Family value

Open Course at Bangor-on-Dee

Open Course is Bangor-on-Dee’s relaxed, lower-priced public enclosure, with a wide grass bank and large screen. It suits families and picnics: food and drink, including alcohol, may be brought in, and leashed dogs are allowed away from the track.

Photo: Paul, CC BY 2.0, cropped

Tickets fromFrom £7 advance in 2026

Dress codeNo public dress code

Parade RingNo; Paddock ticket required

EntranceRacecourse ticket gate, Overton Road

Who it suits

Families or friends looking for a lower-cost outdoor day out.
Visitors who want to bring their own picnic or a dog on a lead.
Racegoers who prefer a grass bank and large screen to indoor hospitality.

Ticket prices

Open Course prices at Bangor-on-Dee in 2026
Fixture / package	Advance or package price	On the day
27 October 2026Advance / on the day	£7	£13
28 November 2026Advance / on the day	£10	£16

The 2026 fixture pages show advance prices from £7 for 27 October and £10 for 28 November; the corresponding on-the-day prices are £13 and £16. Prices are per person and subject to availability. Children aged 17 and under go free with a responsible, full-paying adult. Online orders add a £0.75 fee per ticket.

Check availability on the official site

Where your ticket takes you

The Open Course lawn and grass bank for track viewing.
The on-course large screen and concessions for food and betting.
On family-themed fixtures, additional children’s activities at the Bangor end, included at no extra cost.
A designated area beside the track at the bottom of the car park where gazebos and parasols are permitted free.

Not included

Paddock access, including the Parade Ring, is not included. A Paddock ticket is needed to enter that enclosure.
No dedicated named restaurant or bar is listed for the Open Course; concessions operate on race days.

The view

Sit or stand on a sloping grass bank that works as a natural amphitheatre, with the large screen covering action around the track.

Food and drink

The Open Course has food and betting concessions, but the racecourse does not publish names or menus for those stalls. Visitors can also bring a picnic, including alcohol, and use a BBQ considerately.

Race-day concessions

The racecourse says food and drink and betting concessions operate in the Open Course, but does not identify the stall names on its enclosure page.

Picnic and BBQ area

Visitors may bring their own food, non-glass drinks and alcohol, and use a BBQ if it does not obstruct other people’s views.

Gazebo zone

Gazebos and parasols are allowed free in a designated strip beside the track at the bottom of the car park.

Facilities

Large screen

An on-site screen means you can follow the racing from different parts of the sloping bank.

Grass viewing bank

Sit or stand on the natural amphitheatre; the venue has no grandstand and very little cover.

Dogs

Dogs may come into the Open Course on a lead, but must stay away from the track.

Parking

Free racecourse parking is available. Check the map for the designated gazebo area at the bottom of the car park.

Dress code

There is no formal dress code in the Open Course. The racecourse advises dressing for the elements; it has little cover and some walking areas are grass. Bring waterproof layers and sturdy footwear for wet or uneven ground.

Getting in

Use the racecourse entrance at Overton Road, Bangor-on-Dee, LL13 0DA. The autumn 2026 day fixtures list gates opening at 11:30am. Digital tickets are emailed and should be added to a phone wallet before arrival. A £0.75 web fee applies per ticket; gate prices rise and are subject to availability.

Accessibility

The racecourse says it is single-storey and its public areas are accessible. Limited hard-standing parking and designated accessible spaces are available; email ahead to reserve a space. A designated Paddock viewing area in front of the stewards’ tower overlooks the track and winning post. Bring your own seat if helpful. Disabled guests pay the standard admission price; a companion may enter designated areas free. Contact Guest Services on 01978 780 323 or mail@bangorondeeraces.co.uk to discuss access. Hospitality venues do not publish a step-free route for each room, so ask the hospitality team for the specific room and terrace access. The grass bank is sloping, and the Open Course does not have its own designated accessible platform listed on the accessibility page; the designated viewing position is in the Paddock, which requires a Paddock ticket. Contact Guest Services to discuss suitable access arrangements.

Full accessibility guide for Bangor-on-Dee

Children and families

Children aged 17 and under enter the Open Course free when accompanied by a responsible adult with a full-paying ticket. No advance child ticket is required. Family days may include free activities between races; those activities depend on the fixture and can be in the Paddock.

Tips

For the lowest 2026 prices, the fixture pages list £7 advance on 27 October and £10 advance on 28 November, with on-day tickets £13 and £16 respectively.
Bring food, including alcohol, if you want to picnic; this is permitted here but not in the Paddock.
Keep BBQs low and out of sightlines, and use only the designated gazebo/parasols strip.
Dogs need to stay on a lead and well away from the track.
A Paddock ticket is the upgrade if you want the Parade Ring, betting shop and covered bars.

Questions people ask

Can I bring a picnic to the Open Course?

Yes. Picnics, including alcohol, are allowed in the Open Course. BBQs are permitted if they do not disrupt viewing.

Can I bring a dog?

Yes, on a lead in the Open Course and away from the track. Only assistance dogs are permitted in the Paddock.

How much is the Open Course ticket?

In 2026 the fixture pages show £7 advance or £13 on the day on 27 October, and £10 advance or £16 on the day on 28 November.

Does Open Course admission include the Parade Ring?

No. Open Course tickets do not include Paddock access. The Paddock ticket includes both public enclosures.

Other enclosures at Bangor-on-Dee

ExclusivePrivate MarqueesPrivate marquees are Bangor-on-Dee’s largest hospitality spaces, for groups of 50 to 500. Each is hired exclusively for the day, includes a private viewing deck, and can be tailored around the Gold hospitality package.Private diningPrivate ChaletsBangor-on-Dee’s private chalets are exclusive-use hospitality spaces for groups of 20 to 160. They have their own private viewing deck and are sold with the Gold Package as standard, with upgrades available by arrangement.SeasonalChristmas Track Viewing RestaurantThis is the fixture-specific marquee restaurant package offered for Virgin Bet Christmas Jumper Day on 11 December 2026. It pairs a reserved table and three-course Christmas lunch with a track-viewing location, admission badges and betting facilities.Restaurant diningPaddock RestaurantThe 150-seat Paddock Restaurant is a glass-fronted dining room opposite the Parade Ring and close to the Pre-Parade Ring. A private terrace lets guests watch the track or see runners before they go to post; hospitality includes a reserved table and a three-course lunch.Restaurant diningWynnstay RestaurantWynnstay is a 170-seat restaurant near the race-day bookmakers, with a two-course carvery and fully licensed bar. Its separate hospitality badge includes a reserved table, racecard, betting facilities and TV viewing; smaller parties may share a table.Full facilitiesPaddock EnclosurePaddock is the main public enclosure. It includes the Pre-Parade Ring, Parade Ring and Winners’ Enclosure, views of the home straight, a food court, betting facilities and three covered public bars; a Paddock ticket also lets you use the Open Course.

Compare all the enclosures side by side · Back to the Bangor-on-Dee guide

Sources

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