Posted online: Feb 18th, 2010

By Sinéad Flanagan
Editor

A LOCAL racecourse has announced plans to invest €300,000 in facilities.
Punchestown is to put €150,000 into their ‘Dobbins Food Hall’, building a trackside festival reserved enclosure for the first time, giving the public bar a revamp, and examining festival start times. The work is to take place in advance of the 2010 Irish National Hunt Festival.
General Manager Dick O’Sullivan remarked: “Value for money is the name of the game and in order to meet, and hopefully exceed the public’s expectations we are focusing on the key areas of food, drink and surroundings. We are confident that the thousands who come through the Punchestown gates will be impressed with the improvements and will have a great Festival experience at the right price.”
The revamp to the food hall will include both front and back of house with new catering equipment, a streamlined service area and complete renovation of the 200 seater dining area.
In addition the display and preparation areas will be improved to further facilitate the area.
The trackside enclosure will undergo much work. Elsewhere on the track the various public bar facilities will also benefit from upgrades with decor, furnishing, efficient service and clearer signage being a priority.
Following on from the success of last year’s later start times the first race during the festival will go to post at 3.30pm and final race at 7pm (Tuesday to Thursday) and 7.30pm on Friday with eight races on the card. Saturday’s Family Day will commence at 2.30pm with the now famous Diageo Punchestown Private Sweepstakes race bringing down the festival curtain in fitting fashion.
The Punchestown Festival takes place from Tuesday, 20th to Saturday, 24th April.