New York State

Category Added in a WPeMatico Campaign

My Homes Under The Hammer experience was a nightmare after a court summons for £10.5k council tax bill I refused to pay

MY Homes Under The Hammer experience turned into a nightmare after I received a court summons for a £10.5k council tax bill that I refused to pay.

Property developer, Maxine Fothergill decided to buy two derelict flats but she was unaware of the future battle she would have with the local council.

Damaged kitchen with mold and water damage.
Supplied
A Homes Under The Hammer experience turned into a nightmare after the buyer received a court summons for a £10.5k council tax bill that she refused to pay[/caption]
Two people standing outside a house.
Supplied
Maxine outside the flats with Homes Under The Hammer’s Clive Emson[/caption]

Maxine’s renovation journey features in an upcoming episode of Homes Under The Hammer set to air shortly.

In an exclusive interview with The Sun, she said: “The flats were a wreck but the auctioneer said to me this is right up your street, if anyone can do it you can.

“He kind of set me the challenge and I couldn’t resist – So I bought the two flats and the freehold.”

Homes Under The Hammer‘s Clive Emson then asked her if she’d be interested in getting the renovation featured on the property show.

Maxine, Managing Director and founder of Amax Estates explained: “I’ve known him for years and I agreed because these two flats are typical of many leasehold flats with absentee freeholders who do not maintain them.”

House of Horrors

Damaged kitchen with collapsed ceiling and water damage.
Supplied
They were derelict and would have been dangerous for anyone to try and live in[/caption]

However, when she and her husband first entered the flats they didn’t expect a scene from a Hammer of House of Horrors film.

“Extensive work needed to be done on the flats as they had been empty for years.

“They were full of rubbish including eerily weird dolls that seemed to stare at you and huge black cobwebs everywhere.

“It was like something from the Hammer House of Horror – like somebody had literally got up, walked off.

“There was still tea bags and all their clothes, but they’d been empty for years and years and years.”

“The middle bedroom was quite odd. It didn’t have a window but it had a curtain and it felt like somebody was in there like somebody had died in there or something.

“So my husband looked at me and we jokingly bickered about who would open the curtain.

“I just pulled it quick and we both jumped back because there was a bed and it had like a big sort of like depression on the on the pillow.

“Like, like somebody had sort of like, just been lying there, it was very bizarre and pretty horrible.”

Renovation Nightmares

Debris from a demolished structure.
Supplied
The garden had been used for fly tipping and was covered in stuff everywhere[/caption]

“The local authority and the fire brigade were just about to close the block down because it was so non compliant even the electrics were dangerous.

“There was fly tipping galore and the garden was littered with sofas and other people’s rubbish – it was a horrendous mess!

“I also had two illegal extensions on the back of our two flats which we had to take down.

“The common areas of the block of flats were in disrepair and no money had been spent on the building for thirty years.

“However, it was a struggle to get the other leaseholders to contribute money for repairs because they were higher up.

“The roof of the flats, which was a walkway, was very leaky and had totally flooded the inside of the flats.

“I had to remove everything and strip them all back to the bare walls.”

But worse was yet to come for Maxine!

Court Summons for refusal to pay

Messy room with debris and damaged walls.
Supplied
The council billed her for council tax even though the flats were derelict[/caption]

“The local council Medway in Kent demanded that I pay outstanding council tax on the two flats which amounted to 10.5k.

“The council argued that even though I had only owned the properties for less than a year, as the owner I was nevertheless liable to pay all of the outstanding amount of council tax.

“I disagreed with this, arguing that the flats had been derelict before I renovated them. (The government exempts derelict properties from council tax.) I appealed, but the council reviewed my case and rejected it.”

Maxine added: “The council is cash-strapped and they told me that because the two flats had been vacant for more than two years prior – it would apply an empty home tax premium.

“The liability racked up by the previous owner lay with me” she explained.

Maxine found this stressful and unfair and was on a tight budget – she couldn’t magic the money required from thin air.

“I appealed to the government’s Valuation Office Agency (VOA) on the grounds that the flats had been derelict.

“However, they also rejected my appeal even though they weren’t liveable, so I appealed again against that decision. “

But as Maxine waited for the decision of her latest appeal she was summoned to magistrate’s court for non-payment of the outstanding council tax.

However, when the magistrate’s court learned that she was in the process of appealing again, the court case was postponed.

But Maxine now knew that the pressure was on to win the final appeal.

“If I lost that, I would be back in court and would have to pay both the council tax and the court costs.”

“At the appeal, conducted over Zoom, I presented evidence including a letter from my building surveyor that said the flats were derelict.

However, their solicitor argued that the definition of derelict was that the building lacked a roof.

“I said that the walkway roof was so leaky it was almost the same as the flats not having a roof.

“However, this seemed unpersuasive but then I also argued that under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, the flats were dangerous because they showed evidence of structural collapse.

This argument worked and Maxine’s appeal was granted, meaning she wouldn’t have to pay the outstanding debt.

Nice return on her investment

Empty room with a camera on a tripod.
Supplied
The flats were eventually renovated to a high standard and ready for tenants[/caption]
Renovated bathroom with bathtub, toilet, and sink.
Supplied
Maxine’s renovation journey will appear on an upcoming episode of the property show[/caption]

The flats were eventually renovated and now look spanking brand new which viewers will be able to see on the show when it airs.

The pair originally cost around £150,000, plus the renovation costs, but are now worth around £330,000, which Maxine said: “Is a nice return on the investment.

“But my intention was always to rent them out as buy-to-lets and I already have a tenant ready to move into one of them.”

The property developer also revealed that she thoroughly enjoyed her experience on Homes under the Hammer and said: “All the presenters and the team were completely lovely.”

The Sun contacted Medway Council for commentary but they replied: “We wouldn’t comment on an individual case” but did supply information to assist with reporting.

Small kitchen with white cabinets and light wood flooring.
The gorgeous kitchen looks completely different after the renovation project

Homes Under The Hammer airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.

Read More »

Nearly half of Brits have forgotten how to have fun – and those over 42 are worst hit, study shows

A GIANT red ball pit appeared in Manchester – proving fun has no age limit as adults get the chance to have some child-like fun.

Measuring 10m by 5m, the retro soft play favourite turned heads as passers-by couldn’t resist jumping in and playfully rolling around as they took a well-earned break from the seriousness of everyday life.

Woman in red jacket in a ball pit of red balls, holding a Babybel cheese.
SWNS
TV star Chloe Burrows jumps in a bright red ball pit for Comic Relief[/caption]
Woman in wheelchair donates to Comic Relief by finding a Babybel ball.
SWNS
The soft play area was setup in Manchester as a ‘ playful reminder’ to have fun[/caption]
Woman in red jacket in a ball pit with red and white balls, wearing a red nose.
SWNS
Babybel sponsored the 65,000 strong pit which included several branded balls[/caption]

Filled with 65,000 bright red balls, TV personality Chloe Burrows was on hand to encourage the public to join in the fun, spark laughter and nostalgia.

Created by Babybel ahead of this year’s Red Nose Day on 21st March, the ‘Babybel-ball pit’ also included several special branded balls – with an additional £1 donation made for every one that was found.

It comes after a study revealed 42 per cent of adults admit they have forgotten how to have fun, with 42 revealed as the age this stops.

A spokesperson for the cheese snack brand, which also commissioned the research, said: “As life gets busier, fun can sometimes take a backseat to responsibilities, routines and expectations.

“But having fun isn’t something we should outgrow – it’s something worth holding onto.

“This giant ball pit – with its ‘Find It. Drop It. Donate It’ donation mechanic – is a playful reminder that fun has a place at every stage of life, and a little bit of fun can do a lot of good.

“As a long-time supporter of Comic Relief, we have helped raise over £1.7 million, and this year, are donating another £150,000 to help make a difference.

“The money raised could help put food on plates and roofs over heads, keep little ones safe and help support families affected by conflict – both in the UK and around the world.”

The study also found a fifth of adults struggle to fit fun into their weekly schedule, citing the barriers as a lack of time (28 per cent), energy (27 per cent), and work commitments (23 per cent).

As a result, 85 per cent would like to reconnect with their sense of fun, but 60 per cent feel pressured to act mature as an adult.

And 58 per cent feel more self-conscious when they do take part in a playful activity – compared to when they were a child.

With 77 per cent of those polled, via OnePoll.com, saying they miss the carefree nature of their younger self.

To help them rediscover their sense of fun, 26 per cent reckon they need to forget what others think, while 41 per cent need more free time.

It also emerged 43 per cent think there is a link between having fun and being kinder or more generous to others.

And 41 per cent would be more likely to engage in charitable or community activities if doing something that amused them.

The spokesperson added: “We believe that doing good can and should be fun – which is why our partnership of over 25-years with Comic Relief is so special to us.

“Together, we’ve shown how laughter and joy not only make us feel good but also inspire meaningful change.”

Read More »

Chinese warships ENCIRCLE Australia in chilling fresh war games as Xi flexes muscle against West & Taiwan tensions soar

CHINESE warships have encircled Australia in a terrifying new war game, putting Australian forces on high alert.

The fleet has finally completed its voyage around the continent after setting off unannounced nearly a month ago.

PLA-N Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang sailing at sea.
AFP
A fleet of Chinese warships have encircled Australia[/caption]
Sailors observing Chinese warships from the Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Arunta.
AFP
Australian forces watched the fleet as it moved along the Australian coastline[/caption]
Illustration of Chinese warships circumnavigating Australia.
The map shows the fleet’s journey around Australia

The voyage began on February 11 with just one warship, but the vessel was quickly joined by two more.

Together the three warships moved along the Australian coastline, sailing in and out of Australia‘s exclusive economic zone and coming within 170 nautical miles of Perth.

On February 21 China launched live-fire drills just 150 nautical miles east of Sydney.

The vessels were reportedly seen changing formation, deploying a floating target, and resetting formations, which resembled a live-fire drill, according to ABC News.

The drills came as a shock to Australian authorities who reportedly only learned about these exercises from surprised commercial pilots who had to divert their flights.

Defense Minister Richard Marles said at the time: “To be clear, we weren’t notified by China.

“What China did was put out a notification that it was intending to engage in live firing.

“By that, I mean a broadcast that was picked up by airlines or literally … commercial planes that were flying across the Tasman.”

The minister explained this was unprecedented because authorities typically give a 12 to 24-hour notice of live-fire drills.

Following the scare, the fleet continued its journey before heading north towards Indonesia on March 7.

Chinese officials have defended themselves and said that they were simply carrying out training in international waters as all navies do.

They added that they had nothing to explain or apologise for.

The voyage is the furthest south the Chinese military has ever come, and has left Australians questioning whether the country can defend itself.

An expert on military spending and capability who previously worked for Australia’s defence department, Marcus Hellyer, said: “The Chinese are showing us up in our own backyard.

“We can’t even sail around our own country. They are really rubbing it in.”

But it’s not only Australia that is victim to these war games.

Xi Jinping‘s military has also increased its naval presence around its neighbours including Taiwan.

China’s President issued a brutal New Year warning to Taiwan as the nation continues its games against the self-ruled province.

Bringing Taiwan back in line with mainland China has been a goal of Xi’s for a long time and recent military activity has shown that China is ready to take it back by force.

A swarm of fighter jets and warships were launched to circle and intimidate the island in October 2024.

damaged deep-sea cable, off the coast of Taiwan in January, launched fears of potential Chinese sabotage.

A telecommunications cable was also reportedly damaged near Yehliu, New Taipei City.

Officials believed the cable was cut near the busy port of Keelung on Taiwan’s north coast.

PLA Navy Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang in the Torres Strait.
AP
The fleet launched live-fire drills in February[/caption]
HMAS Arunta and People's Liberation Army Navy ships in the Tasman Sea.
The fleet sailed in and out of Australia’s exclusive economic zone
AP
Portrait of Xi Jinping.
China’s President Xi Jinping issued a New Year warning to Taiwan
Reuters

Read More »

2.00 Cheltenham result – day 3: Who won Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 2025? How every horse finished

THE Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase is up next at Cheltenham Festival.

We’ll bring you how every horse finished right here below, or check out Sun Racing’s Cheltenham live blog for the latest race updates.

Horses racing at Cheltenham Festival.
Getty
The Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase is underway[/caption]

2.00 Cheltenham result

Full results and horse placing to follow…

Cheltenham Festival 2025 schedule in FULL

Tuesday, March 11 – Champion Day

1.20pm: Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ (WINNER: KOPEK DES BORDES)
2pm: My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase (WINNER: JANGO BAIE)
2.40pm: Ultima Handicap Chase (WINNER: MYRETOWN)
3.20pm: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (WINNER: LOSSIEMOUTH)
4pm: Unibet Champion Hurdle (WINNER: GOLDEN ACE)
4.40pm: Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (WINNER: PUTURHANDSTOGETHER)
5.20pm: National Hunt Novices’ Chase (WINNER: HAITI COULEURS)

Cheltenham Festival betting offers and free bets

Wednesday, March 12 – Style Wednesday

1.20pm: Turners Novices’ Hurdle (WINNER: THE NEW LION)
2pm: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (WINNER: LECKY WATSON)
2.40pm: Coral Cup Hurdle (WINNER: JIMMY DU SEUIL)
3.20pm: Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (WINNER: STUMPTOWN)
4pm: BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (WINNER: MARINE NATIONALE)
4.40pm: Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (WINNER: JAZZY MATTY)
5.20pm: Weatherbys Champion Bumper (WINNER: BAMBINO FEVER)

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2025 LIVE: LATEST TIPS AND RESULTS FROM THE GREATEST SHOW ON TURF

Thursday, March 13 – St Patrick’s Thursday

1.20pm: Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (WINNER: AIR OF ENTITLEMENT)
2pm: Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase
2.40pm: Pertemps Network Final (Premier Handicap)
3.20pm: Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)
4pm: Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
4.40pm: TrustATrader Plate (Premier Handicap)
5.20pm: Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup

Friday, March 14 – Gold Cup Day

1.20pm: JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
2pm: William Hill County Handicap Hurdle Race (Premier Handicap)
2.40pm: Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2)
3.20pm: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
4pm: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)
4.40pm: St. James’s Place Festival Hunters Chase
5.20pm: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

How to watch EVERY race at Cheltenham Festival 2025

In the UK, ITV1 will be providing FREE coverage of the first SIX races of each day at Cheltenham Festival this year.

Fans in the UK will be able to live stream ITV’s coverage for FREE via the ITVX app/website.

ITV‘s broadcast of the event will begin at 12.45pm and end at 5pm each day.

Previously, ITV didn’t air the final two races of each day at Cheltenham, but this year, viewers are treated to an extra four races across the festival for absolutely NOTHING.

Racing TV is the only place to watch the Cheltenham Festival in its entirety, but you will be required to purchase a subscription to access the channel.

SunSport’s Cheltenham live blog will provide comprehensive coverage of EVERY race across the festival.

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

  • Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
  • Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
  • Never chase their losses
  • Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
  • Gamcare – gamcare.org.uk
  • GambleAware – GambleAware.org

Read our guide on responsible gambling practices.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.

Read More »

Cole Palmer’s girlfriend Connie Grace opens up on their relationship for the first time in new documentary

CHELSEA star Cole Palmer’s girlfriend Connie Grace lifted the lid on their relationship for the first time.

Palmer, 22, and Connie, 22, met when they were 17 years old but only went public together in November at the GQ Men of the Year Awards.

Connie Blue and Cole Palmer on a dinner date.
Amazon Prime
Chelsea star Cole Palmer’s girlfriend Connie Grace lifted the lid on their relationship[/caption]
Connie Blue and Cole Palmer.
Amazon Prime
Palmer and Connie took part in a special documentary[/caption]
Cole Palmer and Connie Grace at the GQ Men of the Year Awards.
Palmer and Connie went public with their relationship in November
Splash
Connie met Palmer when they were both 17 years old
instagram @conniegrace_

The couple are taking part in England’s Lions: A New Generation documentary, which will be out on Amazon Prime from Saturday, and were filmed dining in a swanky London restaurant.

The winger’s partner, who is a nail technician and Instagram influencer with 34,000 followers, opened up about their special bond.

Connie said: “We met when we were 17. I think he knew me through mutual friends so I think he probably had his eye on me.

“Oh, he’s warm and cuddly. Well, with me, hopefully with no one else.

“When you know how much someone wants something and you know that’s someone’s dream, you just feel so proud.”

Palmer is known for his ice-cold demeanor but he let his guard down while filming the documentary as he tried his luck with some new food.

The England international experimented by dunking some bread in oil and balsamic vinegar.

Connie warned her boyfriend he wouldn’t like the taste and she was proven right as he recoiled and cried “ew!”

Cheltenham Festival betting offers and free bets

That posed as an endearing act that got her laughing and explaining how Palmer hasn’t changed at all since his humble beginnings at Wythenshawe.

That is despite going on to play for Manchester City, where he won the treble before his £42.5milion move to Chelsea in 2023 where he quickly turned into one of the Premier League’s biggest stars.

Connie added: “Cole now is still the same Cole that I met when I was 17.

“Obviously, he’s changed, he’s grown up, and his life now is completely different, but he’s still the same boy, he’s still laid-back Cole.

“Cole will adapt to whatever situation he’s in. He’s not bothered that he’s that far from home because all he wants to do is play football and if it means leaving home and being in a place which is completely different to where he’s from, he’ll do it.

“He’s not bothered about the whole fame side of it and he’s not bothered what people think of him.

“He is only just bothered about scoring goals and doing well for his team, doing well for his country, and you’ve got to love him for that.”

Woman in white bikini holding a drink.
Connie is a nail technician with thousands of followers on Instagram
instagram @conniegrace_
Woman in purple bikini and matching skirt.
Connie spoke about her relationship with Palmer for the first time
Instagram
Woman in brown off-the-shoulder outfit.
instagram @conniegrace_
Connie insists Palmer hasn’t changed at all despite his immense fame[/caption]

Read More »

Why horse racing fans are swapping Cheltenham for Benidorm and €1 pints

Horse racing fans dressed up as jockeys sat in a bar abroad holding beers in the sun
Racing fans have been enjoying the Cheltenham Festival from warmer climes(Credits: BDR/SOLARPIX.COM)

Hoards of horse racing fans have swapped their fascinators and tweeds for flip-flops and inflatable horse costumes to enjoy the thrills of Cheltenham in Benidorm.

Over halfway through the highlight of the National Hunt season and event organisers are being forced to come to terms with the reality of dwindling attendances and the reasons that have contributed to punters voting with their feet.

Specators were up in arms earlier this week at the prospect of paying close to £8.00 for a pint of Guinness but the price of alcohol is far from the only reason punters are staying away or opting for a whole new viewing experience entirely.

The rising cost of travel, accommodation (some standard hotels are charging £800 for a single night’s stay), tickets for the event itself, as well as food and drink all contributed to Wednesday’s crowd figure of just  41,949, the lowest for a single day since 1993.

It was a drop of nearly 5,000 from last year and it was a similar story on the opening day where the crowd was down to 55,498 from 60,181.

‘The decline is not catastrophic but nor are we seeing growing attendances,’ said Cheltenham’s new CEO Guy Lavender, who assumed his new role after seven successful years with the MCC.

Regardless of the inclement weather and the snow which fell on Wednesday morning, it is little wonder then that hoards of Brits have descended on traditional holiday venues to get their racing fix instead.

**ALL ROUND PICTURES & VIDEOS FROM SOLARPIX.COM** **UK ONLINE USAGE FEE PER PIC 1st ?40.00,2nd ?20,00 INCLUDING VIDEO GRABS. - NO PRICE CAP - VIDEO FEES AT STANDARD RATES** JOB REF:23038 BDR DATE:12.03.2025 Caption: Racing fans have swapped their fascinators and tweeds for flip-flops and inflatable horse costumes to enjoy the thrills of Cheltenham in Benidorm. Thousands have fled the rising bar and hotel prices of the Cotswolds festival of horse racing for the cheap and cheerful delights of the Costa Blanca resort. With dozens of beachside bars showing the steeplechasing on big screens and offering pints for as little as ?1, many lifelong racegoers are adamant that they?re never going back. This pic:Cheltenham Fans in Benidorm **MUST CREDIT SOLARPIX.COM AS CONDITION OF PUBLICATION** **SOLARPIX RIGHTS - WORLDWIDE SYNDICATION** **CALL US ON: +34 609568865 ** email: alert@solarpix.com
Punters are able to bet and watch races on big screens in temperatures over 20 degrees (Credits: BDR/SOLARPIX.COM)
**ALL ROUND PICTURES & VIDEOS FROM SOLARPIX.COM** **UK ONLINE USAGE FEE PER PIC 1st ?40.00,2nd ?20,00 INCLUDING VIDEO GRABS. - NO PRICE CAP - VIDEO FEES AT STANDARD RATES** JOB REF:23038 BDR DATE:12.03.2025 Caption: Racing fans have swapped their fascinators and tweeds for flip-flops and inflatable horse costumes to enjoy the thrills of Cheltenham in Benidorm. Thousands have fled the rising bar and hotel prices of the Cotswolds festival of horse racing for the cheap and cheerful delights of the Costa Blanca resort. With dozens of beachside bars showing the steeplechasing on big screens and offering pints for as little as ?1, many lifelong racegoers are adamant that they?re never going back. This pic:Cheltenham Fans in Benidorm **MUST CREDIT SOLARPIX.COM AS CONDITION OF PUBLICATION** **SOLARPIX RIGHTS - WORLDWIDE SYNDICATION** **CALL US ON: +34 609568865 ** email: alert@solarpix.com
Fancy dress is the order of the day in Benidorm(Credits: BDR/SOLARPIX.COM)

Graham White, a service technician from Glasgow, told The Times that he went to Cheltenham a few years ago but has now decided to swap it for Benidorm.

‘I’m never going back. I was suited and booted but it’s too posh, too snobby,’ the 39-year-old said.

‘I’d rather be here, soaking up the sun with a few drinks and having craic with the lads.’

The Winning Post represents one of Benidorm’s major attractions over the course of the jump season’s flagship event where pints cost just €1, a cash book is available all year and races are shown on a variety of screens.

**ALL ROUND PICTURES & VIDEOS FROM SOLARPIX.COM** **UK ONLINE USAGE FEE PER PIC 1st ?40.00,2nd ?20,00 INCLUDING VIDEO GRABS. - NO PRICE CAP - VIDEO FEES AT STANDARD RATES** JOB REF:23038 BDR DATE:12.03.2025 Caption: Racing fans have swapped their fascinators and tweeds for flip-flops and inflatable horse costumes to enjoy the thrills of Cheltenham in Benidorm. Thousands have fled the rising bar and hotel prices of the Cotswolds festival of horse racing for the cheap and cheerful delights of the Costa Blanca resort. With dozens of beachside bars showing the steeplechasing on big screens and offering pints for as little as ?1, many lifelong racegoers are adamant that they?re never going back. This pic:Cheltenham Fans in Benidorm **MUST CREDIT SOLARPIX.COM AS CONDITION OF PUBLICATION** **SOLARPIX RIGHTS - WORLDWIDE SYNDICATION** **CALL US ON: +34 609568865 ** email: alert@solarpix.com
Big screens and cheap pints are in plentiful supply in Benidorm(Credits: BDR/SOLARPIX.COM)

‘My dad started this business 35 years ago,’ explains the bar’s owner Colleen Holm. ‘He worked in different bars out here as a bookie for 10 years and then set this place up.

‘I used to work in Ladbrokes and have been here 18 years now. Cheltenham’s always been big for us, but it’s probably over the last six or eight years that it’s really taken off around Benidorm.’

Despite the obvious attractions the Spanish resort has to offer, ITV racing presenter Ed Chamberlain insists the Festival and Cheltenham will always retain its charm and appeal.

Moreover, under the stewardship of Lavendar, Chamberlain is confident it won’t be long, with some careful tweaks and adjustments, before Cheltenham is again enjoying bumper crowds.

‘There is no doubt that Cheltenham’s hierarchy had started taking things for granted and it came back to haunt them when we ended up broadcasting pictures on ITV of issues such as spectators’ vehicles being towed out of swamp-like car parks,’ Chamberlain told the Daily Mail.

Horses pass the grandstand during the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, in Cheltenham, western England on March 13, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Crowds have been down at Cheltenham this year (Copyright: AFP or licensors)

‘Perhaps the experiences of 2024 have led some people to stay away but I’m confident they will be returning soon from what I have seen in the last 48 hours. Guy Lavender, Cheltenham’s new chief executive, has been here, there and everywhere since the Festival started and he has set the right tone.

‘The racegoers I’ve spoken to on course have been overwhelmingly positive about everything, such as the greeting they received on arrival to the ability to walk around the course and the ability to buy food and drink.

‘You can feel that positivity in the atmosphere. If it keeps going like this — and I’ve no doubt Lavender, whose previous role was with cricket’s MCC, will ensure that is the case — then I’d expect stories about people wanting to go to Benidorm instead of the Cotswolds will disappear in due course.’

Read More »