Goodwood Revival - A Boost For Sussex Hotels

Anyone who has ever been to the The Goodwood Revival will be able to tell you what an iconic event it has become.  It is held at the Goodwood racetrack every year right in the heart of West Sussex, and it's a firm favorite that keeps the local West Sussex hotels booked up for the weekend with petrol heads, nostalgia fans and lovers of events in general.  It celebrates a classic period of UK motor sporting history, and has developed into an all-inclusive trip down memory lane with lots of visitors wearing period costumes while they browse the classic cars, watch the racing and even enjoy flying displays of WWII military aircraft.

The initial idea for the event came about in 1993 when Lord March was relishing the initial success of the festival of speed hill-climb event, which attracted over 30,000 visitors.  This showed there was real interest in something just that little bit special in the motor-sports calendar, and the potential of reviving motor racing on the original Goodwood circuit.  

The track had been a mecca for British motor racing during the period 1948 to 1966, after which the then owner of the course, Freddie March, decided that racing cars had become just too fast and powerful to be safe on the track.

The problem was that while the idea of reviving classic car racing in the this corner of West Sussex seemed straight forward, bringing it about was anything but.  The world of motor sports had developed considerably in the intervening 27 years, with safety rules and regulations now being prominent at any public racing event.  Finding the right balance between meeting the regulations while retaining as much of the original track experience as possible proved something of a challenge.  However, after a lot of discussion the agreements reached that allowed the racing of classic cars from the 1950s and 60s on a track that, as far as possible, recreated the authentic conditions of the period.

The inaugural revival was held in September 1998, and has become an annual event looked forward to by thousands. It's a three day celebration of all that was great in the heyday of British Motor sports, and as well as racing there are dozens of displays including classic cars, motorbikes and aircraft from the period.  It really is a very loud and proud celebration of an iconic era in British motor-racing history.

Goodwood and Sussex Hotels Delighted
As the revival can attract in excess of 140,000 people, it is a huge boost to both the Goodwood and West Sussex economies.  Goodwood hotels in particular, and West Sussex hotels in general, along with hospitality businesses and local shops and garages all see a significant increases in bookings during this September rush, and the Revival has become major highlight in the regions calendar.

This year the Goodwood Revival takes place 12-14 September.

http://theangelmidhurst.co.uk/

http://www.laterooms.com/en/k16289754_goodwood-hotels.aspx

http://www.expedia.co.uk/Goodwood-House-Hotels.0-l6079545-0.Travel-Guide-Filter-Hotels


  What draws so many people to stay in local Sussex hotels:
2013 Revival Clips:
 

What You Can See from Sussex Hotels - The South Downs Way

The Sussex South Downs are a major attraction for anyone living around or visiting the South Coast Area, and to really enjoy the best that the Downs have to offer, and to see the heart of Sussex up close, you can’t go far wrong by walking the South Downs Way.

The route travels just over 100 miles through the Sussex countryside and is one of the UK’s National Trails. The pathways all follow the old drove-ways that farmers and herders of the past used to transport their animals and wares,and the route traces the escarpment and ridges of the South Downs from Winchester down through West Sussex and ending up at Eastbourne.  It’s ideal for anyone who wants to enjoy a scenic long-distance route and it can be tackled on foot, bike or horseback.  It's also offers excellent day walks for those who only want to tackle the route sections at a time.

Allow Time to Get to Your Sussex Hotels

Most hikers complete the entire walk in 8- 9 days, covering between 12 to 15 miles a day, but it doeas depend on where you’re staying as you'll need to add the distance of coming off the route to get to your hotel or campsite, and then climbing back up to the path in the morning.  For the hardier and more determined there are several campsites along the route.

Goodwood Hotels and Midhurst Hotels

There are several West Sussex hotels available along the route, so exploring sections of the path is convenient if you are staying a little of the track in a places like a Goodwood hotel or a Midhurst Hotel which can make an ideal base for a local stay.  There are also several companies that organise trips along the way and offer services such as moving your baggage between hotels while you walk along the route.

The Best of Sussex – All Year Round

As the route is so well maintained it's suitable to be walked all year round, but it's worth remembering the most popular times are between May and September.  The South Downs provide a tranquil retreat from the busy South Coast area and the London suburbs to the North, and trail passes along the chalk ridges between some of the most picturesque Sussex county towns.  These include Goodwood, Chichester, Midhurst, Pulborough and Worthing, before passing North of the seaside city of Brighton on the way down to Eastbourne.  The ridge line that the route follows for much of the way is elevated above most of these, and so offers wonderful views over the English Channel and Isle of Wight to the south, and wooded Weald and heathland to the north.

And if you're walking the route from North to South, your final leg takes you along the stunning cliff top pathway at Beachy Head.

Management

The South Downs Way is managed by a dedicated team at the South Downs National Park Authority. The financing of the team comes via the South Downs Way Trail Partnership, which is made up of:

•  The South Downs National Park Authority, 
• Natural England, 
• Hampshire County Council, 
• West Sussex County Council and 
• East Sussex County Council.

http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/south-downs-way

http://www.southdownsway.co.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Downs_Way

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E9RrJqk9LY  -  Footprints of Sussex Video Clip

Our New Blog is Here!

There's just so much going on here at the Angel that we decided that it's time to start another blog!  We'll keep you updated with all the goings on-  both here at the hotel and restaurant as well as events and occasions in the local area.

Bookmark us, like us, and pop back here regularly to keep up to date with the goings on here at the heart of the South Downs National Park, and the West Sussex hotels that let you stay in the middle of the action.