Brighton waiters will race with loaded trays at the racecourse on 15 October

Waiters and bartenders from restaurants in and around Brighton and Hove will race each other over 200 metres at Brighton Racecourse² on Thursday 15 October, each carrying a tray of food and drink.

The BITE Sussex¹ Waiters Race opens the racecourse’s Season Finale, the last meeting of this year’s Flat season. The winner will need speed and the steadiest hand on the track.

Racegoers can bet on their favourite waiter or restaurant. The proceeds go to Justlife, a charity that supports families and individuals living in temporary accommodation.

“It’s been a few years since we last hosted our annual Waiters Race,” said Nathalie Gomez de Vera of BITE Sussex, the county’s food and drink group. “As always it will be a fun start to the race day and a great way to support our charity partner.”

Fran Anderson of Justlife said many families with children in Brighton and Hove are homeless too, living in temporary accommodation because they have nowhere else to go. “That can mean a whole family living in a single room, without the space, stability or everyday essentials most of us take for granted,” Anderson said.

The charity’s Children and Families Project helps those families find furniture and household items, get to appointments and connect with health, education and financial support.

Sam Goatcher, recently promoted to general manager at the racecourse, called the finale “a wonderful way to round off the racing calendar”.

Advance tickets for the day cost £10 through BITE Sussex’s offer, instead of the usual £18.