Chester & Cheshire - Autumn 2017 - The Ultimate Guide

Chester 

& 

Cheshire 

Autumn 

2017 

The 

Ultimate 

Guide 

Issue 02 

SEPTEMBER — 

DECEMBER 


Featuring: 

Plus: 

OLD? 

MEET NEW. 

The region’s 

biggest art 

show comes 

to Chester 

+ 

MEN IN 

TIGHTS 

A N D 

MUSICALS: 

Storyhouse, 

four months 

on 

+ 

B L O O D , 

SWEAT 

AND BEER: 

A cheater’s 

guide to 

C h e s t e r 

Marathon 

+ 

SURREAL 

EATS AT THE 

STANNEYLANDS 

+ 

C h e s h i r e 

In The Fall + 

An Indie Christmas + 

What’s On 

This Season + 

Bag An Antique 

Bargain

1

2

A Very 



& Winter 

IMAGE 

GRAPPENHALL 

HEYS, CHESHIRE 

Cheshire this season has got it all going on. 

From Alice in Wonderland-style restaurants 

(better known as the Stanneylands in Wilmslow, 

page 17) to men in tights and musicals, we 

discover more about this season’s hot tickets, 

which include Russian ballet, sell-out musicals 

and contemporary dance (pages 20 - 27). Four 

months down the line, we find out how Chester’s 

Storyhouse is doing - but it’s not the only 

cultural name in town, as we find out when 

we interview one of the people behind ARK, 

the biggest sculpture show ever to hit the 

North West (page 07). 

There’s something achingly beautiful about 

autumn, as our guide to some of the best autumn 

parks and gardens illustrates – places where 

the turning leaves are the main draw (page 29). 

We also highlight the little-known Tatton Estate 

(page 30) and publish both an expert guide to 

buying antiques, just in time for the Chester 

Antiques Show (page 39), and a cheater’s 

guide to the Chester Marathon (page 43). 

Ready for Christmas yet? Don’t worry – it is a bit 

early. But to make sure that you’re ahead of the 

festive game we’ve put together an altogether 

more interesting guide to Christmas in Cheshire, 

a round-up of independent and one-off shops, 

markets and things to do with the kids that sets 

Cheshire apart from the same-same festivities 

on offer elsewhere (page 11). And if all that’s not 

enough, don’t miss our full listings of what’s 

on and where in Cheshire this autumn – enjoy. 

This guide has been put together 

by Marketing Cheshire and was 

made possible with the help 

of our editor, Susie Stubbs, writers 

Lara Williams and Mark Littler, 

and the invaluable support, ideas 

and reality checks of Marketing 

Cheshire’s Leanne Eaton and 

Storyhouse’s Jen Chapman. 

Supported by 

Thanks also to all of our 

interviewees and contributors, 

including Henry Brooks, Paul Lavin, 

Claire Soper and Emma Roberts. 

Designed by Heather Almond 

Editorial and advertising: 

Ashley Shacklady 

a.shacklady@marketingcheshire.co.uk 

Leanne Eaton 

l.eaton@marketingcheshire.co.uk 

For more information visitchester.com 

and discovercheshire.com 

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 guide, 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 guide. Every effort has been made to trace 

copyright holders and to obtain their permission 

for the use of copyright material. 

05

3

Old? 

Meet New. 

Surely a once in a lifetime event: Chester’s 

grandest of grande dames – the Cathedral – has 

opened her doors to a 90 artwork-strong exhibition 

that features some of the biggest names 

in contemporary art. Susie Stubbs gets 

behind the scenes at ARK. 

FROM TOP 

CHESTER CATHEDRAL / 

MIDNIGHT RAMBLER, 

S GREGORY, 

07

“This is a complete 

departure for us,” says 

Emma Roberts as she 

describes ARK, the 

contemporary sculpture 

show currently inhabiting 

Chester Cathedral’s ancient 

spaces. And she’s right: 

the venerable cloisters 

of this 14th-century 

building are more commonly 

host to prayer recitals and 

evensong than they are the 

work of some of the world’s 

best-known artists. But until 

15 October the Cathedral 

is dotted with 90 diverse 

sculptures, ranging in size 

from a gargantuan 13.5 

metres to a miniscule 5cm 

(which takes the form of 

Antony Gormley’s tiny foetus 

in a kidney dish), and from 

artists such as Damien Hirst 

to former Young British 

Artist, Sarah Lucas. 

If the exhibition seems 

a curious choice for 

a cathedral, it perhaps 

makes more sense when 

you discover the creative 

brains behind it – Gallery 

Pangolin. “Gallery Pangolin 

is part of Europe’s 

largest foundry and has 

relationships with some 

of the world’s best known 

artists,” says Emma, one of 

the exhibition organisers. 

“It is specifically a foundry 

for art, that’s all it makes.” 

So, for 30 years, the 

Gloucester-based 

Pangolin has made 

large-scale sculptures 

for artists based all over 

the world, turning bronze 

and sheet metal into the 

sorts of dramatic works 

that now stud the Cathedral 

and its grounds. 

ARK has been three years 

in the making, with much of 

that time spent working out 

just how to get the artworks 

safely into a medieval 

building. “St Werburgh’s 

Street was at one time a 

quarry,” says Emma of the 

road immediately outside 

the Cathedral. “That’s why 

some of its rooflines are 

sagging. So we had to pay 

particular attention to the 

weight of the sculptures that 

Pangolin wanted to bring in.” 

Thankfully, the Cathedral is 

blessed with solid floors, but 

even so it took three weeks 

to install the sculptures, 

some of which weighed 

as much as 13 tonnes. 

This is not, however, the 

first time that the Cathedral 

has dipped its toes in artistic 

waters. Last Easter it 

showed three “shocking 

and contemporary” 

sculptures by David Mach 

– giant depictions of the 

crucifixion that stood in the 

South Transept - and just 

prior to that it displayed 

another work by the Turner 

Prize-nominated artist, 

this time a sculpture of 

Christ made up of 12,000 

burned matches. 

Until 15 October the 

Cathedral is dotted with 

90 diverse sculptures, 

ranging in size from a 

gargantuan 13.5 metres 

to a miniscule 5cm (which 

takes the form of Antony 

Gormley’s tiny foetus 

in a kidney dish). 

FROM TOP 

© CHESTER 

CATHEDRAL / 

JOO, M STUBBS © 

STEVE RUSSELL 

STUDIOS 

08

The Cathedral has always 

been a place of sanctuary but 

in its earliest days it would 

have acted almost like an art 

gallery, a place built by expert 

stonemasons, glassmakers, 

carpenters and so on – therefore 

it doesn’t feel such a stretch 

to put modern art into this 

medieval environment. 

The theme of the show has its roots, 

of course, in Genesis and the story 

of Noah’s Ark, yet while many of the 

pieces reference the biblical tale, 

there’s a fair number that don’t. 

In the gardens, for example, is a new 

work by Eilis O’Connell – a huge silver 

time capsule. “An ark doesn’t just 

have religious connotations; it is also 

a vessel, something that keeps things 

safe, or a place of refuge,” explains 

Emma. “The Cathedral has always 

been a place of sanctuary but in its 

earliest days it would have acted 

almost like an art gallery, a place 

built by expert stonemasons, 

glassmakers, carpenters and 

so on – therefore it doesn’t feel such 

a stretch to put modern art into 

this medieval environment.” 

Speaking to Emma, it’s clear that the 

exhibition is as much about making 

the Cathedral a place for everyone 

as it is celebrating the best in British 

sculpture. “ARK is a celebration of life,” 

she says. “Not everyone feels they can 

step into an art gallery, whereas I hope 

people feel that they can walk into the 

Cathedral and not feel intimidated.” 

With the show closing in October, 

there’s not much time left to see it – 

although it’s unlikely to be the last art 

show Chester’s grande dame is likely 

to see. “We’re committed to showing 

more art here,” says Emma. “We’re 

already planning our next big 

exhibition, in 2019.” 

FROM TOP 

© MARK CARLINE, CHESTER 

CATHEDRAL / 

© STEVE RUSSELL STUDIOS 

09

4 

5

Have Yourself 

A Very 


Christmas 

If you’ve ever felt guilty 

when faced with your kids’ 

post-Christmas toy mountain – 

you know, that teetering pile 

of plastic tat that’d put Santa’s 

workshop to shame – you’re 

not alone. Try our go-to guide 

for family festivities and have 

yourself an altogether less 

grabby Christmas. 

Seven Go Wild 

in Cheshire. 

If Christmas is all about 

spending time with those 

you love, what better way to 

make it fly than with some 

family-focused theatre? The 

Secret Seven graces the 

Storyhouse stage this winter 

(1 Dec-14 Jan, Hunter St), 

as the arts centre celebrates 

its first Christmas with the 

first ever adaptation of the 

Enid Blyton classic. Blyton’s 

child detectives scamper 

through snow, adventure 

and mystery, bolstered 

by original music and, off 

stage, all manner of Blyton 

books and paraphernalia. 

Elsewhere, Snow White and 

the Seven Dwarfs appears 

at Crewe Lyceum (16 Dec-7 

Jan, Crewe) – it’s an all-out 

proper panto with 1980s TV 

favourites, Cannon & Ball 

in the starring roles - while 

Chester Cathedral hosts 

The Snowman (1 & 2 Dec, 

St Werburgh St). That 

promises to be a gorgeous 

affair, with the action on 

screen accompanied by 

a live orchestra. 

Elsewhere, Wild Rumpus (of 

Just So Festival fame) have 

teamed up with Chester 

Zoo to create The Lanterns 

(24 Nov-30 Dec, Upton-by- 

Chester). This really is a bit 

special: an illuminated trail 

of animals that leads little 

ones into a magical postal 

depot, where they can post 

letters, hopes and dreams to 

the man in the red suit. Don’t 

leave this one to the last 

minute: it always sells out. 

There are more lanterns in 

Chester’s annual Lantern 

Parade (1 Dec, starts at 

Forum Shopping Centre). 

The sight of hundreds of kids 

carrying handmade lanterns 

would surely have Scrooge 

weeping into his glühwein. 

The medieval Winter Watch 


Forum Shopping Centre) 

comes with fire breathing 

and the deliciously named 

Lord of Misrule, while the 

Winter Watch and Saturnalia 


Eastgate St) gives you two 

raucous parades for the 

price of one. The Winter 

Watch is ancient history, 

by the way: dating from the 

1400s, it’s a reenactment 

of the city entrusting its 

keys (and its safety) to 

the City Watch. 

Further afield, swing by the 

Cheshire Reindeer Lodge 

and Christmas Tree Farm 

and kill two birds with one 

festively decorated stone (26 

Nov-24 Dec; Little Stanney). 

There’s a grotto, funfair and 

elves, and there are enough 

real, live reindeer to pull 

Santa’s groaning sleigh – 

just make sure you buy a 

ticket beforehand (for the 

reindeer bit; you can pop 

in to buy a tree any time). 

Talking of trees, Chester 

Cathedral hosts its fifth 

Christmas Tree Festival (25 

Nov-7 Jan, St Werburgh St), 

its creaky cloisters stuffed 

with 50 bejeweled pines and 

firs and, out in the gardens, 

a giant star. All very pretty. 

IMAGE 

THE SECRET SEVEN, 

ILLUSTRATED BY 

TONY ROSS 

11

Handbags, 

Glad Rags & 

Markets 

If we have persuaded 

you to ditch the festive 

shopping in favour of 

wholesome family activities, 

well done. And also: 

look away now – because 

we’ve put together a guide for 

those looking for alternative 

Christmas retail kicks. 

FROM TOP LEFT 

CORKS OUT WINE 

MERCHANTS / 

CHESTER CHRISTMAS 

MARKET / WALLACE 

SEWELL SCARF FROM 

THE ARC GALLERY 

Make the most of England’s 

most atmospheric city 

by taking things onto the 

streets: head to the 70 

stalls that make up Chester 

Christmas Market (16 Nov- 

20 Dec). Clustered around 

the Town Hall and Cathedral, 

a smorgasbord of 

independent sellers 

promote their wares: 

everything from handmade 

crafts and clothing to the 

now-obligatory mulled wine. 

If it all gets a bit much, duck 

into Chester Cathedral 

(St Werburgh St), one of 26 

historic buildings adorned 

with a green Talking Walls 

Chester plaque. Swipe your 

phone over the plaque and 

the Cathedral will call you 

to tell its tale. Ring, ring! 

Celebs including Gyles 

Brandreth and Lucy 

Meacock have lent their 

voices to the stories – and 

let’s face it, Gyles is going 

to be a lot more fun to listen 

to than the 58th rendition 

of Slade’s Merry Christmas 

Everybody. 

Ah, but we were talking 

about shopping, weren’t we? 

Chester’s Christmas market 

sets itself apart by its 

commitment to all things 

artisan – over 75% of what’s 

on sale has been made in 

the region. It’s a theme 

that continues elsewhere. 

Take The Arc Gallery 

(Commonhall St), which 

majors in British-made 

ceramics and accessories, 

such as statement scarves 

for men and women by 

British design duo Wallace 

Sewell. Head to Watergate 

Street for a cluster of indies, 

such as (deep breath) wine 

merchants Corks Out ,the 

trad toys of Weasel and the 

Bug and Toycraft, and the 

chic kids clothing on the 

rails at Chateau de Sable. 

Nearby, Nichols & Co (Bridge 

St Row) channels a Danish 

vibe for its homewares, 

while the womenswear 

of Laundry B (Bridge St) 

is a welcome departure 

from the same-same 

fashions of the high street. 

If you cannot, however, 

resist the lure of the big 

brand, look no further than 

Cheshire Oaks Designer 

Outlet. The Ellesmere 

Port-based centre has 

enough going on to satisfy 

both retail and festive 

appetites (there’s 145 brands 

and a Christmas corner 

complete with German-style 

bar for starters), but taking 

centre stage this winter is 

its epic, 102-foot Christmas 

tree. And when we say epic, 

we mean a tree big enough 

to walk inside, with five 

miles of fairy lights and 

10,000 decorations. Which 

does put rather an arduous 

spin on Twelfth Night. Now, 

pass us the glühwein. 

12

6

Top of 

The Farm & 

Foodie Shops 

Can’t think what to buy? 

Chocolate, cheese and 

wine rarely disappoint 

(and if they do, we’ll 

happily take them off 

your hands). Find out 

where to buy with our 

roundup of the places 

to pick up Cheshire’s 

best treats. 

FROM TOP LEFT 

01 Bollands of 

Chester / 02 & 03 

Hollies Farm Shop 

HOLLIES 

FARM SHOP 

Little Budworth, 

Tarporley 

This is an award-winning, 

family-run, one-stop shop 

for all things food and 

garden-related, with an 

emphasis on Cheshire-made 

produce: the Hollies has 

over 50 local producers on 

its books. You can even get 

Christmas trees and gifts 

here, and refuel in its 

excellent café (well, 

Christmas shopping 

is exhausting, isn’t it?). 

CHEERBROOK 

FARM SHOP 

Nantwich 

Another award-winning, 

family-run farm shop 

(you may notice a theme 

developing…), Cheerbrook 

is smaller than the Hollies 

but punches above its 

weight when it comes to its 

butchery. It has won a clutch 

of awards for its meat, 

while the shop includes 

marinades, bread and cakes, 

cheese, fruit and veg 

and more. 

CHESTER 

CHEESE SHOP 

Northgate St, Chester 

A tiny shop that nevertheless 

packs in 200 kinds of 

cheese. In short, this is a 

deli that never disappoints. 

Go local with eight kinds of 

Cheshire cheese, including 

the Nantwich-curdled goat’s 

cheese, Kidderton Ash. 

Lip-smacking. 

BENTS GARDEN 

AND HOME 

Glazebury 

Bents gets bigger every 

time we visit. It began life 

as a garden centre but now 

stocks homewares, clothes, 

books, Christmas decorations, 

food and booze, the latter 

courtesy of a Food Hall 

that contains Honeywell’s 

butchery and Reserve Wines. 

There’s also a play area and 

dinosaur-themed mini golf 

(yup, you read that right). 

COVINO 

Rufus Court, Chester 

Back in Chester, a teeny-tiny 

independent wine shop (and 

bar) whose otherwise hard 

to find wines surely make 

for one-off presents. 

HAWARDEN 

ESTATE 

Hawarden 

Surrounded by fields and 

woods, Hawarden is more 

of a day out than simply 

a farm shop. A nature trail, 

adventure playground 

and café sit alongside an 

award-winning butchery and 

deli, while a weekend market 

pops up every, er, weekend, 

selling everything from wild 

garlic pesto to antiques. 

A mile down the road is the 

estate’s The Glynne Arms, 

a pub whose menu is heavily 

influenced by what’s on offer 

in the farm shop. 

HALL 

FARM SHOP 

Alsager 

Another all-rounder whose 

shelves groan with meats, 

cheeses, jams and chutneys, 

fish, ices and gifts, this time 

based in a former milking 

parlour. 

14

7 

8

Eating out 

The 

Stanneylands 

Susie Stubbs finds a lazy 

Sunday lunch (or was it brunch?) 

at the Stanneylands in Wilmslow 

a touch on the surreal side. 

16

Cheshire has always struck me as a 

little bit Alice in Wonderland. Lewis 

Carroll was a local lad, after all, and 

he did name that eponymous cat after 

his home county. But there’s more to it 

than that. It’s all those rabbits hurrying 

across bucolic fields, and an opening 

scene that sees Alice lazing on a 

dappled riverbank that could double 

up as the Dee – and it’s a resemblance 

that hit me full-square in the face 

on a recent Stubbs family outing 

to the Stanneylands. 

Cheshire’s latest gastronomic 

hot ticket most definitely channels 

a Wonderland vibe. There’s a man in 

plus fours who holds open the door, 

while giant door keys with ‘drink me’- 

style tags hang on the wall. There 

are curious creatures everywhere. 

When my six year-old spotted a 

monocle-toting fox, mounted just high 

enough up to avoid a sticky-fingered 

prodding, she declared it straight out 

of the pages of her favourite bedtime 

story. (She was less impressed when 

I declined to lift her up “so I just can 

give Mr. Foxy a little cuddle, mummy”. 

We both knew where that would end. 

Expensively.) As for the general décor, 

a profusion of leather, velvet and 

polished floors makes this place feel 

as close as you can get to Wonderland 

without falling down a rabbit hole. 

All this intentional eclectism could 

easily have been overplayed. Yet the 

Stanneylands holds her own, largely 

because this boutique hotel is no brash 

new-build. She’s a historic mansion 

house surrounded by established trees 

and yew hedges, and both age and 

greenery rub the edges off that luxe 

interior. Inside, the spot-on service 

from those working behind the bar, 

in the restaurants and, yes, at the 

door (wearing plus fours) adds up 

to a place that feels warmly eclectic. 

17

The Tap & Pantry is one of two 

restaurants on site. It’s the less formal 

of the pair, with a resolutely laid-back 

menu. So, ‘brunch’ becomes ‘blunch’, 

a two-hour affair that mixes Sunday 

roasts with brunch-y favourites, though 

we kicked off with a stellar salad 

of kale, quinoa, avocado, basil and 

halloumi. It was both epic and the 

sort of food that leaves you feeling 

supremely smug – well, kale is a 

superfood, right? The smallest person 

at the table did double-carbs: wedges 

of cheesy garlic bread as big as her 

head, followed by a steaming bowl of 

mac n’ cheese. 

A prawn cocktail, straight from the 

1970s, followed, as did a Sunday 

Roast and a decent fish pie. “A salad 

would have been nice, or some chips,” 

observed my mum, spying my smoked 

haddock omelette, which came with 

neither. I told her I was far too 

classy for omelette and chips but 

nevertheless leaned over my son’s 

plate and nicked a handful. My mouth 

full (“don’t talk with your mouth full,” 

said my mum,forgetting for the 40 

billionth time that I am no longer 

a child), I checked in with my dad, 

who was quietly demolishing his 

Sunday Roast. The verdict? Fantastic 

spuds, dreamily tender beef. 

Puddings were good – a nicely biting 

lemon posset, a feather-light chocolate 

mousse – though I couldn’t help but 

wonder if putting pudding on a brunch 

menu was somehow wrong, like 

having raspberry ripple ice-cream for 

breakfast (which I definitely never had 

when I was a kid). As I asked for the 

bill, and my six year-old dragged me 

off for one last ‘explore’, I ventured that 

Alice of Wonderland fame would like it 

at the Stanneylands. “She wouldn’t like 

it,” declared my little girl. The queen 

of the pregnant pause, she waited a 

moment before adding: “No, mummy. 

She’d love it.” I don’t often say it, 

but I think my daughter was right. 

For Alice and for families, for lazy 

Sundays and, perhaps, for those 

looking for something a little different, 

the Stanneylands isn’t half bad. 

18

9

Storyhouse 


On Stage 

The best critically acclaimed 

shows from around the world 

hit the Storyhouse Stage this 

Autumn! Highlights include: 

Sep / Dec 


01 

Chester’s new 

theatre, cinema 

and library 

is here! 

Tickets 

storyhouse.com 

01244 409 113 

Tickets also available 

from the Chester Visitor 

Information Centre 

FOOTLOOSE 

5 – 9 September 

Enjoy the best in UK 

musical talent, cutting-edge 

choreography and classic 

hits including Holding Out 

for a Hero, Almost Paradise, 

Let’s Hear it for the Boy and 

of course the unforgettable 

title track Footloose. 

Tickets from £20.50 

COCKFIGHT 

7 October 

02 

Cockfight explores the power 

play between men, the frailty 

of the ageing body and 

questions our culture’s 

desperate desire for 

achievement. Without 

each other these two 

performers have nothing 

left to fight for. 


02 

ALL OR NOTHING 

27 – 30 September 

TANGOMOTION 

18 October 

03 

03 

This quintessentially British 

‘Mod’ Musical celebrates 

the unique sound of the 

iconic ‘60s Mod band, 

The Small Faces. 


BLOOD BROTHERS 

9 – 14 October 

Written by Willy Russell, 

and starring Lyn Paul, the 

legendary Blood Brothers 

tells the captivating and 

moving tale of twins who, 

separated at birth, grow 

up on opposite sides of the 

tracks, only to meet again 

with fateful consequences. 


TICKETS SELLING FAST! 

01 

From virtuoso displays 

of traditional tango dance 

to the exquisite sounds 

of 1930s’ Buenos Aires, 

Tangomotion is a 

breathtaking journey into 

the heart of Tango Argentino. 


KATE RUSBY 

20 October 

04 

A career which spans across 

25 years in music showcases 

her as one of the finest 

interpreters of traditional 

folk songs and one of our 

most emotive original 

songwriters 

Tickets from £25 


04 

20

BALLETBOYZ 

30 October 

05 

Bringing together 

composers, artists, 

designers, filmmakers, 

and photographers, 

BalletBoyz aims to integrate 

a wide range of artistic 

elements in every 

performance. 



THINGS I KNOW 

TO BE TRUE 

7-11 November 

Featuring Frantic 

Assembly’s celebrated 

physicality, Things I Know 

To Be True is a complex 

and intense study of the 

mechanics of a family 

that is both poetic and 

brutally frank. 


05 

SPAMALOT 

31 October – 4 November 

Lovingly ripped off from the 

hugely successful 1975 film 

Monty Python and the Holy 

Grail, Spamalot is a riotous 

comedy full of misfit knights, 

killer rabbits, dancing nuns 

and ferocious Frenchmen. 


THE SECRET 

SEVEN 

1 December – 

16 January 2018 

06 

Storyhouse celebrates 

its first Christmas with 

the first ever major stage 

adaptation of Enid Blyton’s 

beloved book The Secret 

Seven, brought to you by the 

team behind the acclaimed 

productions Stig of the Dump 

and Alice in Wonderland. 

In this, their first ever 

adventure, the Secret Seven 

are on the trail of strange 

clues which lead them, in 

disguise, through the snow, 

to the old house, and 

a mystery… 

Tickets £25 

(under 26’s £19.50) 


06 

Coming Soon 

GANGSTA 

GRANNY 

11 – 14 April 

CILLA: 

THE MUSICAL 

6 March – 10 March 

07 07 

From the acclaimed 

producers of Horrible 

Histories comes the West 

End premiere of this 

amazing story by David 

Walliams, the UK’s 

best-selling author 

for children. 


The extraordinary story 

of the ordinary girl from 

Liverpool whose teenage 

dreams of stardom lead 

to her becoming one of 

Britain’s best-loved 

entertainers of all time. 

The musical score is the 

ultimate soundtrack to the 

60’s including Cilla’s 

greatest hits Anyone Who 

Had a Heart, Alfie and 

Something Tells Me. 


21

Cinema 

01 

Specials 

02 

03 

CHESHIRE WEST 

ON FILM 

11 October / 6.30pm 

The North West Film Archive 

presents an evening of 

archive film from the 

Chester city and surrounding 

area over the last 100 years 

from the Edwardian era to 

the 1970s, introduced by 

staff from the Archive. 

VICTORIA & ABDUL 

From 15 September 

Judi Dench reprises the role 

of Queen Victoria whom she 

last played 20 years ago 

in Mrs Brown. Based on 

Shrabani Basu’s book, the 

film focuses on Victoria’s 

later life when she strikes 

up an unlikely friendship 

with an Indian clerk who 

has travelled to England 

to present the Queen with 

a commemorative coin. 

GOODBYE 

CHRISTOPHER 

ROBIN 

From 29 September 

A rare glimpse into the 

relationship between 

beloved children’s author 

A. A. Milne and his son 

Christopher Robin, whose 

toys inspired the magical 

world of Winnie the Pooh. 

As his family are swept up 

in the international success 

of the books; bringing hope 

and comfort after the First 

World War, what will the 

cost be to the family? 

01 

02 

BLADE RUNNER 

2049 

From 20 October 

Thirty years after the events 

of the first film, a new blade 

runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan 

Gosling), unearths a longburied 

secret that has the 

potential to plunge what’s 

left of society into chaos. 

K’s discovery leads him on 

a quest to find former Blade 

Runner Rick Deckard. 

MURDER ON THE 

ORIENT EXPRESS 

Coming Soon 

A lavish train ride unfolds 

into a stylish and suspenseful 

mystery. From the novel by 

Agatha Christie, Murder on 

the Orient Express tells of 

thirteen stranded strangers 

and one man’s race to solve 

the puzzle before the 

murderer strikes again. 

India 70 

A national tour 

of recent films 

from India to 

mark the 70th 

anniversary year 

of independence. 

HOTEL SALVATION 

17 & 18 September 

A Best Exotic Marigold 

Hotel told from the Indian 

perspective. A warm 

and thoughtful film about 

mortality and legacy. 

Winner of the UNESCO 

award at Venice 

Film Festival. 

THE LUNCHBOX 

1 October 

03 

Lonely housewife Ila decides 

to try adding some spice 

to her stale marriage by 

preparing a special lunch 

for her neglectful husband. 

Unfortunately, the delivery 

goes astray and winds up in 

the hands of Saajan an office 

worker. A charming and 

sweet film about the value 

of love and friendship. 

22

10

Cinema 

Live On Screen 

Halloween 

Christmas 

LA BOHEME 

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE 

3 October 

Acclaimed director 

Richard Jones directs a 

new production of Puccini’s 

La Bohème. When Rodolfo, 

a penniless poet, meets 

Mimì, a seamstress, they fall 

instantly in love. But their 

happiness is threatened 

when Rodolfo learns that 

Mimì is gravely ill. 

HAMLET 

NT LIVE ENCORE 

5 October 

Academy Award nominee 

Benedict Cumberbatch 

takes on the title role of 

Shakespeare’s great tragedy. 

Now seen by over 750,000 

people worldwide, the 

original 2015 NT Live 

broadcast returns 

to cinemas. 

SCREAM 

28 October 

After a series of mysterious 

deaths befalls their small 

town, an offbeat group 

of friends led by Sidney 

Prescott (Neve Campbell) 

become the target of a 

masked killer with a twisted 

love for recreating scary 

movies in real life. 

DEAD OF NIGHT 

31 October 

An architect senses 

impending doom as his 

half-remembered recurring 

dream turns into reality. 

The guests at the country 

house encourage him to 

stay as they take turns 

telling supernatural tales. 

Classic creepy horror. 

GREMLINS 

17 December 

01 02 

A boy inadvertently breaks 

three important rules 

concerning his new pet 

and unleashes a horde of 

malevolently mischievous 

monsters on a small town. 

HOME ALONE 

23 December 

When eight-year-old 

trouble-maker Kevin 

(Macauley Culkin) is 

accidentally left home alone, 

he must protect his home 

from a pair of bumbling 

burglars. Can he save 

Christmas? 

01 

02 

24

11 

12

Art 

BEDWYR WILIAMS: 

HYPERCAUST 

From 27 October 

01 

Storyhouse is pleased to 

announce its inaugural 

visual arts commission with 

award-winning artist Bedwyr 

Williams. His new work for 

Storyhouse Hypercaust is 

a computer generated video 

piece which will bring back 

to life the Roman Fortress 

Bathhouse that once stood 

a short distance from 

Storyhouse. Now erased 

from Chester, the baths 

will be recreated through 

historically accurate 

3D renderings. 

FREE 

01 

Literature 

CHESTER 

LITERATURE 

FESTIVAL 

12 – 19 November 

Now in its new home at 

Storyhouse, this year’s 

festival features a weekend 

of events curated by guest 

director Hollie McNish, plus 

a weekend of author talks, 

poetry and performance. 

26

Activities 

Cinema Events 

BREASTIVAL 

Sunday 24 September / 

10am – 4pm 

A day packed full of short 

talks, debates, discussion 

and advice about 

breastfeeding plus 

a host of fun activities 

for all the family. 

FREE 

KALEIDOSCOPE 

FESTIVAL 

Tuesday 26 September / 

9am – 5pm 

A one-day festival by, for 

and with adults living with 

a disability – a day filled with 

performances and films 

to watch, stuff to learn and 

workshops to take part in! 

FREE 

PLAY READING 

Wednesdays 27 September, 

25 October, 29 November, 

27 December / 6pm 

A monthly play reading and 

discussion group. Explore the 

work of different playwrights, 

share your ideas and read 

excerpts aloud. 

FREE 

SPANISH FOR 

OVER 50S 

10 week course, starting 

Wednesday 13 September / 

10am 

A relaxing class for people 

who want to learn Spanish 

but don’t want the formality 

of the classroom or exams. 

There will be lots of focus on 

conversation and practical 

language skills so expect 

fun and new friends! 

£5 per class 

SCI-FI & FANTASY 

BOOK GROUP 

16 September, 21 October, 

18 November, 16 December / 

2pm 

A monthly meet-up to discuss 

the sci-fi and fantasy you 

have been reading, and no 

doubt digress into film, TV 

and which pub to head to 

afterwards! 

FREE 

LOVE LATER 

LIFE FESTIVAL 

Tuesday 3 October / 

10am – 4pm 

To celebrate Older 

People’s Day Storyhouse 

in partnership with Age 

UK Cheshire are holding 

a one-day festival for 

people aged 60+. 

The day will involve 

free activities including 

conversation café, free 

hearing tests and dementia 

awareness support, Thai Chi, 

seated exercise and digital 

support, plus a performance 

of Haylo Theatre’s Over the 

Garden Fence and a relaxed 

screening of Casablanca. 

Most events FREE 

THAT DAMNED 

CREATIVITY 

18 October / 3pm – 4pm 

Dr. Lee Martin is an Associate 

Professor of Creativity and 

Culture at the University 

of Warwick. In this public 

lecture, he will explore how 

to use community creativity 

more effectively for positive 

change, offering guidance 

on how to fundamentally 

re-think our creative 

processes. 

FREE 

FAMILY CINEMA 

Saturdays, 11am 

Each Saturday morning, we 

bring the best family films 

back to the big screen. 

Highlights this season 

include the iconic adaptation 

of The Jungle Book, vintage 

classic Chitty Chitty Bang 

Bang, the magical Pete’s 

Dragon and Monsters Inc - 

just in time for Halloween! 

MY FIRST MOVIE 

First Tuesday of every month / 

11am 

Introduce your pre-schoolers 

to the magic of cinema! 

This seasons films include 

Fireman Sam: Alien Alert! and 

Thomas & Friends: Journey 

Beyond Sodor. 

PARENT & BABY 

SCREENINGS 

Every Wednesday / 11am 

Cancel the babysitter and 

enjoy the best new releases 

on the big screen in the 

company of other parents and 

their babies. For parents with 

babies under 12 months. 

SILVER SCREENINGS 

Every Tuesday before 5pm 

Over 60’s enjoy 25% off all 

cinema screenings before 5pm. 

01 

01 

27

13 

14


in the Fall 

There’s nothing so lovely as an 

Indian summer, all those bright 

blue skies framed by leaves 

turning gold and red. Make 

the most of autumn with six 

of our favourite woods, parks 

and gardens. 

02 

IMAGE 

01 

Deer at one end, 

pub at the other 

Get lost in 

the forest 

Grappenhall Heys, 

Cheshire / Tatton 

Park, Cheshire 

An astronomical 

affair 

Dunham Massey is never 

less than a joy. Head along 

its tree-lined avenues and 

into the wilder corners of 

a deer park whose herd 

can be traced back to the 

Elizabethan era. Dunham 

is dominated in autumn by 

the golds of towering beech 

trees, but keep an eye out 

for the twisted carcasses 

of the fallen trees that litter 

the parkland. They’re home 

to 181 species of dead-wood 

beetle, some so rare they 

haven’t been seen since 

Victorian times. Steer clear 

of the deer (it’s the annual 

rut), then walk to the 

Swan with Two Nicks. 

The 17th-century pub 

comes complete with 

real ales, roaring fires 

and a restaurant. 

Dunham Massey, Altrincham, 

Cheshire, WA14 4SJ 

Cheshire’s largest wood, 

the 950-hectare Delamere 

Forest is big enough to 

get lost in. Go dragonfly 

hunting at Blakemere Moss 

and crane your necks up to 

admire the sweet chestnut 

trees, their copper leaves 

and twisted trunks marking 

them out as something 

special in a forest that also 

boasts bike hire, Go Ape 

(for swinging in the 

autumnal trees) and 

a decent café. 

Delamere Forest, 

Northwich, CW8 2JD 

The Lovell Quinta Arboretum was created by 

a builder of giant telescopes - Sir Bernard Lovell 

of Jodrell Bank fame. The garden today contains 

2,500 trees and shrubs (with 800 species) and is 

cared for by Tatton Garden Society. With hundreds 

of rare trees, this is an autumnal hot ticket, with 

golden Scots pines reflecting against the lake and 

the garden lit up by the dramatic hues of beech, 

oak, ash, rowan and field maple. Find it handily 

close to gastropub, the Swettenham Arms. 

Lovell Quinta Arboretum, Swettenham Lane, 

Swettenham, Congleton CW12 2LF (follow 

directions to Swettenham Lane if using satnav) 

29

Tatton Estate 

Pine needles 

and pine cones 

Another National Trust 

classic, Lyme is 1,400 acres 

of wild beauty, its moors 

often shrouded in swirling 

mist. But dive into 

Lantern Woods for 

a peaceful autumnal walk. 

Here, sinuous paths thread 

through the Scots pines, 

the thick carpet of needles 

underfoot cushioning each 

step. The wood takes 

its name from the 

lantern-shaped folly 

that sits on the hill; the 

views open out over the 

park and the Cheshire plain. 

Lyme, Disley, Stockport, 

Cheshire, SK12 2NX 

Knutsford 

Heath 

Now, Knutsford Heath 

is an interesting place, 

and not just for its autumnal 

glory. With woods of oak, 

willow, rowan and silver 

birch, and lowland grass 

and heathlands besides, 

it is also common land. 

This means that it’s open 

to everyone and part of 

only 4% of England that’s 

registered as such. “It’s 

unique, 50 acres of open 

space right in the middle of 

a beautiful Cheshire town,” 

says Henry Brooks of the 

Tatton Estate, which owns 

the heath (see box out). 

Knutsford Heath, Knutsford, 

Cheshire, WA16 0ND 

01 

Tatton Park is another well-known 

autumnal beauty, the former seat 

of the Egerton family that’s now 

a mansion house, gardens and deer 

park owned by the National Trust and 

run by Cheshire East Council. But when 

the last Lord Egerton bequeathed his 

house to the Trust in 1958 it wasn’t the 

end of the story. The rest of his estate - 

several thousand acres of land around 

Knutsford, Ashley and the village of 

Rostherne – still needed an owner. 

“They looked for someone to keep 

the rest of the estate intact, and 

that person was my grandfather, 

an entrepreneur from Levenshulme,” 

says Henry Brooks, who heads up the 

Tatton Estate. Today, the Brooks family 

balances business with conservation 

– and its latest venture, the Tatton 

Collection, looks set to put the estate 

firmly on the map. The Tatton 

Collection includes Ashley Hall 

Showground (the venue for the 

mud-tastic Rough Runner, 21 & 22 

October), the beautiful (and brand new) 

Stock Farm Wedding and Events Barn, 

and Tatton Stays, a group of luxury 

farmhouses set in the Cheshire 

countryside that can be hired out via 

Airbnb. “By bringing new use to old 

buildings, the Tatton Collection is 

helping to conserve and enhance 

some of Cheshire’s heritage assets, 

”says Henry. “And in doing so, we’re 

creating jobs and supporting the 

local economy.” 

Find out more: temproperty.com, 

01565 654 107. 

For Tatton Park: tattonpark.org.uk 

02 

IMAGES 

01 Lyme / 

02 Tatton Park 

30

15

16

Event Guide 



IMAGE 

THE ENCHANTMENT 

OF CHESTER ZOO 

Sep / Dec 


33

Event 

Guide 

Sep / Dec 


ARK 

7 July —15 October 


A world-class contemporary 

sculpture exhibition which 

will be the largest modern 

sculpture exhibition to be 

held in the north west of 

England, featuring 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 

are showing brand new 

works of art whilst some 

pieces have emerged for 

public view from private 

collections. It is the first 

time these pieces have 

been seen together. 

chestercathedral.com/ 

visit-us/ark/ 

CLASSIC IBIZA 

01 September 

Bolesworth Castle, 

Tattenhall, Nr Chester 

The Urban Soul Orchestra 

conducted by Stephen 

Hussey perform classic Ibiza 

anthems under the stars, 

with DJ Goldierocks and 

vocalists Max Barnes-Davy, 

Jina Burrows and Roo Savill. 

This will be Cheshire’s 

biggest dance party of the 

Summer full of iconic Ibiza 

anthems. A chill-out set in 

the first half will be followed 

by a half hour interval with 

DJ Goldierocks playing the 

latest Ibiza tunes. As dusk 

falls, the lasers will hit the 

Bolesworth skyline as the 

Urban Soul Orchestra return 

to bring some of the best 

of the White Island’s dance 

tunes to orchestral life. 

It’s going to be a night 

to remember! 

classicibiza.co.uk 

NANTWICH FOOD 

AND DRINK FESTIVAL 

1—3 September 

Nantwich 

The Nantwich Food and 

Drink Festival takes place 

over the first weekend in 

September each year in 

the historic market town of 

Nantwich, Cheshire. It is one 

of the few UK food festivals 

based in a town centre and 

makes the most of this lovely 

Cheshire town, which is full 

of independent shops, cafes, 

restaurants, and bars. 

During the festival, Nantwich 

is transformed into a food 

lovers’ paradise, with two 

huge marquee food halls 

filled to the brim with 

delicious treats, wines, 

beers, cheeses, pies, 

preserves and more, as well 

as a wide variety of street 

food stalls. This year more 

than 150 visiting traders 

will attend. 

nantwichfoodfestival.co.uk 

THE BOLESWORTH 

PROMS 

2 September 

Bolesworth Castle, 

Tattenhall, Nr Chester 

Paying tribute to Great 

British Music. The National 

Symphony Orchestra 

conducted by Anthony 

Inglis make their debut to 

perform a feast of British 

music from across the home 

nations with Classical Brit 

Award-winning Welsh male 

vocal group Only Men Aloud, 

Soprano Annette Wardell, 

Pipes and Drums of the 

Scots Guards Association 

and a spectacular firework 

display. The Great British 

Prom will include the 

traditional Proms favourites 

and will celebrate some 

of the most rousing music 

from the Home Nations. 

There will be a magnum 

of champagne for the 

best dressed British 

iconic character. 

greatbritishprom.co.uk 

FROM TOP LEFT 

ARK AT CHESTER 

CATHEDRAL / 

ARK AT CHESTER 

CATHEDRAL / 

THE BOLESWORTH 

PROMS / CLASSIC 

IBIZA AT BOLESWORTH 

CASTLE 

34

HERITAGE 

OPEN DAYS 


Heritage Open Days 

celebrate England’s fantastic 

architecture and culture 

by offering free access to 

properties that are usually 

closed to the public or 

normally charge for admission. 

Properties of every age, 

type and size in Chester and 

the Cheshire West area are 

opened, including churches, 

schools, halls, historic sites 

and historic buildings. 

It is a once-a-year chance to 

discover hidden architectural 

treasures and enjoy a wide 

range of tours, events and 

activities which bring to life 

local history and ability. 

historyandheritage. 

westcheshiremuseums. 

co.uk 

MBNA CHESTER 

MARATHON 

8 October 

Chester City Centre 

Participants will run past 

all of Chester’s iconic 

landmarks before heading 

into the Cheshire and North 

Wales countryside. The race 

starts and finishes at 

Chester Racecourse. 

facebook.com/ 

chestermarathon 

THE ARLEY HALL 

ANTIQUES AND 

FINE ART FAIR 


Arley Hall & Gardens, 

Northwich 

A quality antiques and fine 

art fair set out within the 

state rooms of the main hall 

and the Olympia Suite on 

the Arley Hall Estate. Some 

35 dealers will be selling 

a wide range of items to 

include town and country 

furniture, silver, jewelry, 

porcelain, clocks, antique 

and contemporary paintings 

and bronze sculpture and 

many decorative items to 

furnish any home with style 

and elegance. 

gallowayfairs.co.uk 

AUTUMN 

PLANT FAIR 

1 October 

Enjoy a day out browsing 

the specialist plant 

nurseries selling unusual 

plants, shrubs, trees and 

bulbs and gather great ideas 

for your garden for the 

following year. 

arleyhallandgardens.com 

THE ENCHANTMENT 

OF CHESTER ZOO 


You have until dusk to break 

the spell… 

An evil sorcerer has cast a 

spell on Chester Zoo, trying 

to steal away all of the super 

powers of the nocturnal 

animals. The only chance 

to break the spell is for all 

visitors to bring along their 

good will and follow the wise 

old owl. You’ll meet a host 

of performers, musicians, 

aerialists, acrobats and 

animals along the way to 

help you with the magic. 

chesterzoo.org 

DAYINSURE WALES 

RALLY GB 


Cholmondeley Castle, 


Dayinsure Wales Rally GB 

is the UK round of the FIA 

World Rally Championship. 

As well as three days of 

spectacular rally action 

in the forests, the event 

also features a special 

family-friendly RallyFest 

at Cholmondeley Castle 

on Saturday 28 October. 

The fun-fuelled RallyFest 

delivers a fantastic 

programme of top class 

entertainment for all ages – 

and great value for money. 

Tickets in advance: 

Adult £23 

Kids (15 and under) FREE 

www.walesrallygb.com 

CREWE 

COSMOPOLITAN 

FOOD FESTIVAL 

29 October 

Crewe, Town Hall 

Crewe Cosmopolitan Food 

Festival is brought to you 

to celebrate the cultural 

diversity in the modern 

world with flavours from 

across the globe. Live 

music throughout the 

day performed by the 

Pantonic-all-Stars Steel 

Orchestra and the 

wonderfully unique and 

versatile soloist, James Ball. 

FREE entry 

crewefoodfestival.co.uk 

01 

02 

HALLOWEEN 

GHOST TOURS 

31 October 


Join one of Chester’s 

famous ghost tours on the 

most haunted night of the 

year. Your guide will take 

you on a night time journey 

around the eerie haunts of 

Chester’s mysterious and 

murky past, where you will 

hear spine-chilling tales of 

ghosts, ghouls and things 

that go bump in the night! 

If you can’t make a tour on 

Halloween then join one 

of the Ghost tours that run 

throughout the year. 

ghostcity.co.uk 

IMAGE TOP 

TO BOTTOM 

01 GHOST TOURS / 

02 MBNA CHESTER 

MARATHON 

35

FROM TOP LEFT 

CHESTER CHIRSTMAS 

MARKET / CHRISTMAS 

LANTERN PARADE / 

CHESTER CHIRSTMAS 

MARKET 

Our Ghost Tour Guides will 

take you on a night-time 

journey around the eerie 

haunts of Chester’s 

mysterious and murky 

past, where you will hear 

spine-chilling tales of 

ghosts, ghouls and things 

that go bump in the night! 

Join us if you dare... 

Every Saturday night* at 

7.30pm (plus Thursdays 

and Fridays at peak times 

and with additional dates 

during Halloween season). 

*Days may change to 

avoid busy race evenings. 

Check website for 

up-to-date information. 

Booking essential. 

ghostcity.co.uk 

CHRISTMAS MARKET 

16 November—20 December 


Chester Christmas Market 

is one of the many highlights 

in the city’s festive calendar. 

Taking place in the heart of 

the city the market has over 

70 wooden chalets selling a 

variety of local and regional 

produce. 

christmasinchester.com 

CHRISTMAS 

AT ST MARY’S 

December 

A delightful array of 

concerts, touring theatre, 

cabaret and more; a perfect 

and more intimate 

complimentary offer to the 

activity happening in places 

such as Storyhouse and 

Chester Cathedral. This 

follows the success of 

two similar seasons over 

the past 2 years. 

Facebook: St Mary’s 

Creative Space 

LIVERPOOL 

INTERNATIONAL 

HORSE SHOW 

29 — 31 December 

In addition to world-class 

show jumping at the 

Equestrian.com Liverpool 

International Horse Show, 

there is a packed 

programme of truly 

enthralling entertainment 

and sporting spectaculars 

over the New Year. From the 

highly competitive Knockout 

and Puissance, to watching 

future stars of showjumping 

compete in the Mini Major 

and Olympic level riders 

star in The Grand Prix, 

Liverpool Horse Show is 

an unmissable family day 

out. This year celebrate 

at the spectacular New 

Year’s Eve party on 

31 December 2017. 

liverpoolhorseshow.com 

WALKING TOURS 

OF CHESTER 

All tours start from the 

Town Hall Visitor Information 

Centre on Northgate Street 

and take approx 90 minutes 

See below for details... 

chestertours.org.uk 

THE CHESTER TOUR 

Join a member of the Guild 

of Chester Tour Guides for 

a captivating walk around 

the beautiful city of Chester, 

unravelling over 2,000 years 

of history and taking in all 

the main sites along way, 

including: the world-famous 

and unique shopping 

Rows, the iconic and 

much-photographed 

Eastgate Clock; the beautiful 

Groves along the River 

Dee; and the outside of the 

imposing, historic Cathedral. 

Daily at 10.30am. 

Again at 2pm from Easter 

to end October. 

Tickets direct from the 

Guide on the day: £7 adults, 

£6 concessions, £16 family 

CHESTER GHOST TOUR 

Steeped in over 2,000 years 

of history and with hundreds 

of ghost sightings, Chester 

can claim to be one of 

the most haunted cities 

in Britain. 

SECRET CHESTER 

CASTLE TOUR 

Your Guide will have the 

keys to unlock the secrets 

of Chester Castle. Discover 

the Sally Port and Mint in the 

castle grounds and marvel 

at the intriguing medieval 

wall paintings in the Agricola 

Tower. Then continue on 

to the original cathedral, 

now St John’s Church. 

Includes steps. 

2017 tours at 11.30am. 

Tickets direct from the Guide 

on the day: £7 adults, £6 

concessions, £16 family. 

Groups: 

All tours can be booked 

privately for groups at 

any time by emailing 

chesterwalkingtours@ 

gmail.com Please visit 

chestertours.org.uk/ 

group-bookings for 

more information. 

36

17 

HALF-TERM 

RALLY ACTION 

KIDS GO FREE at 

ChOlmOnDElEy 

CaStlE Fun Day! 

SatuRDay 

28th OCtObER 

WalESRallyG b .COm

19 20 

18

Investing 

In Antiques 

Mark Littler 

returns, this time 

with a buyer’s guide 

to the Chester 

Antiques Show – 

his tips for what 

to consider when 

it comes to 

investing in 

collectibles. 

Mark Littler is an 

Independent Antiques 

Consultant based in 

Cheshire. For more 

buying and selling guides, 

visit marklittler.com 

Let’s make one thing very clear. Antiques are not 

investments. In fact, they are probably one of the 

worst forms of investment out there – but that’s 

not to say that you can’t buy antiques, appreciate 

them and sell them later on down the line. 

Typically, investments such as stocks and shares 

are bought and their value monitored over time. 

You might find yourself watching the market rise 

and fall, and picking the most opportune moment 

to sell. Often, there’s no reason for buying and 

selling other than the potential to make money. 

Compare that to antiques. With no antiques 

indexes comparable to the FTSE, you can’t easily 

monitor the market. On top of that, antiques are 

often bought for personal reasons and, with no 

official financial regulator for the industry, no one 

to tell you if you’re paying a fair price or not. 

So, if you’re heading to Chester Antiques Show 

this autumn (12-15 Oct, Chester Racecourse), 

what should you think about before you part 

with your cash? 

IMAGE FROM TOP 

A 17TH CENTURY CARVED OAK 

COURT CUPBOARD: W.R. HARVEY 

ANTIQUES / A GEORGE III EMERALD 

AND DIAMOND RING: THOMAS 

GLOWER JEWELLERS 

1 

Quality 

over 

quantity 

This is critical. It’s better to 

buy one excellent example 

of something rather than 

ten average examples. 

So, a 1ct diamond solitaire 

ring is worth exponentially 

more than a ring with ten 

0.1ct diamonds. Both have 

the same total carat weight, 

but when you choose to 

re-sell the 1ct solitaire will 

be a lot more popular and 

therefore more likely to 

sell well. 

Invaluable.com 

39

2 

Do your 

research 

3 

Who are you 

buying from? 

If you were choosing shares to invest in, you 

would likely do some research about the market 

and the company you were interested in buying 

into. If you’re looking to invest in an artwork, piece 

of jewellery or an antique, it makes sense to do 

likewise. There are now online databases that you 

can search to see how the market has performed 

for similar (not identical, as all antiques are 

unique) items in the past, including Artnet, 

the-salerooom.com and Invaluable. 

Although there’s no official body, 

keep an eye out for the two main 

self-regulating bodies of the antiques 

trade: LAPADA (London and 

Provincial Art Dealers Association) 

and BADA (British Antique Dealers 

Association). Both have codes of 

practice that members must abide by, 

meaning that they’re more likely to be 

reputable sellers. Fairs such as the 

Chester Antiques Fair are a chance 

to buy from such dealers, and you also 

have the benefit of seeing specialists 

from all around the country, whom you 

might not ordinarily encounter. 

4 

Get a 

guarantee 

5 

Buy 

for love 

IMAGE 

AN OIL ON CANVAS 

BY RICHARD FIRTH: 

BARON FINE ART 

Even if you’ve done your research, 

you might still end up with a dud; a 

1ct ‘diamond’, say, that actually turns 

out to be a moissanite (a naturally 

occurring silicon carbide very similar 

in appearance). Cover yourself as best 

you can – get a comprehensive receipt 

that lists all of the important details. 

If you were buying a piece of furniture 

described as George III, for example, 

make sure the receipt mentions its age. 

And, if possible, ask for a note about 

condition, too. 

If you only follow one of 

these five tips, follow this 

one. Ask yourself whether 

you’re buying something 

because you genuinely love 

it, and whether owning it 

will enrich your life. If that’s 

your main motivation it won’t 

make any difference if it 

rises or falls in monetary 

value – it’ll be something 

you cherish regardless. 

40 

Invaluable.com

21

22 

23 24

BLOOD 

SWEAT 

& 

BEER 

The Chester Marathon takes place on 

8 October, and whether you’re planning on 

cheering on from the sidelines or are several 

months into your training - it makes for 

a fantastic day. Now, very few of us are on 

a par with Mo Farah, so we’ve put together 

the ultimate cheater’s guide to the race. 

Featuring the best cafes for carbo-loading, 

the best spots to spectate, the hottest tips 

on avoiding a nasty case of runner’s nipple (!) 

and, of course, the best pubs for that essential 

celebratory post-run pint. 

The Chester Marathon is fast 

approaching, but fear not: 

Lara Williams has the 

ultimate cheater’s guide. 

The Race 

Beginning at Chester Racecourse 

with a prompt 9am start. 

With a mostly flat route, the 

marathon takes runners past 

some of Chester’s most iconic 

landmarks, including the Roman 

Walls, the Cathedral, Rows and 

the Amphitheatre. There are drinks 

stations every two to three miles 

and the race covers only closed-off 

roads, so you needn’t worry about 

colliding with traffic. There will 

be parking at the Racecourse and 

a baggage store, too, for stowing 

away anything you don’t need for 

the race. 

43

Pre-run 

Prep 

Any runner worth their 

sweat knows a marathon 

is not the sort of thing 

you can show up to on 

a whim - it takes plenty of 

preparation. If you need to 

stock up on energy gels or 

natty new running threads, 

visit the specialist running 

store Up & Running 

(Grosvenor Precinct). 

If you’re after running 

buddies to train with, the 

marathon organisers are 

hosting a series of training 

runs - check out Facebook 

for more information. And, 

of course, there is no more 

important preparation than 

taking steps to avoid that 

unpleasant chafing known 

as “runner’s nipple” - 

we recommend a slick 

of vaseline or even 

a trusty plaster. 

Spectating 

spectacularly 

While there are plenty of places from which 

you can cheer on those gnarly runners, the 

best picturesque spots can be found in the 

villages of Holt and Farndon. Holt contains the 

ancient remains of a castle, a medieval stone 

bridge and some Roman tile works. The Tollgate 

Inn and The Old Ham Tree (both Holt) are 

perfect for a spot of lunch once you’re done 

exploring. Farndon, meanwhile, is a pretty 

village perched on the banks of the River Dee 

with riverside walks and historical sights such 

as a former Victorian schoolhouse and the 

14th-century St. Chad’s. Lewis’s of Farndon 

is an ideal pick for a low-key lunch, while 

The Farndon is good for something 

a little more substantial. 

Post-Run 

celebrations 

& recuperations 

The race finishes where it began: at the 

Racecourse. You’ll find a host of places to 

eat and drink here - for a well earned pint, 

we recommend The Architect (Nicholas St), 

which brims with good vibes and great beers. 

Want a celebratory meal? The elegant Joseph 

Benjamin (Northgate St) offers up superb 

modern British cuisine. Or there is The Old 

Boot Inn (Eastgate Row) for decent pub grub. 

And if you need a lie-down (and no one would 

blame you if you did), ABode Chester 

(Grosvenor Rd) and the Holiday Inn Express 

Chester Racecourse are close enough 

for you to be carried to your bed. 

DON’T FORGET 

ONE OF THE MOST 

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS 

OF ANY RACE...CARBO- 

LOADING! THESE ARE 

THE HOTTEST SPOTS 

TO STUFF YOUR FACE 

IN CHESTER. 

1LA FATTORIA 

Lower Bridge St 

Nothing beats pasta for 

a pre-race carbo-load. 

La Fattoria offers an 

absolutely enormous menu 

of tasty pasta dishes. 

2 

COAST TO COAST 

AMERICAN 

RESTAURANT & BAR 

Pepper St 

If your idea of a carbo-load 

comes in the shape of a juicy 

burger and fries - then this 

place is for you 

3 

THE RING O’ BELLS 

Village Rd 

There’s nothing like homecooking 

to settle your 

stomach (and nerves). This 

fab pub specialises in British 

pub classics. Pre-marathon 

pie and mash, anyone? 

44

25 

ADVERT 25

26

Men in Tights 

& Musicals 

For a city that was without so 

much as a cinema until earlier 

this year, Chester has more 

than made up for it in the 

cultural stakes lately. 

Susie Stubbs takes a look 

at what’s coming up 

this autumn. 

IMAGE: BALLETBOYZ 

47

What a difference a few months 

makes. Since the opening of 

Storyhouse in May, the city has 

been awash with acclaimed theatre 

(indoors and out), film seasons, 

exhibitions and more. Some 170,000 

people paid a visit to Storyhouse in 

its first three months – 100,000 more 

than anticipated - while its opening 

appears to have had a knock-on 

effect, with ARK at the Cathedral 

(page 07) and the V&A-curated 

Pop Art in Print at Chester’s former 

library building (Northgate St, until 

22 Oct) just two more reasons to pay 

cultural homage. 

Storyhouse, meanwhile, shows no 

signs of slowing down. “We wanted 

to create a diverse programme to 

suit all tastes,” says the venue’s Paul 

Lavin of an autumn/winter season so 

packed we couldn’t possibly fit it all 

in here. “There’s a really broad range 

of dance this season, from new work 

to the more traditional,” he says 

when pressed to whittle it down a bit. 

So let’s start with dance: alongside 

performances of Swan Lake and 

Giselle (16-18 Feb) are some more 

unusual performances. First up is 

Cockfight (7 Oct), which pits two 

male colleagues against each 

other - a physical game of 

one-upmanship that involves 

slow-mo fight scenes, balletic 

movement and black humour. 

“It’s a cross between The Office and 

a cage fight,” says its UK producer, 

Claire Soper. “It’s funny and it’s 

physically dangerous and it has you 

on the edge of your seat. The two 

performers have known each other 

for a decade, and so they can push 

the boundaries of what’s possible 

simply because they know each 

other so well.” If you’re thinking 

this is just for the boys, think again. 

“Everyone has known someone 

at work who wants to get the upper 

hand,” says Claire. “So while there 

is humour, there are deeper issues 

that we can all relate to.” 

There are more men in tights 

with Fourteen Days (30 Oct). 

A performance from the all-male 

dance company BalletBoyz, it 

features four new dance pieces 

(which producers were given 

just 14 days to create, hence the 

name) and a staging of Fallen, 

the award-winning performance 

co-produced with Sadler’s Wells. 

As with Cockfight, the emphasis 

is on shaking things up a bit. 

“We want to dispel the notions of 

what dance is,” says Claire Soper. 

“These performances can be 

about big issues or humour 

or relationships or physicality. 

They’re not just for theatre 

or dance lovers.” 

Taking a different tack is 

Tangomotion (18 Oct). With 

a West End hit under their belts, 

the people behind Tangomotion 

are the best in the business: four 

dancers who move to the live 

scores of the Tango Siempre 

Quartet. Together, they bring the 

raw energy of Argentinian tango 

right into the (arguably far more 

sedate) heart of Chester. 

Ah, but it’s not all dance, dance, 

dance. Other highlights include 

Frantic Assembly’s Things I Know 

to be True (“a genuinely incredible 

piece of drama,” according to 

Paul Lavin), the rip-roaring fun 

of musical classics Footloose (5-9 

Sep) and Blood Brothers (the latter 

on its 30th anniversary tour, 9-14 

Oct), and 19th-century opera, Tales 

of Offenbach (22 & 23 Sep). 

With more theatre, family shows 

(such as the Secret Seven, page 

06 & 11), live music and literature 

events this season, there’s a 

dizzying array of cultural goodness 

to choose from. But is it too much? 

“We’re lucky to have audiences who 

are supportive of innovation,” says 

Paul Lavin. “The Beggar’s Opera is 

a classic play but when we staged 

it, it was a brand new version. It’s 

like the building: old with a new 

adaptation. There was such fierce 

support for the building that you 

can feel it in the way our audiences 

respond. They are behind what 

we’re doing.” 

It’s a cross between 

‘The Office’ and 

a cage fight. 

IMAGES FROM TOP 

COCKFIGHT / SWAN LAKE / 

THE BEGGAR’S OPERA / TALES 

OF OFFENBACH 

48

27

28 

AD 27 

Mill Hotel

Maps 

Please support our local businesses 

as they enable us to bring you this 

magazine free of charge. 


11 

26 

15 

4 

5 

12 

27 

28 

7 

1 Tatton Estate 

2 Chester Zoo 

3 Crewe Lyceum 

4 Grosvenor 

Shopping Centre 

5 Brewery Tap 

6 Fir Trees 

Caravan Park 

7 Belmond 

8 Anderton Boat Lift 

9 Ice Cream Farm 

10 Reclaimed World 

11 Penman Fairs 

12 Bear & Billet 

15 Chester Cathedral 

16 Bridgewater Hall 

17 GB Rally 

19 Tatton Park 

21 Jodrell Bank 

22 Halle 

23 Cheshire Wedding 

Fayre 

24 Bolesworth Estate 

25 The Brindley 

26 Christmas Market 

27 ChesterBoat 

28 Mill Hotel 

29 Cheshire Oaks 


16 22 

25 

19 

1 

29 

8 

2 

21 

10 

6 

9 

24 

23 

3 

7 

17 

Not featured on map: 

13 Safe Chester 

14 Experience Chester (Bid) 

18 Slant 

20 Mark Littler 

51

29

Chester & Cheshire - Autumn 2017 - The Ultimate Guide

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?