Club Silverstone at the british GP - worth it?
Club Silverstone at the british GP - worth it?
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Discussion

drgoatboy

Original Poster:

2,027 posts

236 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
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Slightly random timing of this thread but Mrs Goatboy tells me she wants to go to the 2011 British grand prix (which is very good news).
So I've been having a look at 3 day ticket options, as this is probably the only time I will ever go I thought I should maybe get good tickets...
So does anybody know if paying for "club Silverstone" tickets is worth the £100 premium over say platinum tickets at Becketts?
The website says you get better parking, exclusive catering facilities and some freebies like baseball caps and a programme, but I'm not sure thats worth the extra money on its own. does anybody have any experience of "club silverstone"?

Thanks!

RJB_666

1,677 posts

224 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
quotequote all
I've sat at Becketts in 2008 and this year. And have got to say it's a brilliant view of the track. Now with the added bonus of a view of the arena section. To be honest i personally wouldn't shell out any extra for club silverstone. As for the parking it could be handy but i would recommend using the money on camping at Whittlebury as it's a short walk to the track. Would never try and drive on the saturday or sunday. I always drive down on a thursday and the roads are clear.

But on the other hand if it's going to be a one time thing don't skimp out.

drgoatboy

Original Poster:

2,027 posts

236 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
quotequote all
As much as I hate camping I think it is a must for that weekend.
Looks like great fun when you see it on the TV...

StevieBee

15,286 posts

284 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
quotequote all
Going on something similar in 2007:

Parking is nearer to where you'll be but you still have to get to Silverstone on the same roads as everyone else.
Catering is exclusive - but you still have to pay for your grub.
A British GP cap costs £20
A Programme costs a tenner.

On the plus side, the general "ambience" of where you will be tends to be more, (how can I put this without causing offence?) - learned.

I quite liked the experience but I wasn't paying and if I were, think I'd have been quite happy without.

drgoatboy

Original Poster:

2,027 posts

236 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
quotequote all
StevieBee said:
On the plus side, the general "ambience" of where you will be tends to be more, (how can I put this without causing offence?) - learned.
I like the sound of learned

RJB_666

1,677 posts

224 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
quotequote all
drgoatboy said:
As much as I hate camping I think it is a must for that weekend.
Looks like great fun when you see it on the TV...
Campings not my thing either. It's a good campsite and there's a decent pub couple of minutes down the road.

Gwagon111

4,422 posts

190 months

Thursday 11th November 2010
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The club Silverstone location has been getting worse and worse since 2007. Before 2007 it was an enclosed area out by Becketts, with a big marquee, and a lounge area with comfy(ish) sofas and big screens, if you didn't fancy getting hypothermia sitting in the grandstand. This year it was a glass fronted giant cubicle which was dumped on the path past Becketts, not an enclosed area. I didn't do Club Silverstone this year, I would have pissed off if I had. Next year is likely to be even worse as Becketts is effectively right out in the sticks, when the new pits complex is finished. If you want to be stationed by Maggots and Becketts and you want a grandstand, just buy Becketts grandstand tickets and save yourself some cash. The new arena (village) complex is better anyway IMHO.

drgoatboy

Original Poster:

2,027 posts

236 months

Thursday 11th November 2010
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Hmmmm... interesting, so Village is a preferred spot to Becketts then? (although everyone seems to have a different opinion on this one!)

Cragglea1

84 posts

194 months

Thursday 11th November 2010
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Not done the Club Silverstone ticket, but earlier this year I had some Club Bahrain tickets and the facilitys were amazing. Had a dedicated section in the Oasis stand (above the support grid garages) free cap, discounted food and drink and there was a massive air-cooled pavilion only for use by card holders with a bar in it..... I thought that was good value, but some little glass cube out in the sticks would be rubbish. Silverstone has always been a litle behind the pack in terms of viewing support.

Gwagon111

4,422 posts

190 months

Thursday 11th November 2010
quotequote all
The grandstands in village are so elevated you can see Becketts from them easily. Also in order to get to village you have to get to the inside of the track. Normaly only helicopter shuttle passengers and corporates / teams get access until the aftershow party on Sunday night.

Edited by Gwagon111 on Thursday 11th November 13:40

nsmith1180

3,941 posts

207 months

Thursday 11th November 2010
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Im one for Maggots and Beckets myself. Think its a fantastic place to be during racing. Watched the Superleague Formula there on the Bridge circuit and GT1s there on the Grand Prix circuit (Arena Layout) Its excellent for both configurations and you can see most of the track.

kazste

6,115 posts

227 months

Thursday 11th November 2010
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After seeing it this year I would advise against it, you can still gets seats in the becketts stand they are just uncovered, and looking at the size the queue got to, to try and get into the marquee for your food it looked very busy and this was just the Friday.

Each to own but we were glad we didn't bother.

RJB_666

1,677 posts

224 months

Thursday 11th November 2010
quotequote all
kazste said:
After seeing it this year I would advise against it, you can still gets seats in the becketts stand they are just uncovered, and looking at the size the queue got to, to try and get into the marquee for your food it looked very busy and this was just the Friday.

Each to own but we were glad we didn't bother.
Becketts is a covered grandstand again this year. Again i would highly recommend it. But also on the Friday and Saturday you can go and sit in any platinum grandstand. Its just the Sunday that you have an allocated seat.

Sir Bagalot

7,078 posts

210 months

Thursday 11th November 2010
quotequote all
Ask 10 different people where is the best place to sit and you'll get 10 different answers!

Is Club Silverstone worth it? Nope. In fact I would say it was the only area not worth the money.

Me? I'll be sitting in Village B smile

4sure

2,438 posts

240 months

Thursday 11th November 2010
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no.

kazste

6,115 posts

227 months

Friday 12th November 2010
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RJB_666 said:
kazste said:
After seeing it this year I would advise against it, you can still gets seats in the becketts stand they are just uncovered, and looking at the size the queue got to, to try and get into the marquee for your food it looked very busy and this was just the Friday.

Each to own but we were glad we didn't bother.
Becketts is a covered grandstand again this year. Again i would highly recommend it. But also on the Friday and Saturday you can go and sit in any platinum grandstand. Its just the Sunday that you have an allocated seat.
this year only half of the grandstand was covered and this half was open only to club silverstone ticket holders. the uncovered part of the grandstand is open to anyone but was very busy.

RJB_666

1,677 posts

224 months

Sunday 14th November 2010
quotequote all
kazste said:
RJB_666 said:
kazste said:
After seeing it this year I would advise against it, you can still gets seats in the becketts stand they are just uncovered, and looking at the size the queue got to, to try and get into the marquee for your food it looked very busy and this was just the Friday.

Each to own but we were glad we didn't bother.
Becketts is a covered grandstand again this year. Again i would highly recommend it. But also on the Friday and Saturday you can go and sit in any platinum grandstand. Its just the Sunday that you have an allocated seat.
this year only half of the grandstand was covered and this half was open only to club silverstone ticket holders. the uncovered part of the grandstand is open to anyone but was very busy.
For 2010 they put a new grandstand at becketts closer to the circuit. Like you say the half that is covered is club silverstone. The uncovered part is open to everyone on friday like every other grandstand apart from club silverstone. Saturday you will need the relevant grandstand rating e.g. gold or platinum. Then sunday you have an allocated seat in your grandstand. Both club silverstone and becketts are covered next year.

nsmith1180

3,941 posts

207 months

Monday 15th November 2010
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Did they take the cover off half the beckets grandstand for the GP then?? When I was there for the GT1's, the entire stand was covered.

drgoatboy

Original Poster:

2,027 posts

236 months

Monday 15th November 2010
quotequote all
Cheers for all the input folks, although choice of stand is not clear the opinion on Club Silverstone is.
I'll save my money and go platinum...

RJB_666

1,677 posts

224 months

Monday 15th November 2010
quotequote all
nsmith1180 said:
Did they take the cover off half the beckets grandstand for the GP then?? When I was there for the GT1's, the entire stand was covered.
When i went in 2008 both halfs were covered. But when i went in 2010 only club silverstone was covered. Not too sure why.

drgoatboy said:
Cheers for all the input folks, although choice of stand is not clear the opinion on Club Silverstone is.
I'll save my money and go platinum...
I think you're making the right choice. Save your money for camping and beer tokens (Y)