Live Shows Win At Newbury

Live shows at Newbury racecourse have been so successful that the British horse track intends to develop itself as a fully fledged leisure and events business.

The Berkshire course, which stages flat and jump racing, has plans for a multimillion-pound redevelopment that will ensure that it’s busy for at least 300 days per year.

The move looks to have been prompted by the return it’s seen from staging live shows. A summer series that began with Rod Stewart playing in front of 15,000 people in May has helped push up turnover from £4.3 million to £5.6 million.

Profit was up by £83,000 to £537,000, an 18.2 percent increase on the previous year.

Newbury, which is next to the old U.S. nuclear airbase at Greenham Common, already has planning permission for an expansion that includes a hotel, developing its existing conference facilities, and building up to 1,500 houses.