The Ultimate Guide to Chester & Cheshire

#01
THE
ULTIMATE GUIDE
TO CHESTER AND CHESHIRE
INCORPORATING WHAT’S ON
MAY - AUGUST 2017
The story on
everyone’s lips:
STORYHOUSE
OPENS
Pack a picnic:
Cheshire’s best food
(and where to buy it)
A hill with a view:
Our top 5 views in Cheshire

1
Just Imagine... soaring to the tree tops and Swooping your
way around all the AMAZING animals at the Z000oo0ooo
www.chesterzoo.org/play

2
With 15 opportunities for fun across the season,
Chester Races offers thrilling racing action
combined with stylish surroundings and
an electric atmosphere, every time. Don’t
miss your opportunity to come racing on the
Roodee in 2017.
Roman Day
Saturday 27 May
City Plate Day
Saturday 15 July
Ladies Day
Saturday 26 August
Season Finale
Saturday 30 September
For the full list of fixtures and to purchase tickets and badges online from
just £10 per person, visit chester-races.com or call 01244 304 600
Hospitality packages are available from £57.50 * per person
KIDS GO FREE - RACEDAY’S & POLO EVENTS IN 2017!^
Trade furlongs for chukkas at one of
our two high-profile Polo events
and watch teams battle it out to
take home a tournament trophy.
Free entry to Friday tournaments.
£8 entry for adults on Saturday
tournaments.
Hospitality packages available from £62 *
FRIDAY 2 & SATURDAY 3 JUNE I FRIDAY 8 & SATURDAY 9 SEPTEMBER
For tickets and badges, visit chester-races.com/polo
*Price per person and +VAT at the current prevailing rate.
^Children aged 17 and under are eligible to attend all Racedays and Polo events at Chester completely free of charge.

discovercheshire.com
Spring and summer,
inside and out
This spring and summer,
everything changes. After almost
a decade without a theatre or
even a cinema, Chester is set
to get both – and a whole lot
more – as the £37m Storyhouse
opens. Read our interview with
its artistic director, Alex Clifton,
on page 7, or make the most of
the walled city’s new (and very
old) cultural highlights with
our weekend guide (page 11).
Elsewhere in this, our first ever
issue of the Ultimate Guide
to Chester and Cheshire, we
interview Sticky Walnut’s Gary
Usher. His is the neighbourhood
bistro which, tucked into the
independents-heavy suburb of
Hoole, has accolades including an
AA Restaurant of the Year award
to its name – although Gary’s not
sure he wants all the attention.
Find out why on page 47.
This issue isn’t solely about
Chester, though. How could it
be, with the delights of Cheshire
on our doorstep? So, there’s
in-season and locally sourced
food a-plenty (perfect for
picnics, page 16) and there are
countryside walks with views
(and that all-important country
pub, for post-walk sustenance,
page 43). There’s even a schoolholidays
survival guide for
harassed parents (page 29), and
full what’s on listings on page 34.
If all that’s not enough, we dig
deep into the past with a look
at the maps that made English
history, and were the work of
Cheshire lad, John Speed (page
39). All in all, then, this is an issue
– and a new magazine - that
reflects the best of what’s on in
Chester and Chester this spring
and summer, inside and out.
Find out more about
what’s on in Cheshire at:
visitchester.com and
discovercheshire.com
Thank you!
Susie Stubbs, Editor
This guide has been put together by Marketing Cheshire and was made possible with the
help of our editor, Susie Stubbs, writers Emily Oldfield and Mark Littler, and the invaluable
support, ideas and reality checks of Marketing Cheshire’s Leanne Eaton and Clare Bowen,
and Storyhouse’s Jen Chapman. Thanks, also, to all of our interviewees and contributors,
including Alex Clifton (Storyhouse), Gary Usher (Sticky Walnut), Tom Hughes (The Chef’s
Table) and Luke Neale Photography (www.lukeneale.net).
Designed in Cheshire by Lemondrop Creative.
EDITORIAL
Susie Stubbs susie@susiestubbs.com
ADVERTISING
Leanne Eaton l.eaton@marketingcheshire.co.uk
Clare Bowen c.bowen@marketingcheshire.co.uk
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, except
brief extracts for purpose of review, and no part of this publication may be sold or hired, without
the written permission of the publisher. Words, photography and design copyright: Marketing
Cheshire 2017, except where stated.
Although the authors have taken all reasonable care in preparing this book, we make no warranty
about the accuracy or completeness of its content and, to the maximum extent permitted, disclaim
all liability arising from its use. The publisher gratefully acknowledges the permission granted
to reproduce the copyright material in this book. Every effort has been made to trace copyright
holders and to obtain their permission for the use of copyright material.
5

3
WHERE HISTORY
COMES ALIVE
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Student Textile Exhibition 1 April to 4 May
Easter Boat Gathering 14 to 17 April
Water, Locks & Linocuts Art Exhibition
by Eric Gaskill 12 May to 9 July
Stilling the Flow Art Exhibition
by Jim Cooke 2 June to 2 July
Bicycles and Boats 9 July
Changing Places, Film & Video Umbrella
Exhibition of moving images work
11 August to 17 September
Horses at Work and at War 13 August
Santa Cruises – weekends in December
Please visit the website for museum opening times, prices
and for more on our boat trips and events.
canalrivertrust.org.uk/nwm
SOUTH PIER ROAD, ELLESMERE PORT, CHESHIRE CH65 4FW T: 0151 355 5017

visitchester.com
THE STORY ON EVERYONE’S LIPS:
STORYHOUSE OPENS
Chester’s most significant cultural development for decades opens this spring.
We get behind the scenes at Storyhouse and speak to artistic director,
Alex Clifton, about making his theatrical dreams come true.
Chester may be known for many things, but
until now it lacked a certain something when
it came to culture. The city had no trouble
in persuading people of its historic charms, its
sporting pedigree or boutique shops and bars, but
when it came to the arts – well, with no city-centre
theatre or cinema for the best part of a decade,
even Cestrians would admit that Chester didn’t
have as much going on.
That’s about to change, as Storyhouse opens its
doors on 11 May. The £37 million development
has seen an unloved former cinema returned to
its Art Deco glory, while a copper-clad extension
has made space for a theatre, cinema, library,
workshop spaces, restaurant and fourth floor
bar whose views are panoramic. “They say that
every city gets the theatre it deserves,” says the
venue’s artistic director, Alex Clifton. “Well, this is
a high-end boutique city that gives people a warm
welcome, that’s beautiful - and the experience at
Storyhouse will mirror that.”
Alex Clifton knows a thing or two about Chester. A
local lad who cut his teeth at the Chester Gateway
Youth Theatre, he’s come home after a career with
highlights that include senior stints at the National
Theatre, the English National Opera and RADA.
“This job is a childhood dream of mine,” he says.
“My love of theatre was crafted in this city.”
As you might expect, then, Storyhouse has a focus
on theatre. It’s not just any old theatre, either. This
is new work, made in Chester and performed by
a resident company of thirty actors. “Ours will be
the largest repertory theatre outside the National
Theatre, the RSC and the Globe,” says Alex. “What
makes theatre special is that it’s on a human scale.
It’s one to one, it’s not like cinema with its huge
screens and special effects. What we’re doing
is investing in putting people on stage, in great
actors and great words.”
7
>>>

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHESTER & CHESHIRE
“Storyhouse is greater
than the sum of its
parts. It’s not just a
theatre, or a library or
a cinema. It is
all of those things
and more.”
8

visitchester.com

ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS
MAY...
WORK
IN
PROGRESS
THIS SUMMER AT CREWE LYCEUM...
4
TUE 2 - FRI 5 MAY
JOHN BISHOP
WED 17 - THU 18 MAY
SUN 21 MAY
TUE 30 MAY
BRIAN POOLE & THE
TREMELOS
JUNE...
THU 1 JUNE
JULY...
WED 14 JUNE
DOMINIC KIRWAN
FRI 23 JUNE
SUN 25 JUNE
MON 3 - WED 5 JULY
TUE 11 -
THU 13
JULY
The Gruffalo © Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler - Macmillan Children's Books 1999
SAT 22 JULY
FRI 18 - SUN 20
AUGUST
THE TIGER
WHO CAME
TO TEA
FRI 28 JULY
THE RHYTHM OF
THE DANCE
AUGUST...
THU 10 - SAT 12 AUGUST
SUN 13 AUGUST
JOE PASQUALE
TUE 29 AUGUST
JIMMY CARR
Book online for these shows and many more at
crewelyceum.co.uk

visitchester.com
THE WEEKEND CITY AND BEYOND
Weekends should be like this: leisurely brunches, atmospheric nights out, coffee and a
shot of culture, all rounded off with a lungful of fresh air. Well, weekends in Chester are
exactly like this, as our guide to making the most of 48 hours in the walled city
(and beyond) sets out.
FRIDAY
It’s Friday night. All around, commuters rush home, while
the bars fill up. Where do you head? You could start with
Corks Out (Watergate St). Based in a 13th-century cellar
(don’t worry, it’s been refurbished a few times since then), its
Italian ‘wine jukebox’ enables you to sample dozens of wines
in one go. Talking of unusual wines, sharpen your elbows for
Covino (Rufus Court). It may only have room for twenty or so
punters, but its 100 superb wines
make it worth the squeeze. There are
artisan cheeses and charcuterie, too –
although for proper eats you’d be hard
pressed to beat the suburban delights
of Sticky Walnut (see review, page 47).
Stay in town for the Chef’s Table (Music
Hall Passage); it majors in unpretentious
food with an emphasis on its
provenance, which in non-foodie
speak means that it’s local, seasonal
and really very good. While you’re
there, check your surroundings:
it’s tucked down a narrow,
car-free street whose
idiosyncratic buildings
hug its winding sides, a
visible reminder that history is
never far from the surface in Chester. Close
by is the Botanist (St Werburgh St). Yes, it’s a chain,
but its live music and cocktail list give it more than enough
charm to see you through the night.
11
>>>

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The ideal location
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Less than 2 miles to Chester City
Short drive to North Wales Coast
11 month holiday season
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Holiday Homes from £24,995
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Visit Fir Trees Caravan and Lodge Park - Ferry Lane, Chester, Cheshire CH1 6QF
01244 398365 - www.firtreescaravanpark.com
5

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHESTER & CHESHIRE
Top 3 for Brunch in Chester
THE BREWERY TAP
(Lower Bridge St): Eat in an
atmospheric Jacobean hall.
A great selection of real
ales on tap (or coffee for the
more fragile).
ARTICHOKE
(Steam Mill St): Sitting on
the Shropshire Union Canal,
head here on a sunny day
for an al fresco eat – and
plenty of brunches for
under a tenner.
MARMALADE
(Northgate St): Don’t
be deceived by its size,
Marmalade does a great
brunch, from salmon
muffins to a fantastic,
classic full English.

6
Home of the
world’s largest
ice cream shop
Play. Indulge. Enjoy.
FREE
admission
www.TheIceCreamFarm.co.uk

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHESTER & CHESHIRE
Pack a
PICNIC
Summer’s fast approaching, the kids are off school
again, the streets are heaving, there’s theatre in the
park and boating on the Dee - and suddenly lunch al
desko looks less appealing. So go al fresco instead,
with our guide to packing the perfect picnic.
(Almost) The Holy Trinity
Background Image: Lyme
Cheese, bread and meat: they’re surely the holy trinity of any good picnic. The first
can be found at one of Chester’s longest-running independents, the Chester Cheese
Shop (Northgate St). Set up by farmer’s daughter Carole Faulkner thirty years ago,
this deli is a turophile’s dream. There are over 200 kinds of cheese, many of them
local - such as the award-winning Burt’s Blue, a creamy, salty little number made in
Altrincham and Bourne’s Blue, made in Malpas by a cheese-making family that
has been doing its cheesy thing since 1750. We also like the look of the
Drunken Burt. Made by the same folk as the Burt’s Blue, the
rind of this creamy cheese is washed in Hereford
cider. Hic. But back to the holy trinity: Carole also
sells chutneys, olives and English wines from the
Halfpenny Green Vineyards in Staffordshire, while
cut meats (such as honey roasted Cheshire ham) are
on the deli counter. All that’s missing, then, is a few
great hunks of bread…
16

Too. Much. Choice
When it comes to putting on a good spread, there is
perhaps no such thing as too much choice – although
the dizzying array of foodstuffs on offer at the Hollies
Farm Shop (Little Budworth, Tarporley) means you need
to set aside a good hour to browse its wares. The Hollies
encompasses a butcher, deli, coffee shop and garden
centre on the same site (there are ‘forest lodges’, too, should
the choice prove too overwhelming and you find yourself in
need of a lie-down). Run by the same family for the best part of sixty
years, what caught our eye was its dedication to baking: the Hollies’ bakes its own
bread but also takes daily deliveries from the Devonshire Bakery, another family-run
set up that has shops in Frodsham, Weaverham and Runcorn. Bread aside, there’s
pretty much everything you’ll ever need for a picnic here: meat, homemade sausage
rolls and pies, cheese, fruit and veg, quiches and salads… with over 50 local producers
on their books, the list really does go on. Also worth a mention is the Hall Farm Shop
(Alsager). Based in a converted milking parlour, it likewise has an impressive range of
locally-sourced meats, cheeses, seasonal veg and local bread.
Take A Butcher’s
One of the quirks of the high street has been that while traditional bakers have
struggled, their meaty counterparts have hung on in there. In Hoole, for example,
Hoptons the Butchers (Faulkner St) is one of those been-there-forever places that
quietly cracks on while all around artisan fads bloom and die like snowdrops in
spring. Good for local meat, Hoptons also hands out sound advice to its customers
alongside sausages and steaks. H E Coward in Frodsham (Main St), meanwhile,
knows its supply chain so well that it’s practically on first name terms with its sheep
and cows. The former are from North Wales, grazing on conservation land (which
means: yum, great grass); the latter also herald from the same source in North Wales.
Coward’s also rear their own pigs, age and butcher everything on site and, if we’re
getting back to picnic goodies, bake some rather brilliant pies, quiches and – best
of all – Scotch eggs made with that aforementioned home-grown pork. The eggs
hail from Poplars Farm, just down the road in Antrobus. A little further out is Edge
& Son (New Ferry, Wirral), the butchers favoured by Chester-based restaurant,
the Chef’s Table. Edge & Son join the dots between animal welfare
and good food, insisting on working with farms
whose animals are free-range, naturally
fed and treated with compassion. It’s a level
of care absent from industrial abattoirs and
supermarket meat but which makes sense for a
butchers that’s on first name terms with all of its
farmers. As they put it: “Our supply chain is us and
the farmer.” Edge & Son won Best Food Retailer in
the BBC Food and Farming Awards in 2014.
>>>
17

7

ON STAGE
The Beggar’s Opera
11 May – 19 August
Storyhouse Stage
The Beggar’s Opera heralds
Storyhouse’s arrival with a bang.
A filthy, hilarious version of the first
ever popular musical, highwayman
Mack the Knife juggles the affections
of Polly Peachum and Lucy Lockit in
18th century Chester.
Adapted from John Gay’s original
by Glyn Maxwell
Directed by Alex Clifton
Music by Harry Blake
Lyrics by Glyn Maxwell
Tickets from £19.50
Adults only!
Alice in Wonderland
19 May – 9 July
Storyhouse Stage
15 July – 20 August
Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre
The team behind the much-loved
shows The Wind in the Willows
and Stig of the Dump bring you a
heartfelt, joyful production of Lewis
Carroll’s classic tale.
Based on the novel by Lewis Carroll
Adapted by Glyn Maxwell
Directed by Derek Bond
Composed by Jude Obermüller
Tickets From £19.50
Under 12s go free
Julius Caesar
23 June - 30 July
Storyhouse Stage
3 - 27 August
Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre
In an age of political uncertainty and
controversial leaders, Shakespeare’s
immortal thriller is given new relevance
and a contemporary twist. Loyalty
collides with ambition in the ultimate
tale of popular leadership, rise to
power, and winning over the people.
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Loveday Ingram
Music by Tayo Akinbode
From £19.50
Under 12s go free
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
9 June - 16 July
Storyhouse Stage
21 July - 27 August
Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre
On midsummer night, four young lovers flee Athens and lose themselves in a
woodland wilderness. Showcasing wildly different shapes and styles of love and
marriage, this gleeful production runs throughout summer.
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Alex Clifton
Music by Robert Hiley
From £19.50
Under 12s go free
Booking / Information Address: Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR | Book online: storyhouse.com
Book over the phone: 0844 815 7202 (NEW NUMBER!) Follow us @StoryhouseLive
20

MUSIC
Tales of the Dark Wood:
Craig Charles and
Ensemble Deva
Monday 29 May / 7.30pm
Craig Charles tells his own poetic
version of Little Red Riding Hood,
underscored by Ensemble Deva
playing Iain Farrington’s haunting
new music. Plus The Sorcerer’s
Apprentice, made famous by
Disney’s Fantasia.
£17.50, under 12s free
Storyhouse Stage
Music-Making with Abel
and Delia
Tuesday 30 May / 10.30am
Be one of the first people to perform
at Storyhouse! Join cellist Abel
Selaocoe and percussionist Delia
Stevens to devise a brand-new piece
of communal music ready to perform
to the public that afternoon.
Tickets £20
(includes entrance to 1pm concert)
Ages 6+
Garret Theatre
Lunchtime Concert
Tuesday 30 May / 1pm
Enjoy an hour-long musical journey
from Bach, via tango played by Cellist
Abel Selaocoe and percussionist
Delia Stevens.
Tickets £10
Garret Theatre
Kabantu
Thursday 1 June / 8pm
This joyful five-piece throw away
the rulebook to bridge countries
and cultures, creating an exuberant
soundworld including everything
from Brazilian samba to Balkan folk
music and beyond.
Tickets £16
Storyhouse Stage
Camerata in The Kitchen
5 & 6 June / 8pm
Manchester Camerata take over
Storyhouse’s beautiful art deco
restaurant for two nights’ worth
of treats for full orchestra lovers.
Playing underneath the old Odeon’s
proscenium, the orchestra’s 5 June
concert features Mozart’s Prague
Symphony (No.38), while 6 June
includes Beethoven’s 4th Piano
Concert.
Tickets £15
The Kitchen
Gran Caffè Venezia
Wednesday 7 June / 7.30pm
The always sold-out Chester
Music Festival favourite arrives
in its new home at Storyhouse.
Enjoy wonderful food and summer
drinks to complement the kind of
sumptuous music you would hear in
a Venetian caffè.
Tickets £30 including refreshments
The Kitchen
Booking / Information Address: Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR | Book online: storyhouse.com
Book over the phone: 0844 815 7202 (NEW NUMBER!) Follow us @StoryhouseLive
21

CINEMA HIGHLIGHTS
NEW RELEASES
Their Finest (12a)
From 12 May
A charming, witty and spirited
war-time drama starring Gemma
Arterton as Catrin, a Ministry of
Information worker who finds herself
re-deployed to work alongside a
dashing movie producer to turn out
the type of films the nation needs to
keep spirits up during the Blitz.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid:
The Long Haul (Cert TBC)
From 26 May
The Heffley family road trip to visit
Grandma for her 90th birthday, is
thrown off course when Greg tries
to trick his parents to get to near-by
computer gamer convention with
Rodrick.
Wonder Woman
(cert TBC)
From 16 June
Before she was Wonder Woman, she
was Diana, princess of the Amazons,
trained to be an unconquerable
warrior. When an American pilot
crashes on the shores of their island
paradise and tells of a massive
conflict raging in the outside world,
Diana leaves her home, convinced
she can stop the threat.
Personal Shopper (15)
25 & 26 June
An enigmatic and mysterious ghost
story, with Kristen Stewart turning
in a career best performance as the
haunted young woman.
CLASSIC CINEMA
One Flew Over the
Cuckoo’s Nest (15)
4 & 5 June
Jack Nicholson is petty convict
Randal Murphy who’s plea of insanity
lands him in a psychiatric hospital
overseen by the cruel Nurse Ratched.
LIVE ON SCREEN
Peter Pan (NT Live)
Saturday 10 June
A delight for children and adults
alike, Sally Cookson (NT Live:
Jane Eyre) directs this wondrously
inventive production of JM Barrie’s
much-loved tale.
Tickets £10
Otello (Royal Opera
House)
Wednesday 28 June
Jonas Kaufmann makes his role debut
as Otello in Verdi’s passionate retelling
of Shakespeare’s great tragedy of
jealousy, deception and murder
conducted by Antonio Pappano.
Tickets £19.50
MOONLIGHT
FLICKS
4 July - 26 August
The region’s biggest open air
cinema returns to Chester’s
beautiful Roman Gardens with a
handpicked selection of the best
new, classic and cult films. Grab
a deckchair, gather your friends
and join us under the stars.
FILMS FOR 2017
- La La Land
- Grease
- Singin’ in the Rain
- When Harry Met Sally
- Hail Caesar
- Fantastic Beasts and
Where to Find Them
- Star Wars: Rogue One
- Moana
- Audience Choice:
Pretty Woman
Tickets £8.50 advance, £9.50
door, under 16s £6.50 advance,
£7.50 door
Roman Gardens, Chester
Booking / Information Address: Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR | Book online: storyhouse.com
Book over the phone: 0844 815 7202 (NEW NUMBER!) Follow us @StoryhouseLive
22

8
JOURNEYS FOR ALL OCCASIONS
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AND EXPERIENCE THE GOLDEN AGE OF RAIL TRAVEL.
Enjoy a range of fi ne dining experiences, special occasion journeys and luxury day trips throughout the UK, and
raise a toast to new and exciting adventures. Regular departures from Cheshire in 2017.
SPECIAL OFFER - SAVE 10% ON JOURNEYS IN 2017. QUOTE CODE VISIT CHESTER AT TIME OF BOOKING.
TO BOOK CALL 0845 077 2222 OR VISIT BELMOND.COM/NORTHERNBELLE FOR A FULL LIST OF DEPARTURES
Book and travel in 2017. Offer may be removed at any time without notice. Offer cannot be combined and is valid for new bookings only. Offer is subject to availability.
Offer excludes weekend breaks and sporting events. Discount based on best available rate at time of booking.
MARK LITTLER
Ultimate_guide_to_Chester_Cheshire_107x145_final.indd 4 06/04/2017 12:22
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Chesters Hidden Secret...
Off the ‘Beaton’ Track
Off the ‘Beaton’ track, hidden in a tranquil setting next to Chester
Cathedral is Beatons Tearooms and Bookshop.
With bright elegant décor, a range of light lunches cooked fresh to
order, together with delicious homemade cakes and scones.
Why not try one of our 30 loose leaf teas on our secluded outside
balcony overlooking the beautiful Cathedral gardens.
Whether you have visited Beatons before or discovering us for the
rst time come and experience Beatons gracious hospitality,
delivered personally to your table by our attentive waiting staff.
BEATONS CHESTER, BELL TOWER HOUSE, BELL TOWER WALK, CHESTER, CHESHIRE, CH1 2DY
Open Seven Days 01244 950761

SPECIAL EVENTS
WOW Chester
Saturday 20 May - Sunday
21 May
Women of the World Chester sees
leading female voices from across
the region discuss, debate and
celebrate the theme of ambition
and explore the paths to a gender
equal world through a programme
of workshops, speed-mentoring
sessions, panel discussions, film,
exhibitions, poetry and stand-up
comedy.
£10 day wristband, £5 concession
Throughout Storyhouse
PUBLIC LECTURE
The University at
Storyhouse
Thursday 8 June
Dr Graham Atkin will talk about
conflict as comedy, sleep and
dreams, desire and death and
plays within plays in Shakespeare’s
much-loved comedy A
Midsummer Night’s Dream.
FREE
Mark Billingham & John
Connolly in Conversation
Wednesday 21 June /
7.30pm
Don’t just read the books - meet
the authors! Join two best-selling
crime writers to hear about their
latest books, and their delight
in racking up tension and body
counts.
£5
Booking / Information Address: Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR | Book online: storyhouse.com
Book over the phone: 0844 815 7202 (NEW NUMBER!) Follow us @StoryhouseLive
24

A ROOM & ROOF WITH A VIEW
SERVING AWARD WINNING FOOD & DRINK
OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
01244 304 611 I RESTAURANT1539.CO.UK
THE RACECOURSE, CHESTER, CH1 2LY
11

ACTIVITIES
CodeUp Chester
16 May, 20 June, 18 July,
15 August
Our new monthly club for adults
who have no former knowledge of
programming and want to learn in
an open, friendly and supportive
environment.
FREE
Scrabble Club
Weekly from Tuesday
16 May
Make new friends whilst exercising
your alphabet acrobatics. Boards
provided.
FREE
Storyhouse Book Club
17 May, 14 June, 19 July,
16 August
Love reading? Hate reading? Need an
excuse to read? Don’t know what to
read? Join us for a lively discussion of
the best books around. All welcome.
FREE
Sewing Club
Weekly, starting from
Wednesday 17 May
Sew and socialise at the same time.
Pick up new skills, and share your top
tips. Bring your own materials.
Digital Buddies with
Hear and Now
Every Friday from 19 May
Whether it’s learning how to Skype
family in Australia, or finding your
way around a price comparison site,
volunteers are here to lend a helping
hand.
FREE
Knitting and Crochet Club
Starting 20 May, 24 June,
22 July, 26 August
Learn to crochet like a pro in a
relaxed environment. Bring your own
materials.
FREE
Reading Group for
Visually Impaired
25 May, 29 June, 27 July,
31 August
We discuss a talking book, as
provided by the library the month
before.
Booking / Information Address: Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR | Book online: storyhouse.com
Book over the phone: 0844 815 7202 (NEW NUMBER!) Follow us @StoryhouseLive
26

FAMILY EVENTS
Family Cinema
Saturdays, 11am
Every Saturday morning, we bring
the best family films back to the big
screen. Highlights this season include
Golden Globe nominated animation
Sing, hilarious The Lego Batman
Movie, Steven Spielberg’s magical
adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The BFG
and Studio Ghibli masterpiece When
Marnie Was There.
Tickets £4
My First Movie
First Tuesday of every
month, 11am
Introduce your pre-schoolers to the
magic of cinema! The series kicks
off with Peppa Pig: My First Cinema
Experience featuring plenty of
snorts, giggles and jumping in muddy
puddles on 5 June
Storytime
Starts Monday 15 May,
weekly
Books come alive with music,
dancing, puppets and instruments
with bubbles!
For under 5s.
FREE
Baby Rhymetime
Starts 19 May, weekly on
Fridays (term time only)
A special edition of Rhymetime for
toddlers and babies.
FREE
Rhymetime
Starts Wednesday 24 May,
twice weekly
Share stories, songs and rhymes
every Friday.
For under 5s
FREE
Booking / Information Address: Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR | Book online: storyhouse.com
Book over the phone: 0844 815 7202 (NEW NUMBER!) Follow us @StoryhouseLive
COMING SOON
Footloose: The Musical
5 – 9 September
Based on the 1980s screen sensation
which took the world by storm,
Footloose sizzles with spirit, fun and
the best in UK musical talent.
Stewart Lee:
Content Provider
Tuesday 3 October
After four years writing and
performing his TV show Stewart Lee’s
Comedy Vehicle, Content Provider is
Stewart’s first brand new full-length
show.
Brassed Off
24-28 October
Based on a true story, Brassed Off
is a funny and life-affirming tale of
community spirit and triumph in the
face of adversity.
BalletBoyz
30 October
Led by former
Royal Ballet
lead dancers
Michael Nunn and
William Trevitt,
the company thrills
audiences and
critics the world over by blending
spectacular dance with stunning
music and film.
The Secret Seven
1 December – 14 January
Storyhouse presents the major new
adaptation of Enid Blyton’s beloved
1945 book.
Booking / Information Address: Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR | Book online: storyhouse.com
Book over the phone: 0844 815 7202 (NEW NUMBER!) Follow us @StoryhouseLive
27

ABL UG AD_Layout 1 27/03/2017 10:36 Page 1
100944_ChesterVisitorCentre_A2_poster_ART.indd 1 16/06/2016 09:58
A GREAT DAY OUT
FOR ALL THE FAMILY!
Open 7 days a week, the visitor centre at Anderton Boat Lift is FREE to enter with
interactive exhibition, coffee shop, gift shop and special events all year round.
Experience the spectacular, unique lift on a Boat Trip or River Cruise.
canalrivertrust.org.uk/anderton • Telephone 01606 786777
AndertonLift
@AndertonLift
12
13 14
Photo by Melissa Cross
DISCOVER
a unique
institution
SHORT TOURS
LUNCH &
AFTERNOON TEA
ACCOMMODATION
COURSES & EVENTS
CONFERENCE FACILITIES
Live in the
Park 2017
Arley Hall
Saturday 15th July
• Gates open 5pm • Picnic Concert
• Fantastic Firework Finale at Arley Hall
Early Bird Adult Tickets £19.50
(Children under 16 £14.50)
Available until 1st May
Family tickets also available
2016 Winner
Certificate of
Excellence
Just six
miles
outside
Chester
WWW.GLADSTONESLIBRARY.ORG
HAWARDEN, FLINTSHIRE, CH5 3DF.
All proceeds to
NeuroMuscular Centre
Reg Charity 1023606
Tickets: www.nmcentre.com • Call: 01606 861 733
or from: Arley Hall, Northwich Tel: 01565 777 353

discovercheshire.com
SIX IMPOSSIBLE THINGS
BEFORE BREAKFAST: AN ALICE
IN WONDERLAND-STYLE GUIDE
TO THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
The parents of Alice had it easy. When their kids had school holidays they released them
into the wilds, leaving one to languish on a riverbank and another – our Alice – to tumble
down a rabbit hole. It’s not quite so easy in real life, which is why we’ve compiled a rather
magical what’s on guide for families instead.
© Ten Eight
MAGIC DAYS OUT
If it’s fairy dust you’re after there’s only one
place to head: the Just So Festival (Rode Hall,
Congleton, 18-20 Aug). Like Glasto without the, er,
undesirable bits, the Just So Festival is a rag-tag,
rollicking mix of roving musicians, fairy trails, art
installations, open air theatre, juggling, food fights,
craft beer for the grown-ups (everything’s fine if
there’s craft beer for the grown-ups), dressingup
and pillow fights. It’s everything you ever
dreamed of when you were a kid, rolled up into a
weekend-long dose of unbridled fun. If that sounds
a bit much, try Geronimo (Arley Hall, Northwich,
27-29 May). Led by so many CBeebies presenters
we fear there’ll be nothing on TV that weekend,
it also features the epic Shetland Pony Grand
National and some very big tortoises. And, of
course, there’s Alice in Wonderland herself. Catch
a ‘joyous’ homegrown adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s
phantasmagoric book at Grosvenor Park Open Air
Theatre (15 Jul-20 Aug).
>>>
29

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHESTER & CHESHIRE

ARK
SCULPTURE EXHIBITION
at Chester Cathedral
ARK IS THE LARGEST
CONTEMPORARY SCULPTURE
EXHIBITION IN THE NORTH WEST
IN A MEDIEVAL SPACE
7 July -
15 October
2017
MODERN ART
ARK is 90 works of art by more
than 50 internationally renowned
sculptors, including Damien Hirst
& Antony Gormley
FREE TO
ENTER
15
Stubbs (Absorbed) - Michael Joo
Photography by Steve Russell Studios | Exhibition curated by Gallery Pangolin

16
Eaton Hall Gardens
Charity Open Days 2017
17 18
Sunday
28 May
Sunday
30 July
Sunday
27 August
A high quality and friendly school
teaching English to international
adults, executives and young learners
£8 Adults/£2 Children /£18 Family
Family – two adults & two children. Cash only.
Gates open 10.30am to 5pm
Eaton Park, Eccleston, Chester CH4 9ET
Telephone 01244 684400
www.eatonestate.co.uk
www.english-in-chester.co.uk
9-11 Stanley Place, Chester, CH1 2LU
Tel: 01244 318913 • Email: study@english-in-chester.co.uk

visitchester.com
WHAT’S HAPPENING
MAY-AUGUST
Chester and Cheshire have a year-round programme of events including music festivals
to suit all tastes, food festivals, sporting events, film and literature festivals and many
family events, not to mention the races and parades. Here is a taster of what’s happening
over the summer months...
19 April – 4 June
THREADS THROUGH
REVELATION
Threads Through Revelation is a
spectacular display of textile art,
showing many images from the book
of Revelation, the last book in the
Bible. Jacqui Parkinson is a Devonbased
textile artist who works with
traditional, Christian stories to bring
biblical tales to life in a colourful and
engaging way.
www.chestercathedral.com
May - August
CHESTER TOWN CRIER –
PUBLIC PROCLAMATIONS
The High Cross,
Chester City Centre
Chester is the only place in Britain to
have retained the historic tradition of
regular midday proclamations from
a fixed point. It’s free, fun and totally
unforgettable.
Proclamations take place Tuesday
to Saturday at 12noon (11am on
Chester race days).
10, 11 & 12 May, 10 June,
30 June (evening), 1 July,
15 July, 29 July, 6 August &
26 August
CHESTER RACES
Looking for glamour, excitement,
drama and tradition? Then look no
further, horse racing has been staged
in the city since 1539. Sample the
thrill of watching competitive racing
with an experience like no other.
Mingle with the stylish crowd and
enjoy a day to remember with family
and friends.
www.chester-races.com
33
>>>

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHESTER & CHESHIRE

discovercheshire.com
13 June
THE END OF EUROPE: AN
EVENING WITH POLITICAL
WRITER IN RESIDENCE
JAMES KIRCHICK
James Kirchick, author of The End of
Europe: Dictators, Demagogues and
the Coming Dark Age, argues that
though Europe was once the world’s
bastion of liberal, democratic values,
it is now having to confront demons
it thought it has laid to rest. Based on
extensive first-hand reporting, The
End of Europe examines a continent
in crisis.
www.gladstoneslibrary.org
20 & 21 June
THE ROYAL CHESHIRE
SHOW
If you want to experience and
celebrate all that is great and good
about the countryside then this
is the only place to be as it brings
together the many interesting and
fascinating aspects of farming and
rural life in the beautiful and unique
county of Cheshire.
www.royalcheshireshow.org
24 & 25 June
CHESTER MIDSUMMER
WATCH PARADE
One of Britain’s oldest festivals - a
tradition reflecting 500 years of
the city’s history. A colourful reenactment
of a traditional medieval
celebration, marking the summer
solstice featuring a colourful
cavalcade of characters including the
Festival of Giants.
www.midsummerwatch.co.uk
24 & 25 June
ARLEY GARDEN FESTIVAL
Spectacular floral displays, plant
nurseries and garden accessories.
Food fair, craft fair, live jazz band
in the morning and concert
band in the afternoon. Schools
Flowerbed challenge and children’s
entertainment. Hall & Gardens
included in entry price.
www.arleyhallandgardens.com
1 & 2 July
TATTON PARK STARS &
STRIPES AMERICAN CAR
SHOW
The UK’s premier event for lovers
of all things American! Last year
saw a record number of classic
American cars from all eras. Over
100 memorabilia, American lifestyle
& general trade stalls.
www.tattonpark.org.uk
7 July –
15 October
ARK
A world-class
contemporary
sculpture exhibition
which will be the
largest modern
sculpture exhibition
to be held in the north
west of England and
will feature 90, three-dimensional
works by over 50 internationally
renowned sculptors including
Damien Hirst, Sir Antony Gormley,
Lynn Chadwick, Barbara Hepworth,
Sarah Lucas, David Mach, Kenneth
Armitage and Peter Randall-Page,
amongst others. Several sculptors
will be showing brand new works of
art whilst some pieces will emerge for
public view from private collections.
It will be the first time these pieces
have been seen together.
www.chestercathedral.com
15 – 18 June
BOLESWORTH CSI ****
INTERNATIONAL
A fantastic weekend with displays and activities
across the showground for all the family and each
evening there will be live music and entertainment,
which are included in the day ticket price. The outlets
will be selling everything from fine food and clothing
to equestrian wear and beautiful things for the home
and garden.
www.bolesworthinternational.com
>>>
35

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHESTER & CHESHIRE

19
Experience the
REAL Taste of
Chester...
Fine food and a fantastic selection of real ale
await visitors to The Brewery Tap which is set
in a medieval Grade II* listed hall in the heart
of Chester. The award winning pub belongs to
the Spitting Feathers brewery and customers
can choose from seven different real ales from
across the UK, including some from the Spitting
Feathers’ range, or a scrumpy cider.
Fresh, local produce, including pork reared on the
brewery farm and honey from the bee hives, is
used to create traditional and tasty pub meals for
a good value menu which changes daily.
20

21 22
ACTION-PACKED
EVENTS
Joust!
Sun 28 – Mon 29 May, 11am – 5pm
Clash of Knights
Sat 29 – Sun 30 July, 11am – 5pm
Armed & Ready
Sun 27 – Mon 28 August, 11am – 5pm
Beeston, Cheshire CW6 9TX
MKTG EAST W00624 bEESTON ADVERT
ADVERT PORT 70MMX107MM CMYK
AW 27.3.17
bRAND & DESIGN TEAM, ThE ENGINE hOuSE, FIREFLY AVENuE, SWINDON SN2 2Eh • TELEPhONE 01793 414451
CHESTER, A SAFE CITY...
We are immensely proud of our city’s heritage, culture and
atmosphere. We work together to ensure it remains a safe
place to explore and enjoy.
www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

visitchester.com
ANTIQUES COLUMN
The father of modern map-making:
JOHN SPEED
Mark Littler uncovers the beauty and the craft of an
Elizabethan map-maker with Cheshire roots
A little background…
The first ever separately printed map of the British
Isles was published in 1546. This was a time
when maps were administrative tools rather than
navigational aids, showing who owned what rather
than how to get where. Following the Dissolution of
the Monasteries (between 1536 and 1541), county
maps were needed in order to aid the redistribution
of church lands sold off by Henry VIII, but it wasn’t
until 1611 that the first atlas mapped the British
Isles in its entirety. The Theatre of the Empire of
Great Britaine was a ground-breaking publication,
and it was the work of our very own, Cheshire-born,
John Speed.
Who was John Speed?
The Theatre of the Empire of
Great Britaine
Thanks to the patronage of Sir Fulke Greville, John
Speed was able to pursue his love of cartography.
In 1611, his Historie of Great Britaine (a historical
account of the British Isles) and The Theatre of the
Empire of Great Britaine (an appendix containing
the first ever set of individual county maps of
England and Wales) were published. They were
published by John Sudbury and George Humble at
great cost and financial risk. Although the original
cost in 1611 is unknown, we know that in 1627 it
would have cost £3 10s to buy both Historie and
Theatre as bound volumes – this was at a time
when the average yearly income was around £10.
John Speed was born in 1552 in Farndon. His
father was a tailor, and although he followed in his
father’s profession for some years, his real passion
was for map-making, history and antiquities. In his
early years he produced maps for Queen Elizabeth
I and the Merchant Tailors Company (of which
he was a Freeman), and subsequently moved to
London with his wife Susanna – a woman of some
substance, given that she bore him a staggering
twelve sons and six daughters!
39
>>>

Shop
Experience
a day to
remember...
Dine
Play
#ExperienceChester
experiencechester.co.uk
CH1ChesterBID
@CH1Chester
CH1-Chester-BID-Advert.indd 2 20/03/2017 21:36
GREAT food & drink
FREE parking
OUTDOOR play area
Open seven days a week
01244 304 650
thewhitehorsechester.co.uk
The Racecourse, Chester, CH1 2LY
25

THE
MARRIAGE
OF
FIGARO
Wolfgang
Amadeus
Mozart
26 27
Sung in Italian
with Orchestra & English Surtitles
22, 24 (Mat), 25, 27, 29 JULY
OPERA NOVICE NIGHT 20 JULY
WITH PRE-PERFORMANCE TALK
CLONTER OPERA THEATRE
BOX OFFICE 01260 224 514 www.clonter.org
SWETTENHAM HEATH, CONGLETON, CW12 2LR
Registered Charity Number 1083903
28
u Magnificent Hall
u Award-winning Gardens
u Plant Nursery
u Chapel
u 500 years of heritage
u Children’s Adventure Play Zone
u Wedding & Corporate
Facilities
u The Gardener’s Kitchen Café
u Gift Shop
Open all year u FREE parking u Dogs welcome on a lead
Arley Hall & Gardens, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 6NA
Tel: 01565 777 353 www.arleyhallandgardens.com
/arleyhall @arleyhall
29

discovercheshire.com
THE TOP FIVE VIEWS IN
CHESHIRE
From rolling parkland to castles on the crags, Emily Oldfield brings you five
stunning views that are well worth a day out.
1. Alderley Edge
While this is a landscape pockmarked with caves, mines, Arthurian legend (with a Bronze
Age burial mound thrown in for good measure), the main draw here is the view. Trails through
the woods stop dead at Stormy Point, where the red sandstone escarpment gives out onto a
view across the Cheshire plain. It may be just a mile and a half from the highfalutin village of
Alderley Edge, but it feels like light years away. For sustenance, there’s usually an ice cream
van in the main car park, or cakes at the (very busy) Wizard Tea-Room. Hare Hill gardens are a
mile away.
The Edge, Macclesfield Road, Nether Alderley, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 4UB,
free (charge for car parks). Nearest station: Alderley Edge (1.5 miles).
2. Beeston Castle
Nestled on the crags of Cheshire’s Sandstone Trail, Beeston is a medieval castle with one
of the deepest wells in England - and astounding views across Cheshire. On a clear day you
can see from the Pennines to the Welsh mountains. First constructed as a Bronze Age
fort some 4,000 years ago, Beeston today is set in over forty acres of
woodland. An English Heritage car park is nearby, and the
Sandstone Café, too – all you need to fuel up
before exploring surroundings that include the
Llangollen Canal, the 19th-century Peckforton
Castle and the historic Peckforton Mere. Start
your walk at the Shady Oak Pub in Tiverton, which
gives views of both castles.
Beeston Castle, Chapel Lane, Beeston,
Cheshire, CW6 9TX, £7.10/£4.30 ( free to English
Heritage members).
43

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHESTER & CHESHIRE
3. Leather’s Smithy
This 18th-century inn, formerly a smithy, boasts
excellent views of Ridgegate Reservoir. It’s located
close to the semi-rural village of Langley, less than four miles from
Macclesfield. It’s an ideal start or end point for a country walk, lying on the edge of
Macclesfield Forest - one of Cheshire’s three original hunting forests and now home to a
number of public footpaths - with routes into Tegg’s Nose Country Park. Alternatively, close
to Leather’s Smithy you can look out onto views of Shuttlingsloe, nicknamed the Cheshire
Matterhorn and a peak well worth a walk up itself.
Leather’s Smithy, Clarke Lane, Langley, Macclesfield, SK11 0NE, free.
Nearest station: Macclesfield (3 miles).
4. Old Pale Hill
The highest point of the Mid-Cheshire Range’s northern section,
Old Pale Hill stands 176 metres high and is crowned with a circle of
standing stones. On a clear day, the views extend out over seven
counties, with Delamere Forest lying below. It’s a panoramic beauty
spot criss-crossed by three kilometres of paths; nearby are the
remains of the Iron-Age Eddisbury hillfort. The Fishpool Inn is a short
drive away, and good for food and drink, while the forest is less than
a mile’s walk (for car parks, a café and bike hire).
Old Pale Hill, close to Delamere Forest, Northwich, CW8 2JD,
£2-£6 parking. Nearest station: Delamere (under a mile).
5. Little Moreton Hall
Our wild card, Little Moreton Hall, nevertheless offers something unique when it comes to
a cracking little vista. This crooked Tudor house (famous for its sagging ceilings) sits on a
flat patch of land. On the nearside of the moat, however, is a little hill. To be precise, it’s
called a mount, a manmade hillock created in the 16th century to
act as a vantage point over the hall’s lands. Today,
it is perfect for charging up and down (if you’re
under the age of ten), and it offers good views of
the house and distant hills. A small on-site café and
shop round out the offer.
Little Moreton Hall, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 4SD,
£10/£5 ( free for National Trust members).
Nearest station: Kidsgrove (3 miles).
44

30
Highlights May - July
Wed 3 May
Sir Henry
at Rawlinson’s End
Wed 10 May
The Unthanks
Thurs 11 May
Bringing on
Back the 60’s
Sun 28 May
Beyond the Barricade
Tuesday 23 May
From the Jam
Acoustic Tour
Wed 24 May
A Night at the Opera
London Festival Opera
Thurs 22 June
Beatlemania
Tues 6 June
Sat 1 & Sun 2 July
We’re Going On A Bear Hunt
Tues 13
& Wed 14 June
If The Shoe Fits
Wed 5 July
Rhythm of the Dance
Mon 10 July
Ladyboys of Bangkok
Only 25 mins from Chester
Only 35 mins from Manchester
FREE PARKING

ABS UG AD_Layout 1 27/03/2017 10:30 Page 1
May 27th - June 4th 2017
COME AND JOIN THE FUN
Events and activities will be
taking place across Cheshire at
locations including:
• Anderton Boat Lift
• Chester City Centre • Tatton Park
• Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre
• Norton Priory Museum & Gardens
• Macclesfield Museums
• Golden Square Shopping Centre
• Chester Zoo • Crewe Library
• Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet
• Catalyst Science Discovery Centre
• Lion Salt Works
@amazedbyscience
amazedbyscience
www.amazedbyscience.com

visitchester.com
NOTHING TO SEE HERE
We speak to Sticky Walnut’s Gary Usher about one of Chester’s most successful
restaurants – and ask why he keeps on calling it a bistro.
Arguments between chefs and food critics
are ten a penny. It’s not often, after all, that
professional cooks and the professionally
disappointed see eye to eye. Yet an argument
between a London-based critic (who set out to
review a restaurant) and the chef who begged her
not to bother – well, that’s something else entirely.
Especially when the chef in question reckoned his
place was “just a bistro” and the critic absolutely,
completely begged to differ.
The restaurant in question is, of course, Sticky
Walnut, while the critic was the Guardian’s Marina
O’Loughlin, a reviewer whose way with words is as
gentle as a meat grinder on a chuck steak. Which
means that if she says a place is good, it’s good. Try
telling that to Sticky Walnut’s Gary Usher. “It’s just
simple, rustic bistro food,” he says of Sticky’s criticpleasing
charms. “The problem is, we’ve been
elevated by the awards and the attention, but it’s
not because we’re so different from a million other
restaurants. We’re just not.”
Sticky Walnut’s fans may beg to differ. Gary opened
the Hoole restaurant in 2011. A friend had tipped
him off about a bistro there that was on the
verge of closure. “I went and took a look. I had an
appalling lunch, but I sat there with a massive grin
on my face – because I knew I could make it better.”
He was right. Within three short years, Sticky had
won the coveted AA Restaurant of the Year award.
We’ve been
elevated by the
attention, but we’re
not so different
from a million other
restaurants.
47

RIALTO & CANALETTO
CHEF’S GRILL
Chester’s Complete Hotel
& Leisure Venue
• 132 bedrooms all rates include buffet
breakfast & WiFi.
• Canaletto Restaurant open for Lunch & Dinner
7 days a week, with dine & dance evenings
every Friday & Saturday.
• L’eau-t Cuisine Restaurant Cruiser serving 4
course lunch or dinner prepared in the Mill
Hotel’s kitchen on the 2.5 hour journey or an
hour long high tea cruise through historic
Chester on the Shropshire Union Canal.
• Rialto Wine & Dine casual dining restaurant
and adjacent Real Ale and Cocktail and
Prosecco bars with outdoor piazza seating and
live jazz every Monday.
• Health Club with gym, aerobics studio, 60ft
swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam
room.
• Hair & Beauty Spa
Midweek Breaks
2 night breaks for 2 people in a double room,
with a 3- course dinner & coffee one evening
in the Canaletto Restaurant and 2 Heritage
Bus Tour tickets or a bottle of house wine to
enjoy your room. Valid Sunday - Thursday
until 4th December 2017, some date
exclusions may apply.
From £220
AVAILABLE DAILY 12PM - 9.00PM
Brand new menu available now in the Rialto
Wine & Dine and the Canaletto Restaurant,
offering a range of steaks plus a fantastic range
of favourite dishes including fish, pasta, salads
and light bites.
Classic Afternoon Tea £13.00
THE ULTIMATE FOR LADIES WHO LUNCH
Champagne High Tea with 3 different
Champagnes £39 per person
Theatre Offer: 2 Courses for £14
Selected dishes from the Rialto Chef’s
Grill on production of theatre tickets.
THEATRE BEAUTY PACKAGE
AVAILABLE TUESDAY—SATURDAY
Wash & finish in the Hair Salon
and Shellac nails £38
VIVA LAS VEGAS CASINO CRUISE
4 courses and coffee aboard the Restaurant
Cruiser with fun casino games
£28.00 (inc charity donation)
Selected dates throughout the year see website for
details. Also available for private hire with a Wild
West or Roaring 20s theme (40 seats)
32
Mill Hotel & Spa Destination, Milton Street, Chester CH1 3NF
Telephone: 01244 350035 or visit www.millhotel.com

discovercheshire.com
This is a back street,
neighbourhood
bistro. I don’t want
people bothered
about there not being
linen on the table.
That success is due in part to Gary’s background.
He spent time working at the Michelin-starred
Chez Bruce and, later, under the (also Michelinstarred)
chef, Angela Hartnett. “For Angela, it was
all about good food, Italian rustic food, but without
all the fuss. I knew when I worked for her that I
wanted my own restaurant, and that learning from
her would help get me there,” says Gary.
The lessons he learned were around simple but
well put-together food and, perhaps, in getting the
basics right first. Take the humble chip. At Sticky,
it’s a hand-cut truffle and Parmesan number – its
wonky edges acting like blotting paper in the wet
fat, the resulting crisp, dark crunch melting into
a dreamy, creamy interior. The rosemary focaccia,
meanwhile, is light and springy. This is bread that
has bite, unlike so much of the weedy, anaemic
stuff we’re so often fobbed off with. Elsewhere,
meat is long-cooked, silken and sweet, fish is paired
with the briny, farmyard punch of flaked ham hock,
and chicken liver pâté is saved from feeling claggy
by the spring tang of pickled rhubarb.
The food at Sticky is about taste, not appearances.
Describing one of his dishes – braised ox cheek
with polenta and carrot – Gary says: “Wet polenta
is dolloped onto the plate, with the ox cheek and a
whole carrot thrown on top. It’s not pretty, but I’d
challenge anyone to say it didn’t taste brilliant.”
Which brings us back to where we started. Gary
Usher doesn’t want critics at his restaurant. He
doesn’t want people turning up with notions of fine
dining in their heads, either. All he wants is people
who love good food as much as he does. “This is
a back street, neighbourhood bistro,” he says. “I
don’t want people bothered about there not being
linen on the table. I don’t want them upset if their
food’s not stacked up into a stupid pyramid. That’s
just not what we’re about.”
Sticky Walnut, 11 Charles Street, Hoole, Chester
CH2 3AZ (01244 400 400). Early bird menu, three
courses for £18. www.stickywalnut.net
49

LIVERPOOL RD
DEVA LINK
A540
West Kirby
Hoylake
(M56, J16)
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHESTER & CHESHIRE
MAPS...
Please support our local businesses, they enable us to bring you this
magazine free of charge. Numbers correspond to advertiser location.
CHEYNEY RD
GARDEN LN
PARKGATE RD
BOUVERIE ST
WALPOLE
ST
CHICHESTER ST
A5116
Birkenhead
Liverpool
Ellesmere Port
EVERSLEY PK
WATERLOO PK
VICTORIA
CRES
BROOK LN
VICTORIA RD
(M56, J16)
NORTHGATE AVE
Northgate
Arena
INNER RING RD
ST A NNE’S ST
BROOK ST
FRANCIS ST
STATION RD
KILMOREY PARK RD
HOOLE RD
FAULKNER ST
LIGHTFOOT ST
8
NEWTON LN
STONE PL
A41
Birkenhead
Chester Zoo
WESTMINSTER RD
M53
Liverpool
Manchester
Warrington
(M53, M56, M6
A548
Mold
Deeside
WHIPCORD LN
SOUTH VIEW RD
A5104
N. Wales
Mold
Corwen
SEALAND RD
SELKIRK DR
CANAL
25
RAYMOND ST
CITY WALLS RD
2
11
HOWE RD
18
HOUGH GREEN
LACHE LN
CANAL ST
INNER RING RD
NUN’S RD
KING ST
GREYFRIARS
NICHOLAS ST
BLACKFRIARS
NORTHGATE ST
Town
Hall
GROSVENO R RD
COMMONHALL ST
CUPPIN ST
Little Roodee
Coach/Car Park
Rufus
Court
Chester
Cathedral
PIERPOINT LN
BROWNS LN
GODSTALL LN
GROSVENOR ST
OVERLEIGH RD
Grosvenor
Shopping
Centre
16
CASTLE ST
THE CASTLE
EASTGATE ST
WATERGATE ST FOREGATE ST
CASTL E S T
GORSE STACKS
BRIDGE ST
15
10
HUGH ST
PEPPER ST
LOWER B RIDGE ST
20
F RO DSHAM ST
DUKE ST
SHROPSHIRE UNION CANAL
ST JOHN ST
HANDBRI D G E
Roman
Amphitheatre
S O UTERS LN
THE GRO VES
ST OSWALD’S WAY
EATON RD
L N
VI C A R S
33
LOVE ST
32
FOREST ST
UNION ST
Grosvenor
Park
SUSPENSION
BRIDGE
QUEEN’S PARK RD
QUEEN’S PARK VIEW HARTINGTON ST
CITY RD
THE GROVES
MEADOWS LN
VIC TO R
I A
APPLEYARDS LN
QUEEN’S ST
DEE LN
S CRESCENT RD
CRES
BEESTON VIEW
LWR PARK RD
BOUGHTON
ELIZABETH CRES
QUEEN’S DR
EDINBURGH WAY
ST GEO R G E S CRES
MEADOWS LN
ANDRE W S CRES
BOTTOMS LN
CHRISTLETON RD
27
GREEN LN
TARVIN RD
CANAL
WHITCHURCH RD
SANDY LN
Southerly
Bypass
A55
N. Wales
Mold
Conway
Mold
13
3
34
7
1
5
WREXHAM RD
30 14 28
22
Southerly
19 Bypass
A483
Wrexham
12
26
17
6
21
4
8
9
29
50

Half Half Hour Hour City Cruises
Sightseeing Cruises:
sailing
sailing
daily
daily
from
from
1st
1st
April
April
to
to 28th
28th
October,
October,
at
at
least
least
once
once
an
an
hour
hour
from
from 11AM
11AM
to
to
5PM
5PM
(4PM
(4PM
29th
29th
October
October
to
to
5th
5th November).
November).
2 Hour Hour Iron Iron Bridge Cruise
Weekends
Weekends
only
only
May,
May,
June
June &
September.
September.
Daily
Daily
27th
27th
May
May
to
to
4th
4th
June
June and
and
in
in
July
July &
August.
August.
Departing
Departing
at
at
12
12
Noon
Noon and
and
2:30PM.
2:30PM.
Themed Cruises:
Boat and Bus Combined Tour: Tour:
Friday
Friday
and
and
Saturday
Saturday
Party
Party Nights
Nights
Afloat
Afloat
with
with
Disco
Disco
& BBQ
BBQ
(Mamma
(Mamma Mia/60s,
Mia/60s,
70s
70s &
80s/Hits
80s/Hits
of
of
the
the
90s/Motown)
90s/Motown)
Fish Fish and and Chip Chip Cruise Cruise with Bingo. Bingo.
Payday Payday Friday Friday Curry Curry and Quiz Quiz Cruise. Cruise.
& Vintage Vintage Afternoon Tea Cruises Cruises
Buy
Buy a
discounted
discounted
combination
combination
ticket
ticket
for
for
your
your
half
half hour
hour
city
city
cruise
cruise
and
and
an
an
open
open
top
top
bus
bus
tour.
tour. Make
Make
the
the
most
most
of
of
your
your
visit
visit
to
to
Chester;
Chester;
take
take in
in
all
all
the
the
famous
famous
sights
sights
and
and
save
save
money
money
too!
too! Great
Great
savings
savings
if
if
you
you
buy
buy
your
your
combined
combined
ticket
ticket on
on
the
the
boat!
boat!
(St. (St. George’s George’s Day Day & Grandparents’ Day). Day). Private Charters:
We We can can even even help help you you create your own own bespoke bespoke cruise cruise with with a a choice choice
of of boat, boat, food, food, boarding boarding drinks, entertainment and and decorations. decorations. Impress Impress
your your guests guests with with cocktails and canapés or or delicious delicious dinner dinner and and drinks. drinks.
All All cruises sail from The Groves, Chester, CH1 1SZ. 1SZ.
T: T: 01244 325394 E: enquiries@chesterboat.co.uk
33
www.chesterboat.co.uk

Dream Bigger
34
Discover spring fashion for up to 60% less,
at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet
Plan a perfect day out, whatever the
weather at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet.
You’ll find no less than 145 must-have
brands including The Kooples, Paul Smith,
Coach, Swarovski, Next and many more for
up to 60% less.
With everything you could want for your
ultimate summer wardrobe, no wonder
we’re the region’s most popular
fashion destination.
M6
PRESTON
SOUTHPORT
BLACKBURN
M55
M66
M62
Keep the kids happy
With two fully equipped adventure
playgrounds, ample free parking,
and an unforgettable shopping
experience, there’s something
for everyone.
LIVERPOOL
M53
CHESHIRE OAKS
DESIGNER OUTLET
M58
CHESTER
A41
M61
LIVERPOOL
AIRPORT
M56
M62
CREWE
MANCHESTER
STOCKPORT
MANCHESTER
AIRPORT
MACCLESFIELD
Dine and Unwind
In between shopping, relax
in one of our many cafés and
restaurants - now open
until 10pm.
Getting Here
We’re just 15 minutes
from Chester, find us off
junction 10 of the M53.
Radley
RRP £139 Outlet £69.50
"A wonderful place for a great day’s shopping,
well worth the trip."
Reiss
RRP £125 Outlet £75
Hobbs
RRP £120 Outlet £65
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