Donington Park’s Redgate Lodge disappears

Donington Park’s £1m upgrade of the Leicestershire circuit has led to the demise of one of the most famous ‘post race’ drinking haunts, Redgate Lodge.

Donington says the removal of the Lodge was necessary to increase the ‘run-off’ area at Redgate as part of the safety issues raised by the FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme), bike racing’s governing body.

The ongoing work at Donington also includes extending the run-off at the Old hairpin and to improve drainage at Foggy Esses.

If all goes to plan, the FIM will then rubberstamp Donington’s right to host the 2011 European round of WSB over the weekend of 25-27 March.

Redgate Lodge, however, will return. The beloved pub of racers and fans alike was carefully dismantled and is in storage in readiness to reappear at a later date somewhere within the circuit’s boundary.

In the meantime, a new drinking hole has been opened next to the Pitstop Diner in the paddock area. See you there.