Racegoers encouraged to plan for a scorcher this weekend with temperatures set to soar

With the North East enjoying a spell of warm weather this week, Newcastle Racecourse is planning for a scorcher at this year’s JenningsBet Northumberland Plate Festival taking place Thursday 25th – Saturday 27th June 2026.

With 15,000 racegoers anticipated to descend on Gosforth Park for the three-day racing celebration, Newcastle Racecourse is planning ahead to ensure its guests, jockeys and competing horses all stay cool during the festival and are encouraging ticketholders to do the same to ensure they feel comfortable while still being able to look their best.

As a sporting and social event known for its spectacular outfits, the racecourse is relaxing its dress code for the weekend, with shorts permitted this year to ensure fashionable ladies and gents can feel stylish while still enjoying the day and feeling their best. Guests are also encouraged to bring a sun hat so they can still enjoy the rays while trackside.

Newcastle Racecourse is urging racegoers to remember to stay hydrated during the festivities too and to take advantage of the free drinking water at all its bars throughout the festival. Complimentary suncream will also be available to protect those enjoying the sunshine, as well as handheld fans for all marquee hospitality guests.

Keeping the equine athletes cool is an utmost priority for the racecourse and they will be providing large fans and ice water for the competing horses each day, as well as extra water troughs on site and additional staff to water down the horses regularly**. For the jockeys, there will also be handheld fans provided as well as ice lolly treats to beat the heat.

For those looking to make the most of the hot weather, remaining tickets are available for JenningsBet Northumberland Plate Festival including Grandstand Admission tickets and early entry priority tickets, plus packages such as Pizza & Prosecco and the Centre Course VIP Enclosure. Tickets can be purchased online, via telephone, or at the Newcastle Racecourse office.

Guests can start raceday in style with 50% off drinks, available across all three days of the JenningsBet Northumberland Plate Festival. For the first hour after gates open*, racegoers can enjoy up to 50% off selected soft drinks, lager, cider, bitter and Guinness, £10 off any bottle of House Wine, Prosecco or Champagne and £10 off any jug of Pimms.

To make getting to and from the racecourse as easy as possible on Plate Day, complimentary shuttle buses will operate throughout the day on Saturday 27th June from both Four Lane Ends and Regent Centre Metro Stations, running on a continuous loop from 11:00am until 2:00pm, dropping racegoers directly at the racecourse entrance.

After racing, buses will depart from outside GOALS on site and operate on a continuous loop to Four Lane Ends and Regent Centre Metro Stations from 4:30pm until 9:00pm.

Selected shuttle buses will head directly to the official Northumberland Plate Day After Party at 97 & Social and Spy Bar Jesmond. Spread across both venues, racegoers can enjoy DJs, drinks offers, beer gardens and plenty of screens showing the World Cup action, making it the perfect place to keep the celebrations going into the evening.

For more information on JenningsBet Northumberland Plate Festival and to buy tickets, visit www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk/news/festivals/your-guide-to-the-jenningsbet-northumberland-plate-festival-2026.