Ayr is Scotland’s premier racecourse and the venue for both Flat and Jump racing throughout the year. One of the main Scottish festivals is the Coral Scottish Grand National which takes place on 17th and 18th April 2025. 

Official Dress Code

Hospitality Facilities – Dress to impress with smart dress encouraged. Smart Casual dress code is accepted but NO ripped/torn denims or trainers are permitted. No football colours allowed in any area of the course.

Club Stand – Dress to impress with smart dress encouraged. Smart Casual dress code is accepted but NO trainers or ripped/torn denims are permitted. No football colours allowed in any area of the course.

Grandstand -There is no formal dress code for this area except no football colours allowed 

 Although there is no official dress code, the gents tend to dress up in jackets and ties to show off their sartorial style.

All prices are correct at time of publishing.

Slaters– Official Menswear Sponsor

Slaters is the Official Menswear Sponsor of the Ayr Grand National Festival and will be giving away Slaters menswear voucher of £1200.00 to the Most Stylish Gent winner! Slaters is a family run business with their headquarters based in Glasgow and 27 stores around the UK including Ayr. They are also online and offer a range of menswear from sartorial suits to casualwear. Here is a selection of three piece suits perfect for race days:

L-R: Slim fit Grey & Black Check Contrasting Three Piece Suit features a grey check jacket with peak lapels, a contrasting black scoop waistcoat and black trousers. £149.00. Teamed here with their Slim Wool Blend Tie in beige £9.00 Tailored fit Beige Three Piece Suit from their Sawyers & Hendricks collection has a subtle fleck design to add texture. £159.00 Worn here with Slim Knitted Square Blade Tie in dark brown for high contrast. £9.00. Slim Fit Burgundy Check Three Piece Suit from their OneSix5ive collection £165.00, paired with Slim Fit Pink Chambray Weave Shirt from their OneSix5ive collection £24.00 and Slim Textured Tie in blue £8.00.

River Island – Official Fashion Partner for the Stye Awards

River Island is the Official Fashion Partner of the Ayr Grand National and will be giving away vouchers and a goodie bag for winners of the Style Awards which includes: £500.00 RI voucher for the Most Stylish Gent and £200.00 RI voucher for the Most Stylish Couple.

L-R: Hang up your grey suit for a day of colour: Be bold in bright Blue Slim Fit Stretch Textured Suit Jacket £80.00 with matching Blue Slim Fit Stretch Textured Suit Trousers £40.00. For a modern take on the more traditional look, Grey Slim Fit Check Suit Jacket with brown lining and pull up pocket square £110.00 Matching Grey Slim Fit Textured Check Waistcoat with brown satin back  and Grey Slim Fit Stretch Check Trousers £50.00 Push out the colour in Purple Slim Fit Suit Jacket double breasted jacket £94.00 with matching Purple Slim Fit Suit Trousers £46.00 and for a lighter blue shade, Blue Skinny Fit Micro Check Suit Jacket with floral lining and floral pull up pocket square. £99.00 Matching Blue Skinny Fit Micro Check Suit Trousers in a stretch fit. £46.00 Teamed here with Grey Geometric Tie | River Island £12.00 and White Slim Fit Premium Long Sleeve Shirt | River Island £40.00 

The Style Awards 

Held on Ladies day which is Friday 17th April, The Style Awards has tremendous prizes on offer and yes there are a few categories for the gents:

All prices are correct at time of publishing

Most Stylish Gent

Gents, It’s time to look and be debon’Ayr’ if you want to win the Most Stylish Gent Award. Suits are the popular choice for this festival and a three piece suit is a good sartorial move. A waistcoat will provide another layer of warmth against the elements if the weather is a bit chilly, and if warm enough to remove your jacket, then you still look dapper. 

Note: Opt for wool waistcoats and leave the silk/satin waistcoats to the wedding parties.

Sartorial Rule: On a single breasted waistcoat always leave the bottom button undone. Why do you ask? That’s a good question and there are a few possible theories. We favour the horse riding theory: to prevent the waistcoat from creasing when riding the gentleman kept the bottom button open. However the most popular is of the Prince of Wales (future King Edward VII) unbuttoning his due to a feeling of tightness and his court followed suit thinking this was a new trend.

Choose a light colour such as Walker Slater’s Edward Jacket  in grey wool flannel chalk stripe. Drawing from classic British tailoring, the jacket is given a contemporary feel with a broader notch lapel than traditionally seen and high set gorge – both visually widen the shoulders. The low button stance and flared skirt create the illusion of a slimmer waist. 100% wool woven in Italy. The chalk stripe is softer than the sharper pinstripe and so is suited for semi-formal events such as a race day. £365.00 Matching Edward Trouser £185.00 and matching  Edward Waistcoat £145.00. Team with a crisp white shirt or one with a touch of colour. Their Harcus Cotton Shirt in pale pink is 100% cotton £78.00 and their dark red Stag Bow Tie subtly adorned with embroidered stag motifs. Fabric is a wool and silk matt blend. £58.00. Accessories will help you be the first over the finishing line! So don’t forget that silk pocket square, their yellow Lammond Silk Hank sees butterflies flitting in between the paisley print. £35.00. Add a brooch or lapel pin to your jacket (or cap).  Orkney jewellery designer Sheila Fleet’s Highland Cow Lapel Pin is made of oxidised sterling silver, measures approximately 26mm by 15mm and is hand-finished in their Orkney workshop. £94.00 If you like a cap then don Walker Slater’s Williamsburg Cap   in navy twill Shetland tweed, An eight panel Bakerboy cap with a sturdy, curved brim. The eight-panel design adds volume for a bolder, heritage inspired look. £58.00 Best foot forward in the classic black leather  Oxford Shoe £182.00 whilst bringing a flash of colourful fun with a pair of socks. Men’s Plaid Sock in burgundy. 80% Organic Cotton, 18% Polyamide, 2% Elastane £12.00. An important must have accessory to give a cool look is a pair of sunglasses GUESS® Round sunglasses Were £135.00 now £81.00

Most Stylish Couple

For the most stylish couple, both your outfits should complement each other. One way would be to wear similar or complementary colours.

Embrace springtime in M&S pale green 3 Piece Slim Fit Textured Stretch Suit Suit jacket is single breasted and has a subtle texture. The cut is a slim fit for a sleek outline. £90, matching trousers £50 and waistcoat £50 Keep tonal with their dark sage Easy Iron Cotton Blend Shirt available in regular or slim fit £20.00. Add a pop of pink with their Floral Printed Tie   £16.00. Also available in green if you prefer to keep the look tonal. Step in style with their Suede Tassel Loafers in stone. Also available in tan and chocolate. £65.00. Finish off with their D Frame Polarised Sunglasses in green, £20.00 

Ladies, to complement the gent’s suit also choose green and pink with Nobodys Child’s Floral Green Cowl Neck Midi Trixie Dress This floral slip dress is cut on the bias with a lightly flared hem and features spaghetti straps, a cowl neckline and a tie back detail. Was £120.00 now £108.00.  Hire a hat. Scottish milliner Chanix Millinery’s SANDY Pink Swirl Brimmed Fascinator features feather flowers. £40.00 to hire (not including postage) with £80.00 deposit (refunded after the safe return of the hat) Keep sandals barely there so as not to be too heavy looking for the slip dress such as Arden Wavy Slingback Sandals by CHARLES & KEITH UK in soft mint green featuring wavy-strap uppers and low block heels. £59.00. Have the moon and stars at your fingertip with Luna Charles Elena Star Rattan Straw Handbag Crafted with natural rattan and vegan leather with glimmering gold moons and stars. £165.00. Accessorise with M&S Per Una Natural Stone Skinny Drop Earrings in pink £25.00, M&S Cubic Zirconia Flower Bracelet £25.00 and GUESS® Cat eye sunglasses Women in pink with bordeaux lenses. £85.00

Walker Slater images provided by Walker Slater

Slater Menswear images provided by Slaters marketing team

River Island images courtesy of River Island PR team

M&S images provided by M&S PR team

Sheila Fleet Jewellery images provided by Sheila Fleet Jewellery

Nobodys Child and Guess images courtesy of pr Trace Publicity

Chanix Millinery images provided by Chanix Millinery

Luna Charles images provided by pr agency CiCi PR

Charles and Keith UK images courtesy of pr agency Purple PR