22 bars at Punchestown this week

  There are 22 public bars at Punchestown and they include some of the newly refurbished venues including the Loft, Archive, Open Gate, Double Bank and Sports Bars in the grandstand. Make your way to the reserved enclosure, considered the social hub of the festival, and you will find the famous clear roofed Sky Bar, Bollinger Champagne Pavilion, The Budweiser Bar and Guinness Festival bars. Live acts    Over 20 live music acts and D.J’s will perform during and after racing not to mention the tipster panels, celebrity interviews, parades, presentations, unveilings and of course the Bollinger Best Dressed Lady Competition The Baldonnel Singers will perform the National Anthem on the opening day today and the Tallaght Festival Band will provide entertainment on AES Family Day on Saturday. Shopping  Retail therapy is a key part of the Punchestown Festival experience. The Festival Shopping Village is home to around 50 stands that offer a wonderful mix of products and services. So from kids clothing to jewellery, fine art to garden furniture, home wares, underwear, outerwear and everything in between the Festival Shopping Village has it! Festival goers have ample time to wander through the village and make some purchases as gates open two hours before the first race. Best Dressed  The search for the Bollinger Best Dressed Lady will be held over the first four days of the Punchestown Festival, while judges and style scouts will be tasked with finding the most stylish ladies in attendance and selecting a number of finalists each day. The daily winner will then progress to the grand final on Ladies Day, Friday 28th of April. Finalists on each day will receive fabulous gifts that include a €100 Topflight voucher, Bellamianta Tan products, a bottle of Bollinger Champagne and other exclusive goodies, while the overall winner each day will also receive a custom-made Montgomery Millinery hat worth €250, a €200 Topflight voucher and a luxury hamper from Bellamianta Tan. Bollinger’s philosophy is that “Life Can Be Perfect”, and the familyowned Champagne House stays true to form with a bespoke prize created especially for the winner of Ireland’s most coveted fashion title. The 2017 Bollinger Best Dressed Lady at Punchestown will receive a VIP trip for two taking in the Bollinger Estate, Reims and Paris complete with private chauffeur, Michelin-starred dining and luxury accommodation, not to mention a year’s supply of Bollinger to top it all off!   Gates open  12.30 each day except Saturday when they will open an hour earlier at 11.30 for family day. For further information visit www.punchestown.com