Taking holidays to go to the pub

This seems amazing to me, Paddy O'Gorman interviewed people who save up and take their holiday to spend it in the pub watching Cheltenham.

What is the attraction.

mzungu

mariaalice wrote: »

This seems amazing to me, Paddy O'Gorman interviewed people who save up and take their holiday to spend it in the pub watching Cheltenham.

What is the attraction.

Cheltenham.

Mint Sauce

Most holidays I spend part of it in the pub.

El Weirdo

mzungu wrote: »

Cheltenham.

And beer.

lertsnim

mariaalice wrote: »

This seems amazing to me, Paddy O'Gorman interviewed people who save up and take their holiday to spend it in the pub watching Cheltenham.

What is the attraction.

You answered your own question.

AndyBoBandy

People want to spend their money on beer, and whatever doesn't get spent on beer is given to a guy called Paddy Power.

Me, I prefer a nice week or 2 in a warmer climate!

Erik Shin

I'd rather have a holiday abroad, immerse myself in a different culture and experience....
Others want to immerse themselves in beer, betting slips and piss ....

PARlance

Don't be a nag OP.

theteal

One of the lads back home does it, takes the week off every year for Cheltenham. It's kind of a family tradition for them. I don't get it myself but they're all happy - when they're winning!

NegativeCreep

I spend all my money on trips to theme parks to go on all the rollercoasters. Different strokes.

topmanamillion

I could understand someone taking time holidays to actually go to Cheltenham and enjoy the festival.
But to take holidays to sit in the pub and watch it on a screen?
I don't understand that at all.

osarusan

People enjoying stuff I don't enjoy....what's the world coming to.

Keyzer

I know a guy whose parents save the whole year and go to Vegas and blow it all on slot machines and hookers. Whatever floats your boat.

ArnoldJRimmer

Holiday's are about relaxing and doing something you enjoy. It could be lying on a beach somewhere warm, sightseeing in a new city, or staying in a caravan in Wexford. And amazingly for some, its gambling while enjoying a few pints during the biggest racing festival of the year. Not my cup of tea, but as long as the people enjoy their week off spending their hard earned cash, good luck to them

MadYaker

I could understand taking holidays to go to Cheltenham, but watching it in the pub? No.

Lady Spangles

Surely they wouldn't need all of their holidays just to watch a horse race? Either way, it's up to them. I'd rather head to a sunny beach somewhere, but to each their own!

ArnoldJRimmer

ArnoldJRimmer wrote: »

Holiday's are about relaxing and doing something you enjoy. It could be lying on a beach somewhere warm, sightseeing in a new city, or staying in a caravan in Wexford. And amazingly for some, its gambling while enjoying a few pints during the biggest racing festival of the year. Not my cup of tea, but as long as the people enjoy their week off spending their hard earned cash, good luck to them

But why not actuley go to Cheltenham.

Yourself isit

Lady Spangles wrote: »

Surely they wouldn't need all of their holidays just to watch a horse race? Either way, it's up to them. I'd rather head to a sunny beach somewhere, but to each their own!

I think there's more than one horse race. There's a week.

osarusan

mariaalice wrote: »

But why not actuley go to Cheltenham.

That costs money that is therefore not available for booze and betting.

Plus, a lot of them would be in the local pub and bookies with the friends they've been talking to about Cheltenham and horse racing in general for years.

Yourself isit

mariaalice wrote: »

But why not actuley go to Cheltenham.

Nobody would be confused (I think) if someone took some time off for a world cup but watched it at home.

artanevilla

I'd say the vast majority of people take their holidays to go to the pub. What does it matter if that pub is in Ireland or Spain?

cul beag

Money spent in the local economy aswell is always welcome. Personally it's a fabulous week I always look forward to it. I've been to the festival 4 times and it's a brilliant experience, you'd want another week to recover after it! It's the Olympics of National Hunt racing and a battle of the Irish horses and trainers against the English ones. I can fully understand why people do take the week off because the whole atmosphere and craic is mighty.

Erik Shin

artanevilla wrote: »

I'd say the vast majority of people take their holidays to go to the pub. What does it matter if that pub is in Ireland or Spain?

A family holiday to a pub in Ireland? Kinda glad I'm not related to you

Rekop dog

Following horse racing is a hobby for lots of people, and Cheltenham is the culmination of the seasons racing where all the best horses/trainers/owners pit themselves against each other. I mean I wouldn't do a week in a pub for it but the atmosphere in pubs during it is always fantastic. And despite the fact most people lose during it, the chance of winning adds huge excitement for lots of people.

Funny how many are replying with how they'd prefer to be on a beach somewhere. Resort holidays are sinfully boring and usually full of vacuous sorts.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

mariaalice wrote: »

But why not actuley go to Cheltenham.

Time. Money (I'd say accommodation anywhere near is extortionate this week). The company of their friends. The magic of television that means that they can get the aspects of the experience that they enjoy from the comfort of their own local.

Come on now, you do get it, you're just looking down at it.

Albert_Camus

mariaalice wrote: »

But why not actuley go to Cheltenham.

I've been to Cheltenham and found it kind of hassle, be more enjoyable down a quiet pub in my opinion. I wouldn't take the week off to go down the local pub, as I prefer to travel with my holidays, but that's just something I enjoy doing...

I can totally see why someone big into horse racing would enjoy the week off to sit and watch it. In fact it makes perfect sense to me also the group they are socialising with for the week possibly couldn't all commit to the trip. Tickets/accom(even just getting some close by)/transport etc. I know guys who have been a couple of times but don't go every year and often take the week off the years they don't go.

Birneybau

PARlance wrote: »

Don't be a nag OP.

Why the long face?

Rumpy Pumpy

Taking the week off for Cheltenham is quite a popular thing to do. I was in Dublin city centre today and some of the pubs beside the bookies seemed far busier than you would expect for a Wednesday.

Going to Cheltenham itself is very expensive. £90 for a ticket to the best enclosure and hotels can be in the hundreds for a room per night.

Erik Shin

Erik Shin wrote: »

I'd rather have a holiday abroad, immerse myself in a different culture and experience....
Others want to immerse themselves in beer, betting slips and piss ....

A lot of the time that just involves being surrounded by Brits.

I like a couple of times a year to go to the pub around 12 on a Saturday when football is on all day and drop 100 or so quid.
Not everyone can afford to go somewhere "nice", especially on their own when accommodation costs are taken into account. The only ways I could afford much of a holiday this year are either going somewhere I know someone so can have free digs (limited) or go with people who just want to get pissed up surrounded by Brits. There's a fair chance I'll take 2 weeks off to just read, walk and watch telly. Next year I'll likely take 2 weeks off for the group stages of the World Cup. Cheltenham ain't my thing and I don't get why anyone would gamble more than a tenner on a Saturday for a bit of craic but then plenty don't like doing what I like.

Erik Shin

[Deleted User] wrote: »

A lot of the time that just involves being surrounded by Brits.

I like a couple of times a year to go to the pub around 12 on a Saturday when football is on all day and drop 100 or so quid.
Not everyone can afford to go somewhere "nice", especially on their own when accommodation costs are taken into account. The only ways I could afford much of a holiday this year are either going somewhere I know someone so can have free digs (limited) or go with people who just want to get pissed up surrounded by Brits. There's a fair chance I'll take 2 weeks off to just read, walk and watch telly. Next year I'll likely take 2 weeks off for the group stages of the World Cup. Cheltenham ain't my thing and I don't get why anyone would gamble more than a tenner on a Saturday for a bit of craic but then plenty don't like doing what I like.

When you immerse yourself in another countrys culture...The one thing you can be sure of is....No Brits

lawred2

Know a few lads who have Cheltenham and Galway booked off every year.

Not for me but everyone to their own.

topmanamillion

sugarman wrote: »

What is there to understand?

Someone takes a well earned break from work for a week to relax and enjoy themselves..

..i've often taken a week off and sat around the house arsing about doing bits and pieces, catching up on tv shows/films.. playing xbox etc... Just cause.

Not everyone wants to go abroad, spending money they dont have, wasting time travelling and what not.

Each to their own.
Its the bar stool mentality though.
Its the same with an awful lot of Irish sports fans.
They simply wont get up off their hole to watch live sport.
There`s no comparison between live GAA, Rugby, League of Ireland, Greyhound racing etc and sitting on your hole in a pub casting an eye on it now and again.
Attendances at GAA and LOI are flagging because people simply wont get up off their hole to go and watch them.
Its a strange culture and its the complete opposite to the continental approach where live sport is cherished.

lawred2

topmanamillion wrote: »

Each to their own.
Its the bar stool mentality though.
Its the same with an awful lot of Irish sports fans.
They simply wont get up off their hole to watch live sport.
There`s no comparison between live GAA, Rugby, League of Ireland, Greyhound racing etc and sitting on your hole in a pub casting an eye on it now and again.
Attendances at GAA and LOI are flagging because people simply wont get up off their to go and watch them.
Its a strange culture and its the complete opposite to the continental approach where live sport is cherished.

In what way?

AndyBoBandy

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

People want to spend their money on beer, and whatever doesn't get spent on beer is given to a guy called Paddy Power.

Me, I prefer a nice week or 2 in a warmer climate!

And I've little to no interest in a walk in a warm climate but I love racing and drinking so I take a week of every single year for the Galway races (and go the 7 days) and take a few days off for cheltenham every year (but don't go over). They are two of the highlights of the year and I'd never be without days off for them.

The year basically revolves around 3 events for me Galway races, Christmas and Cheltenham and that's were a lot of my annual leave days go towards. I still always carry over a annual leave days to the following year, never use them all so its not like using holidays for these events are stopping me doing other stuff.

Sure when I do go abroad on holiday a lot of it spend in the pub watching sport also as do loads of other people, just you have to pay for flights and accommodation.

murpho999

MadYaker wrote: »

I could understand taking holidays to go to Cheltenham, but watching it in the pub? No.

If you're a racing fan, which many people are in Ireland then Cheltenham is the biggest event of the year. It's massive in the sport.

So if you cannot go over to it then you're left with no option to watch it on TV.

As all races take place during working hours then people will have to take time off to watch it.

As other s do the same then it makes sense it would be a bit of craic and buzz in the pub for the 4 days, so 3 actual working days are all that is needed.

Don't see the issue if that's what people want to do.

murpho999

topmanamillion wrote: »

Each to their own.
Its the bar stool mentality though.
Its the same with an awful lot of Irish sports fans.
They simply wont get up off their hole to watch live sport.
There`s no comparison between live GAA, Rugby, League of Ireland, Greyhound racing etc and sitting on your hole in a pub casting an eye on it now and again.
Attendances at GAA and LOI are flagging because people simply wont get up off their hole to go and watch them.
Its a strange culture and its the complete opposite to the continental approach where live sport is cherished.

Do you realise how expensive it is to get to and stay in Cheltenham. It's a complete sell out and prices are sky high.

Collie D

murpho999 wrote: »

Do you realise how expensive it is to get to and stay in Cheltenham. It's a complete sell out and prices are sky high.

Plus it looks absolutely jam packed. I've been to the races in Ireland plenty of times and it's a great day out but I genuinely think I would hate the crowds at Cheltenham. Imagine being four deep at the bar waiting for a one-pour Guinness in a plastic cup and praying that your pissed mate actually got your bet down on the 25/1 shot that just flew home.

topmanamillion

lawred2 wrote: »

In what way?

In the way that domestic sport/live sport is prioritised.
For example, we`ve a population of 5 million people and we`ve never put a team in the Champions League groups while similar size countries do it on a regular basis. Cyprus for example have 1/5 of our population and do it on a regular basis. Similar with Belarus.
We must be one, if not the, largest country in Europe not to have done it.
That should be a cause for national embarrassment.

__Alex__

mzungu wrote: »

Cheltenham.

El Weirdo wrote: »

And beer.

And gambling.

Sounds utterly painful to me. You'd have to pay me. But different strokes and blah-di-blah-di-blah.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

topmanamillion wrote: »

In the way that domestic sport/live sport is prioritised.
For example, we`ve a population of 5 million people and we`ve never put a team in the Champions League groups while similar size countries do it on a regular basis. Cyprus for example have 1/5 of our population and do it on a regular basis. Similar with Belarus.
We must be one, if not the, largest country in Europe not to have done it.
That should be a cause for national embarrassment.

Yeah well Cyprus have never won a hurling match so fcuk em, they should be embarrassed.

__Alex__

Rekop dog wrote: »

Resort holidays are sinfully boring

You're doing it wrong.

murpho999

topmanamillion wrote: »

In the way that domestic sport/live sport is prioritised.
For example, we`ve a population of 5 million people and we`ve never put a team in the Champions League groups while similar size countries do it on a regular basis. Cyprus for example have 1/5 of our population and do it on a regular basis. Similar with Belarus.
We must be one, if not the, largest country in Europe not to have done it.
That should be a cause for national embarrassment.

Really?

One team in Cyprus and Belarus have qualified for the Champion's League and football is the main sport for both countries.

Also, as well as competing with GAA and Rugby, Ireland is completing with larger English league that will snap any player who is at a decent level.


No need for national embarrassment at all.

andekwarhola

AH: rule of thumb: always suffix sanctimonious and irritating judgements with 'Each To Their Own' to give them a breezy and entirely insincere patina of tolerance (guilty).

Add bonus point if followed by homily about backpacking or blowhard student paeans to 'culture' and 'immersion' .

PARlance

murpho999 wrote: »

Really?

One team in Cyprus and Belarus have qualified for the Champion's League and football is the main sport for both countries.

Also, as well as competing with GAA and Rugby, Ireland is completing with larger English league that will snap any player who is at a decent level.


No need for national embarrassment at all.

He must have bypassed Wales on his way to Belarus.

Guy:Incognito

Do they "save up" their holidays or just take part of their holidays and do it? Do we really need to tabloid it up for effect. Should have capitalised and bolded it for extra points.

Wanderer2010

I never understood why people go on holiday only to spend all day drinking in the pub/hotel bar/beach, talking crap and just counting the days left where they can drink. Theres a big wide world out there to explore. If you want to take holidays just for drinking, why bother leaving your house.

Yourself isit

andekwarhola wrote: »

AH: rule of thumb: always suffix sanctimonious and irritating judgements with 'Each To Their Own' to give them a breezy and entirely insincere patina of tolerance (guilty).

Add bonus point if followed by homily about backpacking or blowhard student paeans to 'culture' and 'immersion' .

Yeh. People do like looking down on other people and their choices. Each to their own I guess.

Guy:Incognito

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Do they "save up" their holidays or just take part of their holidays and do it? Do we really need to tabloid it up for effect. Should have capitalised and bolded it for extra points.

Funny you should say that I use to like Paddy O'Gorman until it occurred to me that he is patronising to those he interviews while pretending he is not

Yourself isit

Wanderer2010 wrote: »

I never understood why people go on holiday only to spend all day drinking in the pub/hotel bar/beach, talking crap and just counting the days left where they can drink. Theres a big wide world out there to explore. If you want to take holidays just for drinking, why bother leaving your house.

You're not going to explore the world in two weeks.

I've done a 6 month trek around Europe, but I was younger. I'll do the same in the US some day.

On a normal 2/3 week holiday I'll sit back and put the feet up in a nice hotel.

andekwarhola

Yourself isit wrote: »

Yeh. People do like looking down on other people and their choices. Each to their own I guess.

Did I tell you about the time I did the Camino De Santiago teetotal and in my bare feet?

MadYaker

MadYaker wrote: »

I could understand taking holidays to go to Cheltenham, but watching it in the pub? No.

It's like a party. Betting shop first then pub, which will keep them well supplied with grub to soak up the booze and run a sweep for customers to become involved in.
Thousands go to Cheltenham every year and never see the outside of the Guinness village, let alone an actual horse!