PLACES TO BE SEEN: CHESTER

PLACES TO BE SEEN: CHESTER

So, Chester, yes it’s a place and I’m hoping that you have heard about it. It is nestled an hour or so away from both Manchester and Liverpool. Although they are much larger cities, Chester has an extremely good reputation.

Chester is easily one of the richest areas in Cheshire, the nouveau rich often congregate in the city and its surrounding areas.

As well as this Chester is full of private schools, okay not boarding or day schools, you have to venture towards Ellesmere Port for that. However the majority of students of which attend these schools are either from or have a second home in Chester.

Chester is a Roman city and is surrounded by Roman walls. You can in fact still have a good old tour by someone dresses as a Roman. Following this the streets are mainly cobbled and very slippy. Chester is also one of the very few places in the country to offer two floor shopping throughout. These are known as the Chester Rows. Honestly they’re fantastic and a delight to see.

With Chester being a quaint little honeypot there are plenty of places to go, hotels, bars, events and restaurants. I will only include the best and they are all places I have tried so you can believe me.

Firstly, The Chester Grosvenor Hotel. Lets get the big one out of the way. This is the grandest hotel for miles. Honestly, the only 5-star hotel in Chester and it is unbelievable. The only place you’ll see Aston Martins and Ferraris parked outside before they are valet

parked of course.

Now if you have any idea about the name ‘Grosvenor’, you will be aware that it is owned by the Duke of Westminster. Yes, just the Queens cousin who is worth somewhere in the region of 7Billion. Now you will have guessed this isn’t a cheap place to stay. A single night can cost anywhere from £150-£500+ depending on many things. However it is so totally worth it, the hotel is amazing, the atmosphere is great, the staff are fabulous and everything is beyond your expectations.

Of course not everyone can afford an evenings stay here but, there are other offers on the table. Afternoon tea in the ‘Arkle Bar and Lounge’ can be as cheap as £25pp and dinner in ‘La Brasserie’ is extremely good value for money. However if you wish to go all out, the ‘Simon Radley Restaurant’ is the place to go. Oh and I must not forget the wine cellar. Words simply cannot describe it, it’s huge and the wine is insanely amazing. Bottles can cost over £1000 each and that’s only the Pinot.

If you are lucky enough to spend the evening I would ,most definitely recommend a Four-poster suite and if I were you I’d book yourself into the spa for the next morning. Even if you’re not really into all of that, the raspberry sorbet after your treatment is worth every penny.

Now lets move onto a couple of pubs, you can’t come to Chester without visiting a few country pubs. Of course there are many and picking one if you have no idea can be difficult. Especially when they all look the same however, looks are deceiving believe me.

Two pubs immediately pop into my head when I think of Chester because they are simply exquisite. I haven't as of yet stumbles upon anything that can quite compare to either of these.

The first is ‘The Grosvenor Arms, Aldford’ now, I have to admit I am slightly biased towards this one. I have to come clean, this was my local for a number of years but that is not all that draws me to it. Honestly it’s great, especially on a lovely summers day when you can sit out in the garden or on the terrace. The winter too, especially sitting by the open fire in the Tap room. It’s so cosy.

But it’s not only this, the food is fabulous and trust me the portions are extremely generous which is nice. You go to many places these days and you need three or four courses because they only give you half a plate. Here, two can be a push so I’d definitely starve yourself for most of the afternoon if you plan on visiting for an evening meal.

It goes without saying also that the atmosphere is grand. It’s so lovely and bubbly, everyone is always up for a chat and smiling no matter how crowded the bar or how busy the garden (the steps are tiring though). If you are there for lunch or an early summer evening I would definitely recommend a stroll through the park and the small village, it is a beautiful little place. Everyone takes pride in there garden so not one will be overgrown I can guarantee it.

I will let you into a little secret also, in the village there are some lovely, large metal gates (just by the bridge), these are the entrance to the earlier mentioned ‘Duke of Westminster’’ home estate (but I didn’t tell you that).

Now lets go a bit further

into the country, out to ‘The Pheasant Inn’. If you visit these two you’ll see what I mean by the pubs being similar. This is another great little out for all of the same reasons as the previous. It’s just got a couple of different local ales and dishes that make it worth a separate visit of its own.

Also the beer garden is great and I would definitely recommend the summer time for the view is fantastic as is the walk in the surround castle grounds.

I feel like I’m promoting alcoholism now and I would love to say my next entry would change that but I’m afraid not. Next we go to a place called Hoole, more specifically Charles Street. Now here we have an evening, almost opposite each other are two favourites of many, many people. Once you have been once you’ll want to go every week or every day if you could afford it. On one side of the road we have a very new cocktail bar which is ama

zing and almost directly opposite the nicest independent restaurant in Chester. I mean the whole of Chester.

Lets start with the cocktail bar, ‘The Suburbs’. I know it doesn’t exactly sound classy but names just like looks can be deceiving. Its grand and the atmosphere is fantastic. Also why wouldn’t you go for a cocktail before your meal? Then why wouldn't you go for another after your meal has concluded? Exactly you have no answer. The only downside to this place is that frequent visits will leave you bankrupt. No matter how much you think you have, if you start drinking you can wave all of that away. I speak from experience but feel free to give it a go and enjoy yourself.

Now over the

road is ‘The Sticky Walnut’ a random name I know but, don’t be fooled. This place is an absolute gem. From the Greywacke Sauvignon to the Charles Heidsieck Brut the wine list will not disappoint. Nor will the menu, it’s the first place I ever contemplated having a shin of beef but it was amazing and became my favourite. Oh and maybe say its your birthday yes, the cake is like £25 but its remarkable.

Its only a small restaurant but that adds to everything. The staff are great and really know the menu, the wines and are genuine, lovely people. The chefs are great too, they will recommend things for you to try and accommodate you as best they can but if I were you, I’d stick to the menu. It’s their job to know what goes well and what works, they’re bloody good

at it too. Excuse my French.

There are so many places to go and to visit in Chester so I’m going to leave a few names here for you to have a look at yourself. I’ll leave a couple of events it’s worth seeing too because they're great also.

Hotels: The Abode, Rowton Hall, Carden Park

Bars/Restaurants: Cuckoos, Bar Lounge, The White Horse (Chester Racecourse), The Burnt Truffle, Hickory’s, Duttons, The Botanist

Events: Eaton Hall Garden Opening, Chester Races, Grosvenor Park Theatre

There’s too much to say about Chester, honestly just get yourself there and explore. You really can’t go too far wrong. These are just the best of the best in my opinion and I hope that you will enjoy visiting them if you get the chance.

Cheers and gone.