FOLLOWING a recent refurbishment and introduction of a brand new menu this historic racecourse’s premier restaurant now means you can not only watch the Sport of Kings, but you can eat like them too.

Having never even set foot on Kempton’s hallowed ground before, the changes made were unlikely to impress me as I didn’t know what the place looked like previously.

However, it’s clear the trendy and comfortable new decore combined with one of the best views in horseracing from the massive windows were going to make this the perfect venue to enjoy a meal at.

There is now no longer any need to book, you can simply turn up and take a seat at any of the 400 seats, which are clustered round tables each featuring a monitor showing - what else - horseracing both from Kempton and other courses.

My visit, in the company of my sister, was made on a night of seven flat races which took place every half-an-hour between 6.20 and 9.20pm.

This meant no sooner had we sat down and got a menu, than we were being distracted by the second race of the evening getting underway.

For those who like to gamble at the dinner table (with money not their health!) placing a bet is dead simple as very nice ladies from the Tote call on each booth to talk first timers (like us) through the process and use their magical little electronic gadgets to place the bet.

Despite the heady rush of seeing our chosen nag romp home to victory, we still found time to select our starters.

My sister plumped for warm walnut coated brie with aged fig balsamic and red onion chutney (£5.50) while I had chilli-infused poached salmon and Cornish crab cake with tomato salad and rocket (£6.95).

The brie had perfectly melted inside its coating and my sister was full of praise for every bite, while I took an equally short time to polish off the crab cake which was bursting with zesty flavour.

We quickly fell into a very agreeable routine of popping out to the balcony to watch the horses in the parade ring before each race, before returning to the table to find the next course had arrived.

For my sister the roast lamb, served with braised red cabbage, dauphinoise potatoes and red wine jus (£19.95) was worthy of being put before royalty all the way and she was particularly glad to find it was filling but not so rich it left you feeling bloated.

While the stakes had been high out on the course, the steak which was put before me was a perfectly char-grilled piece of sirloin served with chunky chips, mushroom, plum tomato and peppercorn sauce (£19.95).

As money continued to change hands all around us, our early fortune appeared to have deserted us, but happily when it came to dessert our luck remained well and truly in.

My apple and butterscotch pudding with vanilla custard (£5.50) was warm and fluffy and rich with taste while my sister was jumping for joy like Frankie Dettori with the news there was one chocolate brownie and vanilla pod ice cream (£5.50) remaining and it was hers!

Before we knew it the last race had rolled around and there was just time left to recapture a little of our early luck to win back some of our lost money before the horses were put back into their stables and the course closed.

Kempton is so much more than a racecourse, it has great food, smashing bars, is a perfect wedding venue and a great place for businesses to hold networking events or just reward their staff with a treat.

We both agreed we had enjoyed one of the best nights for a long time and won’t need any nagging at all to persuade us to return.