What happened at Hilton Garden Inn Silverstone’s rooftop F1 party?

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• zapato1060 says:

  9 Jul9 July 06:44

  Looks like to get a view it’ll be tippy toe time.

• Nick says:

  9 Jul9 July 06:52

  Many thanks for sharing that Robin.

  As another F1 fan I’ve attended several McLaren/Hilton experiences over the past 7 years or so, including McLaren factory tours and theeir latest F1 car launches. There is no doubt that Hilton/McLaren look after you at all their events, but I agree that they’ve become a bit top heavy in points requirements in the past couple of years or so. If I remember rightly, the first McLaren F1 factory tour we did cost 50K HH points (for two), and included an excellent Champagne reception and a three course dinner & wine in the directors dining room. Nowadays I believe it’s more buffet style and costs considerably more. However, like anything, if you’re a real fan, they’re generally still ‘value for money’, ‘exclusive’ and good fun.

• r* says:

  9 Jul9 July 07:24

  How many points did hilton pay him for having to experience a dj set by Paris Hilton? 😀

• Lonjams says:

  9 Jul9 July 08:59

  Why spend so many points watching a ‘sport’ that can’t even follow its own rules and fixes the outcome? WWE is less fake.

• Tariq says:

  9 Jul9 July 09:03

  According to pictures on Instagram, Saturday night entertainment was a performance by Craig David followed by DJ set from Paris Hilton as stated. Looks like lots of McLaren hospitality being hosted in the hotel and as far as I can tell the trackside guest rooms were switched into hospitality areas and sold for ££££££.

  My experience of attending events at this hotel was F&B service being poor – so interesting that Robin’s experience was good. Can only assume that they’ve brought in additional & competent staff for the high profile event.

  I wonder if the car park has a permanent surface yet or is still rough ground…

  • Simon says:

    9 Jul9 July 11:03

    They have covered it in weird big plastic squares, almost like the thing you would float in the sea.

• tony says:

  9 Jul9 July 09:18

  I’m sitting in the rain infront of the Hilton as I type. By its very nature, HfP is about maximising value. I’ve concluded that it’s not really compatible with F1 at Silverstone but fair play to anyone who can sell 480,000 tickets at these prices.

  • HH says:

    9 Jul9 July 09:52

    Since the advent of HDTV, I contend that the best way to experience F1 is through a screen—not on-track.

    • tony says:

      9 Jul9 July 20:07

      I think you’re bang on the money if you just want to watch 20 cars go round in circles. They did however put on some great talks, I made proper lasting memories with my kids, my daughter got her Ferrari cap signed by Carlos and we paid (a lot) extra to get some added bits too like pit lane access, a track tour and an up-close interview, albeit only with an Alpine driver…

      Elements of the organisation range from poor to downright dangerous – it’s almost as if they have never done this before – but I’m pleased we went. Especially since we have lived just a matter of miles from the track for 20 years and never been to the F1!

• Mutley says:

  9 Jul9 July 13:27

  I was there on Friday with my son, great view from the roof of turn 18 and start finish line, but view to turn one obscured by bridge advertising Las Vegas. Our wristbands allowed us access to Abbey stand, which we spent an hour in with great views of pits and turns one and two.

  Food was good and plentiful, Italian Salami, Bresaola, and Parma Ham nibbles, Roast beef and potatoes, at lunch, and some lovely deserts. Just before FP2 afternoon tea was served, finger sandwiches and scones. Goody bag included Branded McClaren shirt and baseball cap. Interestingly, the 2nd floor of the Hotel is exclusively booked by Red Bull Racing for the next few years, DJ’s every evening. Parking was on temporary hard surface right outside the Hotel. Staff really were very good. Well worth the 110K points.

• Oliver Hunter says:

  9 Jul9 July 15:57

  I have stayed at this hotel middle of April; had a team meeting there over two days.

  Yes its at the world famous Silverstone, so our meeting room overlooked the start/finish straight and being around F1 teams on the Silverstone campus along with hearing the roar of cars going round the track was great.

  But I would never stay there again. Rooms were so so (given what and where it is, I am really surprised its the Garden inn brand and not at least one of Hiltons 4* brands), but what was really bad was F&B offerings/service and check in/out experiences. Dinner was bland and portions a joke vs. the price charged. Breakfast was better as a buffet, but 10 mins for one of our team to get some poached eggs (which then arrived cold and hard). Getting served was a farce in the evenings – 15 min wait to get a beer at the bar.

  Check in and out was also painful, we had a block booking so expected one bill, but nope they made us all manually check in and out as a group of 20 odd.

  Maybe they have managed to get more staff (I’m well aware the hospitality sector is struggling to get enough staff) and train them better, but its a venue we have already cancelled for our November meeting,

  • Will says:

    10 Jul10 July 11:23

    My experience with a lot of hotels at places like this is that they’re so dependent on a handful of weekends and running on basement rates and woeful occupancy for the rest of the year that there’s not enough money in making it high standard / high service and as such the service can be rather disappointing when it’s at peak.

  • Tariq says:

    11 Jul11 July 13:22

    Mirrors my experience of two stays here – Feb and Apr.

    If they make measurable improvement to service then it’ll be acceptable at the price point. The hard product (IMO, aside from the car parking) is very good so it’s a real shame that service lets down the property so badly.

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