Published: Thursday, 18th June, 2009 3:00pm

Businesses brace for Royal Ascot

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BUSINESSES are braced for the return of the crowds as Royal Ascot gets under way.

Over the five days of racing, which began on Tuesday, more than 100,000 racegoers are expected to descend on the usually peaceful town, improving turnover for some businesses but harming others.

Graham Bellwood, manager of Mad Hatters Wine Bar, said: 'We"ll certainly be open throughout.

'It"s looking like it will be very busy as Royal Ascot is sold out on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at least. We"re only a small place so it is good for us but not as good as people think because we can only fit 90 people in.

'It does make a difference though because we"ll be full for five straight days.'

Businesses that do not cater for the crowds believe that they will suffer as regular customers stay away over race week.

Colin Lewis, owner of C E Lewis Butcher, said: 'It always gets quieter for us because the locals stay away because of the traffic and all the people, but it won"t be too bad.

'The racecourse was here before us so we"ll just have to work around it.'