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Southwell Racecourse is a dual-purpose Nottinghamshire venue beside Rolleston station, around two miles from Southwell town. Its calendar combines floodlit all-weather flat meetings with daytime turf jump racing. The current programme includes Oktoberfest evenings and afternoon jump fixtures; the racecourse posts exact times on each event page. Parking is available on site, accompanied under-18s go free, and the FAQ explains access, food and transport arrangements. In Southwell, visitors can see the Minster and Archbishop’s Palace, visit the National Trust Workhouse, browse independent shops and pubs, or explore the town’s Bramley apple heritage.
Photo: Chris Morgan, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped
Southwell races throughout the year on its all-weather flat track and turf jumps course. The next published meetings include an evening Oktoberfest fixture on Saturday 3 October and afternoon jump racing on Tuesday 13 October 2026.
Eight floodlit flat races. Gates open at about 3:15pm, the first race is at 4:45pm and the last at 8:30pm.
A daytime turf jump meeting listed on the racecourse calendar.
Admission options and prices vary by fixture. The 3 October event page lists its current ticket choices; concession availability is described on the racecourse FAQs.
A floodlit evening meeting.
An afternoon jumps card.
Any raceday: 17 and under free (some festival exclusions).
Racing and the Minster.
Southwell sells a General Enclosure ticket for public racegoers, plus several separately booked hospitality areas. Seasons Restaurant sits inside the Premier Enclosure; its hospitality ticket includes admission to public areas. Private suites, course-centre chalets and outdoor packages have their own seating and inclusions, and are sold through the racecourse or its official hospitality partner.
Private hospitality
Private course-centre chalets on the winning line, with garden, bar, dining and dedicated betting.
Trackside dining
A restaurant in the centre of the course with views along the final straight and a full hospitality package.
Premier dining
A first-floor restaurant in the Premier Enclosure, with private tables, meals and access to public areas.
Private suite
A first-floor hospitality suite with balcony and track views, available for private groups and event packages.
Outdoor hospitality
Selected-fixture tent, lawn and pagoda packages with admission, reserved or guaranteed seats, food and drinks.
Standard
Public grandstand, trackside, Parade Ring, bars, food outlets and betting access.
Compare every enclosure side by side: prices, views, bars and food, dress codes and entrances.
Southwell’s clothing guidance is relaxed in Grandstand and encourages smarter outfits in hospitality, including Seasons Restaurant. Smart jeans or tailored shorts with a collared shirt are suggested for men. The dedicated page excludes sports team shirts and offensive fancy dress in both areas. Choose clothes that suit the occasion and the forecast, and check your booking instructions if unsure about a specific package. A smarter outfit is suggested for hospitality rather than a stated requirement for a suit.
Official clothing advice — checked 14 October 2026.
A quick estimate for your group. Where we have confirmed a ticket price it’s filled in; otherwise add the price from the racecourse’s booking page. Change any figure to match your plans.
The course is at Occupation Lane, Rolleston, postcode NG25 0FT. Rolleston station is beside the racecourse, but not every weekday train stops there. The nearby Minster town of Southwell is about two miles away.
The venue recommends NG25 0FT for satnav. It has on-site parking. On Sundays and all floodlit meetings, local restrictions close Occupation Lane and Station Road as access routes; follow the yellow diversion signs instead of satnav.
Rolleston is on the Nottingham–Lincoln line and is next to the racecourse. Not all weekday trains stop there, so check the operator’s timetable for your date. The racecourse says additional services call at Rolleston on racedays in line with first and last race times.
The racecourse identifies frequent service 26 from Nottingham Bus Station to Southwell, operating seven days a week. The town is around two miles from the course, so plan the last leg by taxi or on foot. Service 28 from Newark is less frequent.
Southwell has allocated coach parking and directs groups to it on arrival. Drivers should use NG25 0FT for the Racecourse Road approach. For Sunday and floodlit meetings, local restrictions prevent access through Occupation Lane and Station Road in Rolleston, so follow the yellow diversion signs. Ask the course about any parking charge before travelling. Plan the route for your actual fixture rather than assuming every meeting permits the same access.
Official parking advice — checked 14 October 2026.
Book trains to Rolleston.
Southwell makes a convenient base for the racecourse and the town’s heritage attractions. Choose a Market Place inn, a self-catering cottage in or near town, or stay in Newark for a larger choice of hotels and rail connections.
Stay near the Minster, high street and restaurants, then travel the short distance to the course.
Self-catering and estate cottages offer more space for a longer visit; Newark is another rail-connected option.
Compare hotels near Southwell.
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Southwell town has pubs, restaurant dining and occasional concerts within a short taxi ride of the racecourse. These are town-centre options for a separate evening out.
The Market Place hotel has 27 en-suite bedrooms and welcomes non-residents to its restaurant. Its food and drink pages list dinner service on weekday and Saturday evenings, giving racegoers a town-centre meal option after a meeting.
This 18th-century town pub serves food through the week, including evening meals Monday and Tuesday and service until 8:30pm Wednesday to Saturday. The pub also hosts beer and music festivals in May and September.
The festival brings classical concerts to Southwell around the August Bank Holiday. Its programme also includes Palace Sessions and a Christmas Celebration; the 2026 festival ran 28–31 August. Concert venues are in town, rather than at the racecourse.
The racecourse is about two miles from the town centre; arrange a taxi for the journey back after an evening out.
Southwell’s Minster town centre and surrounding villages combine medieval church architecture, Victorian social history and specialist local museums.
The Minster is known for its Norman nave and medieval Chapter House carvings, the “Leaves of Southwell”. The adjoining Palace has gardens and guided tours. The Minster suggests a £5 donation per visitor.
This National Trust site opened in 1824 as an unusually purpose-designed workhouse. Original rooms, the infirmary and gardens interpret Victorian welfare and daily life.
At Upton Hall near Southwell, this specialist museum presents clocks, watches and other timekeeping objects. Check its published opening dates before building it into a trip.
Southwell’s published October evening fixture gives approximate race times. Event timings can change, so the meeting page is the source for the latest schedule.
Source: Southwell Racecourse Oktoberfest Racenight event page and racecourse FAQs, checked 2 October 2026.
The FAQ says children aged 17 and under can enter free with an adult; a free ticket is issued on the day. Some fixtures have exclusions, so use the event ticket page for the meeting.
The racecourse permits picnics outdoors. Alcohol, glass and metal knives are not allowed, and free drinking water is available at the bars.
Bars and food outlets are cashless and there are no ATMs on site. The FAQ says seating is limited; visitors may bring their own chairs.
Southwell allows accompanied children at no admission charge for many racedays.
The racecourse FAQ says children aged 17 and under enter free when accompanied by an adult; the free ticket is issued at the course on the day. Some fixtures are excluded, so consult the event page for its ticket conditions. In Southwell town, the Minster, its medieval carvings and the National Trust Workhouse offer family-friendly historical visits.
Call 999 and give the address, Southwell Racecourse, Occupation Lane, Rolleston, NG25 0FT. Then tell a member of staff.
Call 01636 814481.
Official results are on the BHA results page.
Prices, dates and travel details were checked on 2 October 2026. The racecourse can change prices, times and arrangements, so check your booking page before you pay. This is an independent guide, not connected to Southwell Racecourse or Arena Racing Company. Some links may earn us a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you; this never decides what we recommend.
