Last month, and due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, it was announced that Royal Ascot 2021, this year taking place between the 15th and 19th June, was going to be downsizing somewhat. To ensure that social distancing can be maintained, tickets are now only available to the Royal Enclosure and Queen Anne Enclosure, and the whole event likely to be limited to a daily capacity of between 4’000 and 10’000.
The sad news is that the Village, Windsor and Heath Enclosures at this year’s Royal Meeting won’t be open as usual, with tickets for those areas carrying over into 2022. Considering the event usually draws in almost 300’000 people over the weekend, it’s safe to assume that nabbing a ticket is going to be difficult. It’s also going to be hugely expensive. Looks like we’ll be celebrating at home again this year!
Not to worry. Last year the races were live-streamed and it was all about ‘Royal Ascot at Home’, which turned out to be a fun, inclusive event. We also saw people fundraising in support of Ascot’s #StyledWithThanks to help those affected by COVID-19, raising over £400’000 for The National Emergencies Trust Coronavirus Appeal, NHS Charities Together, The Care Workers Charity and the Berkshire Community Foundation. Bravo!
We’ve got our eye on the Royal Ascot At Home’ activity hub to see what may be going on later this year, and we’re hopeful for a repeat of the same fun, fundraising and fancy dress. However, if you’re keen to get planning ahead and you’re hosting your own party this June, here’s 5 IDEAL ways to celebrate Royal Ascot at home.
DELICIOUS BITES & AFTERNOON TEA
Guess the number of Cornish Crabs which were served up to racegoers during the mid June race extravaganza two years ago? Country Life reports that figures released from Royal Ascot in 2018 said the number of crabs totalled at least 8,000. Wow! And they’re not the only crustaceans that attendees seem to like, with 3,500 fresh lobsters also ending up on punters’ plates.
This is alongside 5’000 kg of salmon, 2’400kg of beef sirloin, 5’000 Angus steaks, and 7’000 rumps of English lamb. Yep, though the festival is nominally about horse racing, we think it’s fair to say that it’s as much about the food.
And did you know that Royal Ascot’s fine dining restaurants are run every year by internationally renowned chefs? From Raymond Blanc to Brett Graham, Simon Rogan and more, the event’s chefs in residence this year claim 10 Michelin stars between them.
Though it’s only likely to be horse racing pundits, investors, royalty and celebrities enjoying the amazing food on offer, the home hub we mentioned earlier has some fantastic recipes online to recreate racecourse dishes. Check out this awesome recipe for confit of salmon with cucumber, cauliflower and horseradish sauce from Raymon Blanc, which would be a real crowdpleaser, even if you’re only cooking it for friends at home!
However, for us, afternoon tea washed down with some bubbly is the way to dine during Royal Ascot week. Did you know that, in 2019 (a regular year), 240,000 hand-made afternoon tea cakes were served during Royal Ascot? That’s not all; 120,000 buttermilk scones topped with 1,200kg of Cornish clotted cream and 60,000 finger sandwiches were also enjoyed by guests.
A very British tradition, afternoon tea is the height of refined sophistication, but it’s a pursuit which is very rarely held at home. This year, Royal Ascot is the perfect excuse to host such a party at home to celebrate the event.
The menu, it seems, has been written.
Read: How to throw the best afternoon tea party in 5 IDEAL steps.
SET UP A CHAMPAGNE HOME BAR
If you hadn’t noticed, we’re really enjoying throwing stats at you right now. Guess how many bottles of champagne were consumed in 2019? A whopping 56,000.
As such, it would be rude not to uphold the very British tradition of getting slaughtered on fizz at the races. Moët & Chandon, Lanson and Veuve Clicquot are, of course, the champagnes of choice for connoisseurs at Ascot.
However, you can still indulge in champagne without the hefty price tag. Some of our favourite cheap tipples include Champagne Leon Launois Brut NV at just £21.95 and Veuve Monsigny Brut from Aldi (yes, you read that right) for just 12.99 is an award-winning fizz from the “small, consistently excellent Champagne house Philizot & Fils”. If you’re looking to splash a little more cash, then may we suggest the Hambledon Classic Cuvée for £30? A cracking English fizz if ever there was one.
THE BETS ARE ON
Of course, one of the main focuses of the Ascot fun is the horse racing and betting itself, and having a flutter at the races is part and parcel of the fun. Looking through the national papers and selecting which horse you fancy backing, usually decided by the absurdity of the name, is a Great British tradition.
It’s tempting to simply pick the favourite each race, as they have the best chance of winning, but here in the UK, we love an underdog, right? Ascot atually sees some of the lowest numbers of odds-on favourites actually winning among any of the UK’s major racing events.
Though you can use online bookmakers to bet at home, with Royal Ascot betting offers and free bets hoping to lure you in, it can be just as fun to set up your own bookies at home, with a family member as the bookmaker.
Create your own bet slips, using the odds you find online, and then it’s up to the family if they play with imaginary money, a few copper coins, or that fiver your favourite aunt and uncle have sent since you were six. Perhaps you could allocate a festive prize for the winner to keep things interesting!
If you’re not one for a flutter, there are lots of other enjoyable racehorse themed games you can play at home. Last year saw Ascot TV presenter Rupert Bell set up a Royal Ascot Quiz, which was great fun! This year, we hope it’s happening again. Check back here in June to find out.
HAT PARTY
The Ascot dress code is stricter than for other racing events, and each enclosure has a different set of guidelines about what you should wear. Formal daywear is required as standard, with dresses and skirts of modest length recommended. Full-length trousers or jumpsuits below the knee are also advised, with jackets and pashminas also permitted.
But most importantly, and most iconically, hats (or a headpiece with a solid base) should be embraced wholeheartedly! Interestingly, fascinators and novelty headwear are not permitted.
All of this may sound stiflingly prim and proper, but how often have you had the excuse to dress up quite so extravagantly of late? Embrace the guidelines with your friends at home, and have a glamorous day of it!
GARDEN GATES OPEN
Since Royal Ascot 2021 is held at the height of summer, it’s the perfect excuse to throw a garden party. As the focus of the races and festivities falls al fresco, set up an outdoor projector to enhance your at-home Ascot experience. And don’t forget the speakers; a proper surround sound affair will give the immersive experience you’re after.
The bandstand is another huge part of Ascot – the tradition of racegoers singing around the bandstand like one huge, merry choir is a massive part of the fun. May we suggest constructing your own mini bandstand with some speakers? Or, perhaps enlist your most musically gifted friend to play some tunes for your own at-home bandstand singalong.
Hey, that sounds so fun, do you mind if we tag along?
Read: 7 tips for making a success of your Summer garden parties.
As rules change and evolve daily, do keep an eye on the latest Government announcements regarding what’s permitted in terms of inter-household mixing.