Beverley Ladies Day: 'Ladies by day, devils later'

The morning after the night before in Beverley

Every August hoards of women donned in colourful couture and flamboyant fascinators descend on the quaint East Yorkshire market town of Beverley for Ladies Day. While the racecourse sparks with glitz and glamour, some brace themselves for the aftermath.

It's the stuff of street sweeper's nightmares.

Stilettos are strewn on the kerbside. Overfilled wheelie bins plague the pavements, which are awash with empty pizza boxes and polystyrene takeaway food cartons.

Each year thousands descend on Beverley Racecourse for Ladies Day, where women dress up to the nines from the hats all the way down to the high heels.

"It's nice to just get dressed up and be glam for the day," says Jodie Crawford, from Hull.

She sports a ruby red minidress with a matching handbag, fascinator and fluffy thong sandals.

Thousands descend on Beverley town centre after attending Ladies Day at the racecourse

Alcohol forms a big part of the occasion, although Beverley Racecourse is keen to stress free water is offered at its bars.

Management say staff also work closely with the town's pubs and bars, and they are in close contact with Beverley Street Angels - volunteers who help keep revellers safe.

"It's very crazy," says Ms Crawford.

"Obviously we've been drinking all day so it's a bit different. You go from being a lady for the day and then you go back and just let loose."

Racegoer Jodie Crawford describes the day as "crazy"

For some, drinking begins at 09:00 BST and 12 hours later, the booze-fuelled carnage spills across the town, leaving an indelible stain on the streets.

We see one woman attempting a cartwheel on the historic market cross.

As the night draws on there are more chaotic scenes as the mirth and merriment turns even murkier.

Another woman's arm is covered in blood and her friend is collapsed behind her in a ditch.

Thierry Condette was baking late into the night in his French patisserie.

Looking disgusted, he says: "When you see what's happening, it's unbelievable.

"It's ladies day in the morning, but they're devils at night."

Baker Thierry Condette is not impressed...

He is cautious about opening the door to his shop on Lairgate and describes the outside frivolities as "a zoo".

"It's not Ladies Day anymore. It is definitely something different," he says.

While Mr Condette is not a fan, other businesses have been licking their lips to the sound of the tills ringing in the hat shops and boutiques which have seen roaring trades in the days leading up to the event.

So too the pubs.

After the last race finishes, the town's Saturday market sees hundreds queuing for the pubs.

Aiden Hazlewood, the general manager of the Kings Head pub in Market Place, says his staff embrace the "full-on day" that comes with the event but he says they also brace themselves for the "carnage" that follows.

"It's the biggest calendar event of the year for the locals, they love it, everyone comes here.

"It's a lot of fun but it is carnage."

Pub manager Aiden Hazlewood says people "forget how to be human"

Mr Hazlewood adds: "People forget how to [be] humans. Sometimes people will use the outside beer garden as a toilet and sometimes people even use the restaurant as a toilet."

One resident says the areas around his property becomes a public toilet during the event.

He tells us: "The last two years... people leaving the races have come down the lane, and basically it's young lads, urinating up against the wall.

"They've even gone through my gate and urinated through there. They're just very, very drunk people."

East Riding of Yorkshire Council teams waste no time in getting to work, clearing up after the revellers.

A spokesperson said: "Our experienced street cleansing team undertakes the clean-up work in the early hours of the morning, drawing on many years of experience to ensure the Westwood area and town is quickly returned to its usual welcoming state.

"Extra wheeled bins are positioned near the race course and routes back to town for attendees to use, helping to facilitate the clean up process."

A Beverley Racecourse spokesperson added: "We want everyone to enjoy their day but sensibly."

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