Member Article

Family-owned Northumberland water company partners with Newcastle Racecourse

Marlish Water, a North East business which bottles spring water drawn deep from the Northumberland hills, has partnered with Newcastle Racecourse.

The family-owned business operated by Joseph Evans and his cousin Elizabeth Walton on her Farm at Marlish near Hartburn, has agreed a deal with the racecourse to supply bottled water throughout all of the venue’s bars and hospitality areas and across the Gosforth Park estate, including the Border Minstrel pub and Parklands Golf Club bar and golf shop.

The family have lived on the farm for over 80 years and decided to diversify and market the water after discovering its drinking qualities.

In addition to supplying race meetings, weddings, conferences and events at the racecourse, Marlish Water has also signed up as water sponsor at the Collingwood Insurance Beeswing Ladies Day, one of the region’s most popular sporting and social occasions.

The company is set to supply plastic bottles of water free of charge to race-goers attending the popular fixture on Saturday 25 July and will have water stations in the Picnic, Grandstand & Paddock and Premier Enclosures.

Marlish Water is also set to support Newcastle Stampede, the venue’s annual 10k cross-country adventure run which takes place in October.

Marlish Water opened its on-site bottling facility in January, enabling the business to bottle at source and attain spring water status. The business employs three members of staff as well as seasonal workers and plans to take on additional employees in line with growth plans.

In addition to Newcastle Racecourse, Marlish Spring Water is already being stocked throughout the North East and has partnerships in place with Newcastle Falcons among other leading businesses and organisations.

Commenting on the partnership, which came about through an introduction to racecourse executive director David Williamson, Mr Evans said: “As a business committed to building our brand presence with high end users across the North East, Newcastle Racecourse was an obvious fit for Marlish Water.

“We’re delighted that we’re going to be stocking water for the full Gosforth Park estate and the brand exposure at Ladies Day, which attracts huge crowds of over 20,000 each year, is a fantastic opportunity and a great way to put Marlish on the map.”

David Williamson, executive director of the venue, says that the partnership reinforces the racecourse’s commitment to supporting local suppliers. He said: “When I heard about Marlish Water running its new bottling facility located nearby on the outskirts of Morpeth, it made perfect sense to see how they could support our catering offer.

“Marlish Water offers a premium product which I have no doubt will be well-received by the tens of thousands of visitors we welcome each year.”

Mr Williamson added that the arrangement for Ladies Day in providing free water to guests will help encourage safe drinking. He added: “There will be free bottles of water courtesy of Marlish Water available for all of our guests at Ladies Day to help keep guests refreshed and hydrated throughout the day.”

Newcastle Racecourse welcomes over 200,000 guests to 29 racedays and 250 events across the year.