Royal Enclosure at Ascot, Ladies Day

Hello Tastourians!!

Royal Ascot has become a Tastour tradition. This is our 6th year!!! New this year I am offering to sponsor 4 Tastourians for Royal Enclosure membership on Ladies Day.

We will be attending both Ladies day, Thursday, in the Royal Enclosure, and on Saturday in the Grandstand. If you would like more information on our Saturday Grandstand event, please click here (https://www.meetup.com/Tastour/events/152042832/)

"Although the whole week at Royal Ascot is a fashion show like no other, it is Thursday when the designer creations and millinery masterpieces reach the greatest heights.

Thursday’s highlight and feature race is the Group 1 Gold Cup, a battle of stamina and determination over two miles and four furlongs. This gruelling long distance world championship is not for the faint-hearted" via www.ascot.co.uk (http://www.ascot.co.uk/royal-ascot-2014/gold-cup-day#raceday-head)

About your ticket on Ladies Day in the Royal Enclosure:

The Royal Enclosure is an exclusive members only area. One needs to be sponsored for 4 years before becoming a member, which will allow them to sponsor/ invite up to 4 guest each year. I have been a member for nearly 5 years, and this year, for the first time, I've decided to extend the event to both male and female Tastourians.

On the day: We will arrive in the members only parking lot, in the inside track around 10:30am. We will enjoy a light morning tea (known as elevenses) with Champagne, cute little sandwiches .

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We will have personal name badges which will allow us to explore the private areas of the Royal Enclosure. Hopefully we'll meet a horse owner or two (and even more so, I hope they don't top up our £200 bottle of Champagne with the cheep stuff, like in a previous experience. But if they do, it will add to the excitement of the day!)

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We'll see the Queen in her carriage. No need for zoom lens though, as she will be only a few metres away. And it's likely we may 'bump' into her upstairs. We can decide on our dining options as a group, however, there are so many things to see, people to speak with and races to watch, in my experience, it is not worth I don't advise spending the time eating a 5 course meal.

I will be on hand to explain the betting, which races are worth watching, and where to find the best viewing areas. I will also give a presentation on the History of Hats, and we will be hat spotting throughout the day.

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At the end of the day, we will sing traditional English songs around the bandstand. They enjoy a posh picnic with table and chairs under our hot pink gazebo in the car park.

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This exclusive experience is limited to 5 Tastourians.

Cost

£325 Non members. Bon Vivant members save £25
What's included:

• Sponsorship to the Royal Enclosure

• Tutorial on How To: Bet on the Horsey

• Tutorial on Hats

• A guided Fine Wine Tasting (worth £30 - bottles are £20-40 each retail)

• Canapés / light lunch to start your day inside the race track

• Return transport in a Jaguar

• Organised meeting points

• Booking fee

Membership Information: Membership is on special offer for £70 per year, you can join as a Bon Vivant and attend all monthly social drinks for free, receive exclusive invites and save up to 70% off each event. Apply to upgrade here (http://www.tastour.co.uk/membership)

For all Tastour award-winning events, pre-booking early on www.tastour.com (http://www.tastour.co.uk/) is advised due to high demand.

Photos of 2012 (https://www.meetup.com/Tastour/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=9412942)

Photos of 2011 (https://www.meetup.com/Tastour/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=1996531)

Photos of 2010 (https://www.meetup.com/Tastour/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=960920)

2009 photos

What is Royal Ascot?

And why do 300,000 attend this festival each year?

It's

• The most popular and prestigious horse racing event of the year
• A piece of British Heritage. This is the ultimate British experience
• A chance to see the Queen and rub shoulders with her friends
• A great day out and a good excuse to get dressed up
• An experience you will never forget
• The people and hat watching
• THE social gathering of the year!

Why come with the group

• You'll learn how to bet on the horseys & the history of hats

• We'll drink and learn about Nino Franco, the Pearl of Prosecco

• You'll receive inside tips on how to get the most of the day

• Our carefully arranged meeting points means you can explore and rejoin the group as you wish

• Your host will queue for an hour to reserve your spot so you won't miss afternoon tea

• Meet others with good taste and enjoy good company

Royal Enclosure Dress Code

Ladies may wear a formal day dress, or skirt and top. Dresses and skirts should be of modest length, defined as falling just above the knee or longer, and the straps on dresses and tops should be at least one inch wide (2.5cm).

Please note that strapless, off the shoulder, halter neck and spaghetti straps are not permitted, and midriffs must be covered.

Jackets and pashminas may be worn, but dresses and tops underneath should still comply with the Royal Enclosure dress code.

Trouser suits are welcome. They should be of full length and of matching material and colour.

Hats should be worn.

A headpiece with a base of 4 inches (10cm) or more in diameter is acceptable as an alternative to a hat.

Please note that fascinators are no longer permitted in the Royal Enclosure.

Gentlemen

are kindly reminded that it is a requirement to wear either black or grey morning dress including a waistcoat and tie, with a top hat and black shoes.

All gentlemen in the Royal Enclosure should wear a top hat.

Top hats must be either black or grey.

Customisation - such as the use of coloured ribbons or bands - is not permitted. A gentleman may remove his top hat within a restaurant, a private box, a private club, or that facility’s terrace, balcony or garden. Hats may also be removed within any enclosed external seating area within the Royal Enclosure Garden.

Black shoes should be worn.

How to book

If you are unsure, please post a comment on the page.

Please pay a non-refundable £20 deposit. Once you have paid your deposit, please email me to arrange a phone 'interview' so that I am able to collect details to complete your sponsorship form. If the rare case arises where I am unable to sponsor you, than I will refund your money in full. After our 'chat' I will require payment in full, unless otherwise arranged, within 5 days.

I hope this doesn't sound too intimidating :) We are hosting a more casual gathering on Saturday, and I mention it only, as I don't want to give the wrong impression about the group.

Feedback:

"It was the most British day I've had since moving here a year ago. I saw the queen and won a little cash and got totally swept up in the people watching. ” Lisa

"A mammoth feat of organisation by Kelly made for a great day out - thanks!" Amber
Note from the organiser

I realise that this is a large amount of money to commit, especially if you are new to the group. Please do phone me if you have any questions. 07919053064

Do I have to bet, or gamble to go to Ascot?

No... Personally I go for the hats.

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But we have had a few big winners

What's included in the light lunch

Last year we did sandwiches, canapés such as smoked salmon and beef with horseradish and various other things. Including VEGGIE options. If I'm allowed to say, a picnic lunch from the track cost £40 per person and this blew it away. Each year we do something different, and I will not know what will be on the menu until a week before. However, I do know that I aim to please and you will not be disappointed. Although I should say that although there are tables table cloths & flowers it's clearly a picnic not a pop-up restaurant.

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How much wine will be served?

Only fine wine will be served. We're fairly generous as we want to kickstart the day :) In previous years people have complained there was too much, or at least more than they were expecting.

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Once inside, will I be able to find the group?

Yes, I've carefully plotted out meeting points (which improve each year) and it's easy to find us throughout the day. This means you can wonder off and rejoin us.

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