As we approach Midsummer’s Day, Royal Ascot arrives in style on the 15th-19th June. A pinnacle of British horseracing, Royal Ascot is synonymous with style, prestige and, of course, Her Majesty The Queen. Whether you are celebrating At Home or In Person, The Wine Tipster has all the tips and tricks for making this year’s Royal Ascot unforgettable.
Since the introduction of The Gold Cup in 1807, Royal Ascot has stormed into the history books as Britain’s most valuable race meeting where the world’s finest talent competes for over £7 million of prize money. Each of the five days are opened by a Royal Procession, a tradition started by King George IV and which continues to this day.
This year, The Wine Tipster is especially excited for the top races on all five days of the meeting:
To get your bets in, look out for The Wine Tipster’s Unibet Racing blogs for each day of the meeting.
Hospitality is a huge part of the raceday experience, and Ascot typically sees more than 6500 temporary staff join the team to provide the top quality service punters come for. For those on the course this year, you are spoiled for choice with the 5 magnificent fine dining experiences available. Managing Director of 1711 by Ascot, Jonathan Parker, can’t wait to welcome diners back for a memorable Ascot experience. This year, for the special return to racing, there is a Michelin-star studded array of chefs offering the finest gastronomic experiences for the Royal Meeting.
Two Michelin-star chef and Ascot regular, Raymond Blanc OBE will once again be in the Panoramic Restaurant in the Royal Enclosure. His 2021 menu showcases the best of British produce.
For a third year, five Michelin-star chef Simon Rogan will once again be bringing his impeccable standards and sustainability practices to the course. His innovative and delicious menu will be available in the award-winning ON 5 in the Queen Anne Enclosure.
For a brand new dining experience this year, Ollie Dabbous will provide racegoers in The Wolferton on the Trackside Lawns of the Queen Anne Enclosure with an interactive private table experience for a memorable Ascot.
Especially for the 2021 meeting, Rick Stein’s classic summer seafood dishes will make their Ascot debut. This is set to be another spectacular Royal Ascot.
Heralded as the home of raceday elegance, the chance for racegoers to dress to the nines is too exciting an opportunity to pass. The Royal Ascot style guide is a must whether at Ascot or At Home. This year’s 10th Anniversary Royal Ascot Style Guide also celebrates sustainability and the art of conscious shopping as it launches for 2021 in association with Swiss watch brand Longines. In association with Fenwick, the Official Royal Ascot Millinery Sponsor, the 2021 Royal Ascot Millinery Collective is full of high fashion inspiration.
Don’t forget to check the dress code for each enclosure.
This year, the total maximum capacity for racegoers on all racecourses is 4000 per day, so many will still be celebrating at home. To make life easier, The Royal Ascot Celebration Pack is the perfect way to make celebrating Ascot At Home easy and fun for up to 4 people. Buy yours here in time for the meeting. Check out the Ascot Shop to kit you and your families out with Ascot souvenirs for this and years to come!
You don’t have to miss out on the elegance and style of Ascot while at home, thanks to the Royal Ascot style guide packed full of inspiration for the track or at home. Why not try making your own hat with expert guidance from milliner Awon Golding.
Entertain children (or keen adults) with the Royal Ascot Children’s Activities downloads, and the Royal Ascot History Bingo is a fun way to learn about this momentous meeting.
Over 13,000 flowers are grown each year to ensure the racecourse is fit for royalty. The Royal Ascot Garden Guide has top tips for how to achieve exquisite blooms such as The Queen Anne Rose and how to create beautiful hanging baskets. The Queen Anne Rose was named to celebrate the tercentenary of Ascot Racecourse founded by Queen Anne in 1711 and are now planted all along the track in front of the Grandstand.
Put the fine into fine dining at home thanks to Ascot’s afternoon tea and picnic hampers (from £89.50). Their great selection of traditional afternoon tea and picnic hampers, as well as cocktail boxes, are available to pre-order for nationwide delivery and will be delivered in fully sustainable cardboard containers or premium, Royal Ascot wicker hampers. This can be a guilt-free treat as £5 for each two-person hamper sold and £10 for each six-person hamper sold will be donated to The Tri-Forces charities.
This year, Moët & Chandon’s 10 delicious afternoon tea recipes are also available to download here, provided by Ascot’s Culinary Director Ben Dutson and Executive Chef Gemma Amor who do amazing work across the whole racecourse to make sure every dining experience is to the highest of standards.
To create your own Fine Dining experience at home, 10 recipes from Raymond Blanc OBE and Ben Dutson, Ascot’s Culinary Director, are compiled in the great Royal Ascot Food and Drink Guide. The Wine Tipster is especially excited to make the delicious Coronation Chicken with the Plant-Based Gnocchi with Carrot-Top Pesto and Prosociano.
For the perfect cocktail to accompany Royal Ascot, take your pick from the Food and Drink Guide‘s impressive cocktail selection, developed with Pernod Ricard, Official Spirits of Royal Ascot. The Wine Tipster can’t wait to pair a refreshing Lillet Summer Spritz or Royal Ascot Blush with the summery gnocchi.
On to the wine, and the Ascot Wine Club is stocked full of The Wine Tipster’s favourites, such as the ‘Gris Blanc’, Gérard Bertrand, Pays d’Oc, France 2020, Gavi del Commune di Gavi ‘Fossili’, San Silvestro, Italy 2019 and Malbec, ‘Estate’, Doña Paula, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina 2018.
The Wine Tipster also loves the following bottles for Royal Ascot at Home:
The Wine Tipster hopes that whether you are celebrating Royal Ascot 2021 in person or at home that you have a most wonderful week and some wins! Look out for his Unibet Blog for tips, and follow him on social media for updates. For blogs straight into your inbox, subscribe here.
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