Great Yarmouth Racecourse hit by redundancies as turnover drops by £1m

Racing has gone ahead behind closed doors at Great Yarmouth this racing season but without a single paying customer through the gate six people have been made redundant Picture: Nick Butcher

The jobs are all within the hospitality and catering side of the business at Great Yarmouth Racecourse.

Glenn Tubby, director of the racecourse, said turnover was down by £1m this year.

He said: “We have had no paying customers at all this year.

“It’s not just the racing, it is conferences, weddings, and Christmas parties.

Glenn Tubby, director at Great Yarmouth Racecourse, has revealed the turnover at the course has dipped by £1m during the pandemic Picture: James Bass

“The jobs that are going are customer focussed roles, four of them are on furlough and two are working at the moment but are leaving at the end of the month.

“It is quite a few for a small team but there’s no catering, no ticket sales, no events.

“When customers do come back that can be reviewed and I am sure some staff will come back to match the return of business.”

The final fixture of the year, played out without any public attendance, took place on Tuesday (October 20).

Racing behind closed doors at Yarmouth Racecourse Picture: PA (Image: Archant)

MORE: ‘A bit of a ghost town’ - Yarmouth racecourse director on life without crowds

The season is set to resume in April.

“Though we are a sporting venue we are restaurant, bars, conference, and events too,” Mr Tubby added.

“And that sector has been hit the hardest.

FLASHBACK: A day at the Eastern Festival horse racing, Yarmouth, in 2017. The track has seen nothing like it in 2020 and has had to lay off permanent staff Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2017)

“When customers come back it will all change, but the million dollar question is when that will be.”

Casual staff, the people who work on race days, had already been laid off he said in September.

The six new redundancies were all permanent jobs and amounted to almost half the total workforce.

Around seven remain, four of whom are grounds staff.

Mr Tubby said there was still plenty to do with many bookings rolled forward, health and safety work that needed to be done over the winter and planning.

A provisional fixture list has been worked out for next year despite the uncertain time.

Online and TV revenue had created some income but not nearly enough to eclipse the losses due to the pandemic in a sector that relied on paying customers and big crowds.