate all the genres that have jazz in their DNA by bringing the best of contemporary UK, US and European jazz to our Festival Village and across the town of Cheltenham,” he explains 

“The breadth of jazz’s influence is unique. From pop to soul, blues to world music, we are always so spoiled for fantastic musicians at Cheltenham. From orchestras and big bands to club sessions and late-night jams, the Festival runs the gamut of the music – as this line-up proves!”

Jack Savoretti has appeared at Cheltenham once before, and is excited to return to a Festival he believes has a unique character. “Cheltenham Jazz Festival is one of those Festivals you always want to play, our first show there was incredible and I look forward to returning next year.” 

The Festival also always looks forward to the future of the music, playing host to fresh new names and pushing the boundaries of the genre’s definition. Morcheeba’s Skye Edwards thinks this commitment to fostering the next generation is more important than ever. “We're looking forward to performing at Cheltenham. It has such a great reputation for having an eclectic mix of bands and genres. There’s a place for new talent alongside the established names which makes this a very vibrant festival for everyone!” 

Tickets for the early announcement shows will be available to the public from 27 November via cheltenhamfestivals/jazz/. The full programme for Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2024 will be revealed in February. ​

Brand new for the 2023/24 season Cheltenham Racecourse has launched The Mandarin, their first walk in restaurant.

For our non Cheltenham Festival fixtures, racegoers will be able to walk in and request a table in The Mandarin. The restaurant offers a glorious and cosy Cotswold pub feel. Its impressive interior takes its inspiration from a traditional country stable. Here you will find exposed wooden beams, quirky racing artefacts and exquisite seasonal food and drink.

Racegoers can simply walk in and request a table and tuck into delicious pub favourites such as The ‘Bookies’ favourite starter Traditional Scotch Eggs and the Local Burger.

​Priced at £65 per person for 2 courses and £85 for 3 courses, with children’s meals offered at half price, it’s the perfect destination for those looking to make their Raceday experience a little more special.
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Tables are available for 2-8 people and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

The restaurant is named after legendary horse Mandarin who was the winner of the 1962 Gold Cup. He was ridden by the legendary jockey, Fred Winter and trained by Fulke Walwyn, a four-time Gold Cup winning trainer.

The Mandarin is well situated on the ground floor of the main grandstand and is in close proximity to the Parade Ring.

www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/plan-your-day/food-drink/the-mandarin-walk-in-restaurant/

With an option of two sittings throughout each day at the Cheltenham Festival, The Mandarin is a wonderful way to make your festival experience even better.

Morning Sitting: (10.30am – 2pm)

• Morning coffee and breakfast bites
  
• 3 course pub lunch

Afternoon Sitting: (2.30pm – 6pm)

• 3 course pub lunch
  
• Afternoon tea

Both above options include the below as standard:

• Club admission ticket
  
• Car parking is available upon request
  
• Official Racecard
  
• TV racing coverage
  
• Tote betting service
  
• Hospitality team to ensure the smooth running of your day

Visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/hospitality/restaurant-packages/the-mandarin-restaurant/ for al the info.

​The much-loved, multi-million-selling Australian pop group Crowded House, nine-time Grammy-winning US singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow, and Mercury and Brit-nominated duo Turin Brakes, are the first acts to be announced for next summer’s Nocturne Live concert series, which returns to the 10,000-capacity UNESCO World Heritage Site of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire from June 12th – 16th 2024. The three acts will bring the five-night series to a close on Sunday June 16th.

Crowded House and Sheryl Crow were two of the biggest artists of the ‘90s and have collectively sold over 60 million albums over the course of their careers to date. Fronted by singer and guitarist Neil Finn, Crowded House became one of Australia’s most successful exports thanks to huge international hits including Don’t Dream It’s Over, Weather With You, Fall At Your Feet, Four Seasons In One Day and many more, and Sheryl Crow, who was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year, recently celebrated 30 years since the release of her hit-filled, multi-Grammy-winning debut album Tuesday Night Music Club.

Tickets and further info can be found here - www.nocturnelive.com

The Christmas Cotswold Fair, held in support of the incredible children’s charity WellChild, returns from the 6th to 9th November in its new home at Evenlode Grounds near Stow on the Wold.

This year is set to break all records, with over 220 stallholders in attendance, selling everything from homeware, to pet accessories and more. In addition to the new venue, The Christmas Cotswold Fair will be full to bursting with an extensive schedule of workshops and demonstrations, book signings, author ‘meet and greets’ and, of course, the luxurious Cotswold Grey VIP Lounge with delectable dishes from The Potted Goose Pub Co.

“We are so excited to be setting down roots at Evenlode Grounds”, says Fair organiser Lucy Greaves. “The Christmas Cotswold Fair officially marks the beginning of the festive period, and we cannot wait to be able to expand and grow into our new home, offering so much more than we have ever before.

“This year’s Fair will be the best it has ever been. Alongside our incredible array of stalls and daily events, we will be celebrating delicious, local food, prepared to perfection on site, in our Festive Feasting area. We can’t wait to welcome stallholders and visitors in November for the ultimate festive shopping experience – the Cotswold way.”

WellChild is very excited to be working with The Christmas Cotswold Fair again in 2023.

“We are delighted to see the Christmas Cotswold Fair continue to grow and develop as one of the most anticipated annual events in the pre-Christmas calendar”, said Matt James, Chief Executive of the charity.

“With the number of children and young people living with complex medical needs growing year-on-year, the Fair has become critical in raising the funds needed for WellChild to give these children and families the best chance to thrive at home instead of hospital. This is never more pertinent than at Christmas time. We look forward to an even brighter and festive Christmas Cotswold Fair at Evenlode Grounds this year.”

For over 30 years, The Cotswold Fair has supported WellChild and in 2022, they raised £120,000 to help support their valuable work.

What’s New for 2023

• A whole new venue!
• Pop-Up Festive Feasting
• Café hosted by The Potted Goose Pub Co
• Complimentary Lifestyle Workshops and Cookery Demos
• Pooky Artisan Gallery
• VIP Area hosted by Cotswold Grey (*VIP ticket holders only)
• Luxury Meet & Greet Area and Central Coffee Bar hosted by Bohemia Canvas

Tickets are on sale now!

• General early bird tickets are available from 1st September - £16.50
• General sale available from 1st October - £20

For all the info, visit cotswoldfair.com