Uttoxeter Racecourse Uttoxeter reviews by real event-goers

Review of Staffordshire Hot Air Balloon Festival

We attended the event Saturday evening after having such an amazing experience at the last balloon fiesta we were left deflated and disappointed. We wanted to get there for 5pm to watch the bike trials but due to large amounts of traffic we didn't even reach the racecourse until 5:50pm and then had to queue to find a parking spot. When arriving in the racecourse we were not told the balloons weren't flying but were greeted by a large amount of people leaving which wasn't the best start, we had no idea what was going on. We were expecting 50/52 balloons and arrived to see around 5 vans on the field with only one balloon being attempted. With the weather in mind we knew the chances of the balloons flying was always a possibility which we completely understood so as per the Facebook page we were under the impression everything was cash and card friendly. We had our 3 young children with us and we thought we could still make an evening of it but we didn't bring any cash apart from £3 due to thinking we could pay card so one child had one ride and that was it but the staff member wouldn't allow one of our children on alone so we would of had to pay for an adult too! We looked for the "buy tokens" but when approaching a fair member of staff he said he didn't know anything about tokens and it was cash only. We then thought we'd buy very overpriced candyfloss and we would watch the stunt show and to put it politely it wasn't really a "show" it wasn't entertaining and nothing was really happening.. so again we thought we'd wait to see the balloon glow.. which then turned out to be a "basket glow" at 8:30pmwhich then moved to 9:00pm so we didn't even have the option to see any balloons for the "balloon" glow! By 8:40pm after reading the updated Facebook post we decided to leave, after such a disappointing night i then emailed asking for a refund, the Facebook page went missing and we heard nothing back. The Facebook page has since returned and I sent a message asking for a response for a refund, the page messaged me weeks later with a rude response and has now blocked me! ABSOLUTELY AVOID!

Review of Staffordshire Hot Air Balloon Festival

A waste of money and a huge disappointment for the kids. Balloons didn't fly due to wind, get that but there only looked like there were 3 baskets. Hardly a balloon festival! Rides and stalls overpriced.

Review of Staffordshire Hot Air Balloon Festival

Awful, absolute waste of money! Over priced and terribly organised. Huge waste of money for an awful day out!

Review of Staffordshire Hot Air Balloon Festival

The Uttoxeter balloon festival was a big let down as this was basically a big funfair with little else on offer. The negative feedback is not in relation to the hot air balloon’s not going up as this is clearly weather dependent. Event was more for families with young children. Definitely would NOT recommend!!!

Review of Staffordshire Hot Air Balloon Festival

Review of Staffordshire Hot Air Balloon Festival

Entered the venue at 3pm and didn’t see a single balloon. Basically paid to enter a funfair to then have to pay for everything else inside.

Review of Staffordshire Hot Air Balloon Festival

I think the event should have been cancelled. I think organisers were well aware the show couldn't go ahead. A real disappointment. Such a shame. It ended up really expensive as the balloon event wasn't substituted for anything else and therefore the only other thing for the children to do was the over priced rides.

Review of Staffordshire Hot Air Balloon Festival

Absolute waste of time security staff where a complete jobs worth!! Really BAD attitude and discrimination against people for no reason, they allowed people through restricted routes by choice and when approached by other family’s they were told to go all they way around, The rides where going up in price by the hour, fairground ride staff were absolute vile bad attitude and manners to say the least as for the shows there were people who decided to put the whole kitchen and dinning room along the fence which was a massive obstruction, honestly can say it was chav tastic to say the least very limited entertainment couldn’t even hear any music as for the balloons they could have improvised and had something to replace them if the wind was to strong, the traffic coming into and out the venue was disgusting what a complete scam & waste of money the organisers defiantly need to go back to the drawing board with this event which was more like a typical fairground if I had the choice would give it a minus 10!!

Review of Staffordshire Hot Air Balloon Festival

In agreement with other reviews. I do understand the issues with weather and the balloons, but there was really very little to do except pay exorbitant prices for fairground rides.
The entertainment put on in the main arena could not be seen by all spectators. The 'trials bike demonstration' consisted of one man on a mountain bike performing in around 5m² of the field. I think around 20 people could actually see him. How is that 'main arena entertainment'.
You would be better off getting a 2 for 1 ticket for Alton Towers and spending all day there. Will not be going again.

Review of Uttoxeter Racecourse

Balloon ‘festival’ terrible - never again

Review of Staffordshire Hot Air Balloon Festival

Unfortunately won’t be in a hurry to come back, I think the traffic to get parked tarnished the whole experience, we live close by and was still in the car queuing for two hours. The weather wasn’t on your side which is fair enough, everyone knew this when booking, safety is a priority for all involved and we did get to see one hot air balloon and I’m grateful to those people for that but I think our day would of been saved if you had moved the fireworks and basket glow up in the schedule as there was not much else to do apart from fork out money for fairground rides and when you’ve already paid to get in you want to feel like the money you paid was worth it and unfortunately for us it wasn’t.

Review of Staffordshire Hot Air Balloon Festival

Review of Staffordshire Hot Air Balloon Festival

Needs better entertainment, food stores rip off,

Review of Staffordshire Hot Air Balloon Festival

Terrible. Almost 2 hours spent in gridlock to carpark, and we didn't get to uttoxeter till 3 hours after event had started!!! Just one faded balloon inflated for very short time. The rest as in other reviews 👍🏼

Review of Staffordshire Hot Air Balloon Festival

Traffic chaos not enough stalls and things of general interest.

Review of Staffordshire Hot Air Balloon Festival

Although there wasn't any balloons that we could see my 7 year old was happy enough to get into a basket of one. I booked this knowing it was weather permitting and unfortunately in was too windy but the kids enjoyed the other entertainment that was going on

Review of Staffordshire Hot Air Balloon Festival

While it's understanding that weather very unpredictable and safety is most important, it was very disappointing to attend a balloon festival and not have any balloons. The site used is perfect for the event but traders are taking advantage of visitors. It was noted that payment by card would be available but this was limited. Food availability was limited and ridiculously overpriced,£6 for greasy and badly cooked chips is a joke. Blocking exits to car parks which meant a lengthy walk in complete darkness in an unmarked unsignposted area and no stewards? Who made this decision? Entry was allowed at these points but not exit, why exactly? Just glad it wasnt raining! Had looked forward to the event and tried to make the best of it but can't help but feel it was an opportunity for traders to take advantage of visitors with overpriced food, drink and rides with little thought to the comfort or entertainment that visitors actually paid for.

Review of Staffordshire Hot Air Balloon Festival

Massive disappointment!! Living near the racecourse brought tickets early in advance for this event but only when walking in to the racecourse did someone mention the balloons were not flying! Not a balloon event without any balloons at all! Not even inflated in the ground! Organisers happy to take money on the gate for entry but no one officially telling you the balloons were not flying!! As many people a wasted trip from Manchester! Fireworks were good though!

Review of Staffordshire Hot Air Balloon Festival

Massive disappointment!! Living near the racecourse brought tickets early in advance for this event but only when walking in to the racecourse did someone mention the balloons were not flying! Not a balloon event without any balloons at all! Not even inflated in the ground! Organisers happy to take money on the gate for entry but no one officially telling you the balloons were not flying!! As many people a wasted trip from Manchester! Fireworks were good though!

Review of Staffordshire Hot Air Balloon Festival

Massive disappointment!! Living near the racecourse brought tickets early in advance for this event but only when walking in to the racecourse did someone mention the balloons were not flying! Not a balloon event without any balloons at all! Not even inflated in the ground! Organisers happy to take money on the gate for entry but no one officially telling you the balloons were not flying!! As many people a wasted trip from Manchester! Fireworks were good though!