Her Majesty Queen Camilla officially opened an £8m redevelopment project at York Racecourse during the prestigious 2024 Sky Bet Ebor Festival last weekend.
Queen Camilla cut the ribbon on the revamped Bustardthorpe Stand, marking the completion of an extensive nine-month renovation led by Elvington-based Lindum York.
After cutting the ceremonial ribbon, Camilla, who is a patron of venue, was taken on a tour of the grounds and introduced to racecourse staff, excited racegoers and even Lindum York MD, James Nellist!
She then took her spot in the royal box to watch the action before presenting the trophy to the winner of the Ebor Handicap, which is the oldest race in the organisation’s history and dates back to 1843.
The racecourse’s longstanding partnership with Lindum continues to deliver major improvements, with previous projects including the Northern End redevelopment, Premier Racing Lounge, and more.
James said it was an honour to be introduced to Queen Camilla and was a fantastic way to round off the latest Lindum scheme to be completed at the racecourse.
“She was great,” he said. “She asked me if the project has gone well and if it was completed on time and in budget.
“Thankfully the answer was yes on both counts!”
The renovation carried out by Lindum includes the construction of the Roberto Bar, offering a fast-serve experience with a fish & chip shop, a cocktail/Pimms bar, and other exciting new catering options.
The historic 1913 Bustardthorpe Stand has been carefully refurbished with a new ground floor extension housing modern toilets, catering outlets, a William Hill shop, Tote outlet, and an expanded Theakston Bar.
One of the standout features is the new 900-square-metre Churchill Tyres Lawn, complete with an innovative ETFE Canopy. The canopy not only provides shelter from the weather but also captures rainwater, funnelling it into a 16,000-litre tank for eco-friendly toilet flushing.
Queen Camilla’s visit to open the new stand adds a special touch to this year’s Ebor Festival, celebrating the racecourse’s illustrious history while embracing a sustainable future.
