New Douglas Park Sports Fan Tips
New Douglas Park is a venue in Hamilton
Best Food and Drink at New Douglas Park?
Unfortunately there isn't exactly a wide range of choice. The catering team has the usual fare on offer: pies, sausage rolls and similarly unhealthy and overpriced food. It's a shame that UK football doesn't offer better quality meals, but tradition is tradition! No alcohol on sale within the venue, so you'll have to settle for a hot drink or something fizzy.
How do I get to New Douglas Park?
Ideally you want to get the train to Hamilton West Railway Station, as it's barely a few minutes' walk from there to the stadium! If you're travelling from afar, you'll probably be able to get a connection to here from Glasgow Central. You can go to Hamilton Central Station, but it's 1.5 miles from the stadium.By car, the stadium is fairly easy to access but there's virtually no parking by the stadium. If you don't mind traipsing about a while, you will be able to find street parking within reasonable walking distance.
Things to check out around New Douglas Park?
Sometimes the best way to pass the rest of a football day is in tranquillity. Chatelherault is a gorgeous country park situated not far from the venue. It's ideal for romantic or relaxing walks, lovely views and scenery.An alternative is the Low Parks Museum. It has a range of changing exhibits which are sure to ignite your interests. The staff are knowledgeable and you can learn all about the long history of the area.
New Douglas Park seating?
For the two existing stands, the seating is actually pretty good. The legroom is decent and they all offer good views of the pitch, so no complaints on that front! The fans are all pretty upbeat, so you can usually have a bit of camaraderie with your neighbours, whatever side they're on. Some fans will insist on standing (a throwback to the "good old days”) so they might get in your way, but other than that the seating is fine.
Best Insider tip at New Douglas Park?
Be warned: since there is no protection from the elements on two sides, the Scottish wind can seriously cut you up! Make sure to wrap up very warmly and be prepared for a rough night if the skies open up. It shouldn't take away from the game too much though – the players will be getting the worst of it! This goes even in the warmer months for evening games, as a consistent wind for 90 minutes can give you a chill.
Best restaurants near New Douglas Park?
Despite being only a little town, Hamilton has its fair share of great eateries! John Carrigan's Eating House is a sort of gastropub which focuses its attention on high quality, tasty and well-presented meals. Everything is perfectly executed, so a great choice for any palate. Another option has to be Leonardo's: a really tasty Italian joint which is happy to cater to vegetarians and gluten-intolerant individuals. For meat lovers, there's an abundance of that too! Really great place.
Best Bars around New Douglas Park?
Depending from where you arriving, there are a few different options. There's a CAMRA Good Beer Guide option just outside Hamilton Central Railway Station, called the George Bar. By Hamilton West Station (your other public transport option) there's Bar West and The Tap Room, both of which are hugely welcoming to home fans, but more reserved towards visitors. There's not a huge amount of choice besides these, but you can always walk around Hamilton and see what you can find!
What to expect from the New Douglas Park crowd?
Only boasting two stands at the ground, it's no small ask for 6,000 crowd to generate a big atmosphere. However, fighting against the odds, they manage to create quite a bit of noise! Fans know that they are punching above the weight everyone expects, so they do everything they can to show their team deserves their place in the Premiership. They're a really friendly group, so you'll enjoy a bit of banter with them if you're an away fan.