Client Background

The Historic and Modern Ascot Racecourse

Ascot Racecourse, a symbol of British heritage and sporting excellence, has a history that dates back to 1711, when Queen Anne identified the potential for a racecourse at East Cote, near Windsor Castle. The area’s open heath appeared ideal for “horses to gallop at full stretch,” and on Saturday 11th August 1711, Ascot’s first race meeting was held. The inaugural event, Her Majesty’s Plate, was worth over 100 Guineas and was open to any horse, mare, or gelding over the age of six years, with seven runners competing.

Since those early days, Ascot has undergone significant development, Over the centuries, Ascot has expanded and modernised, with the most notable project being the 400-yard grandstand, which was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006.

Today, Ascot Racecourse is a blend of historic charm and modern amenities, continuing to be one of the most prestigious equine venues in the world.

Partnership

Ascot Racecourse and CleanEvent Services

CleanEvent Services returned to Ascot Racecourse as the main cleaning services contractor in 2018, providing comprehensive daily cleaning and event cleaning across the racecourse’s operational areas. These include the reception, historic turnstiles building and offices that date back to 1876. Whilst our interaction with these sections is relatively minimal, maintaining the integrity of the historic structures requires careful attention.

Preserving the venue’s heritage whilst ensuring a high standard of cleanliness has been key in these unique areas.

Challenges

Ascot Racecourse hosts 26 annual race fixtures, each requiring a tailored and flexible cleaning approach. The diversity of these events, from casual race days to the iconic and world famous Royal Ascot meeting, presents unique challenges in terms of expected attendance, event duration and associated activities. As an outdoor venue, Ascot Racecourse is particularly susceptible to weather variations, which can significantly impact crowd behaviour and cleaning requirements.

Managing these challenges demands meticulous logistical planning, a responsive helpdesk and strong communication channels on the ground. The ability to identify and address cleaning challenges quickly and effectively, particularly during events with up to 75,000 attendees, is critical to maintaining the high standards expected at Ascot Racecourse.

Royal Ascot Meeting

The Royal Ascot meeting is the crown jewel of Ascot Racecourse’s calendar, attracting a global audience and featuring a week of high-profile races attended by the British Royal Family. The demands during this period are unparalleled, and see us deploy a vast operation to ensure the venue remains pristine throughout the event.

Key achievements during the Royal Ascot meeting include:

Recycling Efforts
We play a crucial role in Ascot Racecourse’s sustainability efforts, aiding the recycling process to achieve over 750 tonnes of recycled materials during Royal Ascot 2023.

Deployment of Staff
The Royal Ascot cleaning operation required the deployment of over 3,500 eight-hour cleaning shifts, ensuring continuous cleanliness throughout the event.

Catering Support Expansion
In addition to cleaning services, we expanded our role to include catering support services, with a team of up to 50 table clearers and glass collectors working to enhance the overall guest experience.

Results

Our partnership with Ascot Racecourse has delivered significant results, reflecting our commitment to maintaining the racecourse’s prestige:

Racegoer Engagement
Since our first year of service in 2018, we have efficiently managed the cleaning needs of over 2 million racegoers, ensuring a positive experience for all attendees.

Visitor Satisfaction
The main reception and listed building at Ascot welcomed over 25,000 visitors in 2023 alone, with us ensuring that these historic areas were impeccably maintained.

Sustainability Leadership
Through our support, Ascot Racecourse has bolstered its reputation as a leader in sustainability within the sporting world with its Racing to Zero initiative, particularly evident during the Royal Ascot meeting.

“CleanEvent has consistently delivered outstanding service at Ascot Racecourse, particularly during our Royal Ascot meeting. Their ability to manage the cleaning and operational demands of such a large-scale event, while also supporting our sustainability goals, has been invaluable. We look forward to continuing our successful partnership with CleanEvent as we strive to maintain Ascot’s reputation as one of the world’s premier racecourses.”

Keith Field, Soft Services Manager