Irish racing fans flocking to Cheltenham this week can enjoy a taste of the world's most expensive pint of Guinness during the four-day festival.
The £20 drink features the famous black stuff, but it is also mixed with 'English sparkling wine' in a concoction the bookmakers behind it are calling 'the finest' pint in the world. According to online bookmaker Fitzdares, they are describing the drink as a 'perfect blend' of English sparkling wine and Irish stout that is perfect for the festival.
The drink is called Club Black Velvet, and the 50:50 mix is odds-on favourite to be the most expensive ale ever served at a racecourse. It will be available in Fitzdares Club at the racecourse and its sister venues in the Cotswolds and London’s Belgravia throughout the race meeting.
Read more: Cheltenham 2023 day 1 LIVE race card, horse racing tips, times and more
Meanwhile, booker Fitzdares' chief executive officer William Woodhams launched the drink this week to toast the Government’s post-Brexit Northern Ireland trade deal with the European Union - known as the Windsor Framework. He explained: "Every year there is more and more controversy around the cost of Guinness at the Cheltenham Festival and frankly we were bored of it.
"So, to gently rib the complainers and celebrate recent political manoeuvres we have created the world’s most expensive - and finest - pint of the black stuff with a mix of premium English sparkling wine and Guinness brewed in Dublin.
"Isn’t it the perfect way to celebrate free trade between our two great nations and the Windsor protocol? The Irish visitors to Cheltenham can afford it with their strong currency. Yours for £20."
Fitzdares, which launched as a bookmaker in 1882, opened its first members’ club in Mayfair three years ago which has now moved to Belgravia. It also added a second luxury sports venue - complete with 18-hole golf course - near Cheltenham last year (2022).
The Jockey Club has said ordinary pints of Guinness will cost £7.50 at the course. During the four day festival, thirsty punters are expected to drink up to 300,000 pints.
A self-service pull-your-own-pint bar has been brought in to cut queues. More than 20,000 Irish racing fans are expected to head over to the famous festival, which is expecting to pull in total crowds of around 274,000 people.
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