Brighton Racecourse to launch reusable plastic cup at events

Brighton Racecourse will launch its Save Our Seaside (SOS) cup at its season opener – Mad Hatter Raceday – next Saturday (April 20).

The move comes in response to growing calls in the city to reduce single-use plastic and it is thought the venue is one of the first racecourses in the country to introduce a reusable cup.

Executive director at the Freshfield Road racecourse Paul Ellison said: “We are proud to be one of the first racecourses in the country to introduce a reusable cup at our events starting at our Mad Hatter Raceday.

“As a major event venue in Brighton we are aware of how important the issue is to our city and we all have an important role to play in tackling it.

“We have a number of event fixtures this season and we hope that this move will spark others to do the same and to get rid of the single-use plastic at other major events in Brighton and Hove.”

The cup is made by Recup, which uses plastic said to be recyclable so any cup returned will go back to make more.

Event-goers will be able to put a £1 deposit down for a cup and get the money back when they return it, or they can keep the cup as a souvenir.

Sustainability programme officer at Brighton and Hove City Council Mita Patel said: “It’s great to see a major event venue in Brighton actively making a change towards our common goal of reducing plastic waste across the city.

“Single-use plastic is an issue that needs to be urgently addressed and by launching their reusable cup Brighton Racecourse is playing part and leading the way for other major events in the city."