Le Mans Restaurants Drivers Parade and Beer into Circuit
Discussion
Hi all
After 8 years of coming I am travelling down with a new crowd this year and have decided we will be heading into Le Mans for the drivers parade so looking for advice on restaurants that can accommodate 11 for a meal in the evening.
Any recommendations and is it worth trying to book something?
Also what are the rules on beer into the Circuit I have a beer cooler I used to pull around at the race start (when we were in Masion Blance so not fenced in) with Ice cold beer but the last 2 years coming into the circuit from Houx I get told "Non" but no real reason as to why?
Is it just Bottles or Alcohol in general you can't take in?
Bit frustrating as it seemed to coincide with beer going from 6 Euro to 8 Euro a pint.....not that I am accusing the ACO of profiteering
After 8 years of coming I am travelling down with a new crowd this year and have decided we will be heading into Le Mans for the drivers parade so looking for advice on restaurants that can accommodate 11 for a meal in the evening.
Any recommendations and is it worth trying to book something?
Also what are the rules on beer into the Circuit I have a beer cooler I used to pull around at the race start (when we were in Masion Blance so not fenced in) with Ice cold beer but the last 2 years coming into the circuit from Houx I get told "Non" but no real reason as to why?
Is it just Bottles or Alcohol in general you can't take in?
Bit frustrating as it seemed to coincide with beer going from 6 Euro to 8 Euro a pint.....not that I am accusing the ACO of profiteering
ricof said:
I'm not giving my recommendation away because a) its tiny b) you can't reserve and c) theres a big group of us this year and we all want to fit in!
Never had any issues in the past (touch wood) taking a backpack full of beers into the circuit.
Ha ha I would keep that to myself too!Never had any issues in the past (touch wood) taking a backpack full of beers into the circuit.
Really what campsite you coming off of? Coming out of Houx we had our bags searched, we then learned to hang about until there was a big crowd and they didn't search so hard!
G30001 said:
Ha ha I would keep that to myself too!
Really what campsite you coming off of? Coming out of Houx we had our bags searched, we then learned to hang about until there was a big crowd and they didn't search so hard!
Indeed Really what campsite you coming off of? Coming out of Houx we had our bags searched, we then learned to hang about until there was a big crowd and they didn't search so hard!
Let’s just say it’s a private campsite close to the paddock...
We ate as a group of 11 at last year’s Friday parade at Le Lapin Blanc (OT20). They seat groups upstairs or outside and it’s worth going in early evening to tell them a time. Like most of the town restaurants it’s a limited menu on parade night.
Both Le Bombay and Taj Mahal have been good to us in the past, but tables of 8 is our norm
At the top end near the Place du Jacobins we’ve also eaten many times at La Brasserie des Jacobins, they can sort a large table if you book ahead. Good choice of seafood in the past, but not been for a couple of years.
Regarding your cooler, it’s glass that they won’t let in to the circuit.
Both Le Bombay and Taj Mahal have been good to us in the past, but tables of 8 is our norm
At the top end near the Place du Jacobins we’ve also eaten many times at La Brasserie des Jacobins, they can sort a large table if you book ahead. Good choice of seafood in the past, but not been for a couple of years.
Regarding your cooler, it’s glass that they won’t let in to the circuit.
Regarding beer in to the circuit, it appears to be randomly policed and much of the time all alcohol is taken away. We stay in Garage Vert, which is inside the circuit, and thus we can take cans in when heading into the campsite in the car (and then trackside) but have it confiscated at the main entrance. Last year I popped out of the main gate with a single can in by bag and had that confiscated on the way back in....well I didn’t as I drank it
Seems the rules are really not known (1tr per person on other threads) and policed by extremely cheap labour that just go for deny by default
It would be great if we could get a proper statement from the ACO that we could print out and carry with our tickets to show the security guards
Re Friday night....I’ve been to Le Mans 30+ times and this I am actually going to head in for the parade, so no recommendations but looking forward to it
Seems the rules are really not known (1tr per person on other threads) and policed by extremely cheap labour that just go for deny by default
It would be great if we could get a proper statement from the ACO that we could print out and carry with our tickets to show the security guards
Re Friday night....I’ve been to Le Mans 30+ times and this I am actually going to head in for the parade, so no recommendations but looking forward to it
Without being all 'powerfully built' I'm taking 100 or so tins of cider, I shall be very unimpressed if they try to take them from me.
I get the whole no glass bottles thing, but confiscating cans is out of order, especially when you know they are going to flog them or drink them after you've gone.
I get the whole no glass bottles thing, but confiscating cans is out of order, especially when you know they are going to flog them or drink them after you've gone.
Just make sure they are well hidden when driving into campsite and you'll be fine. Especially earlier in the week. Towards race day the stewards get more vigilant in my experience. It is all still very random and french though.
Alternatively, take a 911 (confused stewards could only find engine in the boot
) or a Tesla (steward had no idea the Model S has several hidden sub boot floor compartments, which may or may not have contained the gin... 
Alternatively, take a 911 (confused stewards could only find engine in the boot
) or a Tesla (steward had no idea the Model S has several hidden sub boot floor compartments, which may or may not have contained the gin... eastsider said:
Just make sure they are well hidden when driving into campsite and you'll be fine. Especially earlier in the week. Towards race day the stewards get more vigilant in my experience. It is all still very random and french though.
Alternatively, take a 911 (confused stewards could only find engine in the boot) or a Tesla (steward had no idea the Model S has several hidden sub boot floor compartments, which may or may not have contained the gin...
Haha good advice, except I don't own a 911! Alternatively, take a 911 (confused stewards could only find engine in the boot
) or a Tesla (steward had no idea the Model S has several hidden sub boot floor compartments, which may or may not have contained the gin... I'm sorely tempted to buy 12 tins of Tesco value lager to put somewhere obvious if we do get stopped
G30001 said:
Hi all thanks for the advice will try booking somewhere today!
With regards to getting drink in I was talking about getting booze from campsite to circuit, they can't stop (and never have before) you taking it on to the campsite can they?
If you're camping within the circuit itself, then you can expect to be searched, but as others have mentioned, if you hide it well - offer sacrificial booze - wait until the campsite staff are overwhelmed with arrivals then your chances improve..With regards to getting drink in I was talking about getting booze from campsite to circuit, they can't stop (and never have before) you taking it on to the campsite can they?
The only times I've been searched was at BSJ, and they gave up after a cursory look in the boot.. I've never had an issue at Bleu Sud or Nord but I assume that's because it's outside of the circuit boundaries
ThirstyMonk said:
If you're camping within the circuit itself, then you can expect to be searched, but as others have mentioned, if you hide it well - offer sacrificial booze - wait until the campsite staff are overwhelmed with arrivals then your chances improve..
The only times I've been searched was at BSJ, and they gave up after a cursory look in the boot.. I've never had an issue at Bleu Sud or Nord but I assume that's because it's outside of the circuit boundaries
That is a bit much!!The only times I've been searched was at BSJ, and they gave up after a cursory look in the boot.. I've never had an issue at Bleu Sud or Nord but I assume that's because it's outside of the circuit boundaries
We have been on Houx 3 years (I wasn't last year) and we didn't have any trouble!
Will just have to see!
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