The Ultimate Guide to Chester and Cheshire -Summer Edition

Chester 

& 

Cheshire 

Summer 

2018 

The 

Ultimate 

Guide 

Issue 04 

MAY — 

AUGUST 

2018 

Featuring: 

Plus: 

INDEPENDENCE 

DAY: The story of 

The Chef’s Table 

SCHOOL 

HOLIDAYS: 

A survival guide 

NOWT WRONG 

WITH NOSTALGIA: 

The best retro 

events 

HIC! 

Why whisky is 

now collectible 

A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR 

THE WEEKEND? 

This season’s best art, music, 

festivals and more

This summer join Chester Zoo for a festival like no 

other. Turn the world on its head and see things 

differently. L(o)(o)k. Laugh. And learn! 

Inspired by the incredible and unique worlds of animals 

and plants, this mind-blowing one-of-a-kind celebration will 

have you discovering something new at every turn. 

Discover art, science, music, performers as well as glorious 

gardens and inspiring spaces, all set within the zoo’s 

most amazing places! 

Let your mind wander and your imagination roam wild. 

STARTS SATURDAY 26 MAY 

BOOK NOW 

chesterzoo.org

Chester Zoo is a Registered Charity No.306077 

1

2

This 

summer, 

it’s all about 

Cheshire’s 

best food, art, 

history and 

culture 

IMAGES 

ABOVE: 

MIDSUMMER 

WATCH PARADE / 

BELOW: TATTON 

PARK FOODIES 

FESTIVAL 

Summer is always awash with events. From the 

humble farmers’ market to full-on festivals, there’s 

nothing us Brits like better than partaking of a little 

al fresco entertainment. So, get your cultural fix 

courtesy of our guide to the best of what’s on this 

season: Shakespeare performances in the park, 

theatre premieres at Storyhouse, music festivals 

and a handful of truly one-off events with medieval 

roots are all on the billing (page 25). 

There’s history a-plenty in our round 

up of traditional festivals, too: 

steam engines, classic cars, 

vintage buses and country 

shows all feature (page 

15), while there’s a history 

of whisky (page 35) and 

the story of how one of 

Chester’s best independent 

restaurants, The Chef’s 

Table, has made a name for 

itself (page 40). 

Thinking ahead to the school 

holidays? Our summer holiday 

survival guide gives the lowdown on 

all that’s on for kids (page 7) and, as ever, 

our full listings of what’s on and where, give you 

the chance to make the most of the longer days 

and the (fingers crossed) sunny ones, too. Enjoy. 

Find out more about what’s on in Cheshire at: 

visitcheshire.com 

This guide has been put together by 

Marketing Cheshire and was made possible 

with the help of our editor, Susie Stubbs 

and with the invaluable support, ideas and 

reality checks of Marketing Cheshire’s 

Rachel McQueen and Leanne Eaton. Thanks 

also to our interviewees and contributors, 

including Mark Littler, Tom Hughes, 

Christina Yardley, Mandy Martinez, Gemma 

Gibb, Jo Henwood and Stephanie Hughes. 

Designed in Cheshire by Lemondrop 

Creative. Printed by Stephens & 

George Ltd. 

Supported by 

Editorial and advertising: 

Ashley Shacklady 

a.shacklady@marketingcheshire.co.uk 

Leanne Eaton 

l.eaton@marketingcheshire.co.uk 

Front Cover Image: Chester Zoo 

For more information visitcheshire.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 2018, 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. 

05

3

The Ultimate 

Guide To 

The Summer 

Holidays... 

Bank Holidays, half term and six long 

weeks of summer: sometimes, being a 

parent can feel less like fun and more 

like some sort of tightly scheduled, 

Quality Time-based torture. Which is why 

our editor has produced this, your guide 

to all that’s on for families this season. 

IMAGE 

JUST SO FESTIVAL 

07

Magical, whirling 

worlds, every flavour 

ice-cream, al fresco 

film and nature writ 

large: this is what 

Summer is made of 

Let’s start with the basics… 

Summer just isn’t the same without a trip to 

the Ice Cream Farm (Tattenhall, daily, free), a 

day out whose pre-teen appeal has absolutely 

nothing to do with it being the biggest ice-cream 

parlour on the planet. Oh, OK, it does - but the 50 

flavours of ice-cream here are very good and, with 

free admission, loads of play activities and daily 

opening, it really should make it to the top of your 

tots’ to-do list. Nearby, the Chester Races are 

also an essential part of summer, with the MBNA 

Family Funday (5 Aug, £12) serving a winning mix 

of racing, live entertainment and kids’ events. 

Best of all, the under 17’s go free. 

… Then move on to the magical 

When I was little I hoped that if I wished hard 

enough, the magical, whirling world of Alice in 

Wonderland would come to life. Sadly, I grew up 

and got a job in marketing, but the clever folk at 

the Just So Festival must have wished harder - 

as their annual whirligig returns with a host of 

new dance, circus and music acts, among them 

the Bewonderment Machine, a cross between 

a carousel and a bike-powered theatre (Rode 

Hall, 17-19 Aug, from £20). Added to live music, 

woodland trails, processions, dressing up and 

storytelling sessions, this makes the Just So 

Festival the closest IRL experience to Alice your 

kids are likely to get. Staying on the processional 

tip is the Midsummer Watch Parade (Chester, 

23 & 24 Jun, free). This annual parade of giants, 

dragons, drummers and curious creatures has 

been going since 1498; it’s one of those distinctly 

English traditions that makes little sense but is all 

the more enjoyable for it. Equally promising – and 

equally unique - is a new adaptation of Swallows 

& Amazons (Storyhouse, 1-30 Jun, from £19.50). 

Arthur Ransome’s classic adventure gets the full 

Storyhouse treatment with a new adaptation by 

Tony Award-nominated dramatist, Bryony Lavery. 

Expect wit and clever staging from the largest rep 

theatre outside London and the RSC; it promises 

to be a performance that’s as entertaining for 

grown-ups as it is beguiling for children. 

08 

… Before going al fresco 

Swallows and Amazons transfers to 

the Grosvenor Park Outdoor Theatre 

later in the summer (Grosvenor Park, 

14 Jul-26 Aug, from £21), which means 

you can get your theatrical fix with 

added picnicking. Al fresco, too, is the 

Luna Outdoor Cinema, with screenings 

of The Goonies and Paddington 2 

(Tatton Park, 24 & 26 Aug, prices from 

£7.50), while the elegant surrounds of 

Dunham Massey form the backdrop 

for a production of Alice’s Adventures in 

Wonderland (4 Aug, from £10). 

FROM TOP 

ICE CREAM FARM / 

JUST SO FESTIVAL

… Staying up late 

For most young children, being up at night is 

a delicious thrill. One of my eldest’s abiding 

memories of camping is of a night-time trip to 

the toilet block (bear with me). As we stumbled 

across the field, we looked up – and there saw the 

constellations, picked out bright in the inky black. 

We lay on the grass to admire their majesty, 

serenaded by the campsite’s chorus of sighs and 

snores, a treat for a boy who’d normally be tucked 

up in bed. Festivals such as Just So, Bluedot (see 

pages 32,30) and, for the first time, Geronimo 

(Arley Hall, 25-28 May, from £30) all come with 

camping and the sorts of after-hours activity that 

feels just as special, while Fir Trees Caravan 

Park (Chester) gives you the chance to enjoy the 

great outdoors while retaining a roof over your 

head – the perfect compromise between camping 

and comfort. Hare Hill’s Nature Walk at Night 

(15 & 16 Aug, free), meanwhile, allows you to see 

what creeps about when night falls, and Tatton’s 

summer deer walk is an opportunity to get up 

close to its wild herd in the gloaming (Tatton Park, 

26 Jun & 3 Jul, £12). 

... And throwing in some four-legged fun 

Talking of animals, Dogfest is a two-day affair that features 

mass walks, hay bale races, zip-wires (the latter not for 

dogs, though I’d be seriously impressed if anyone got their 

schnauzer on one) and more camping (Cholmondeley Castle, 

16-17 Jun, from £16.50). Dogfest bills itself as the ‘ultimate 

summer festival for dogs’. While the cynical may wonder 

whether it’s the only festival for dogs, we give you the Dog 

Show at the Farm (Tatton Park, 12 Aug, £2), with its ten 

categories and agility course, and the Great British Dog 

Walk, a fundraising stroll around the grounds of Lyme 

(19 May, £10, children free). 

The Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show 

also comes with a dog show, plus a fairground, 

pony rides, crazy golf, lakeside ‘beach bar’, show 

jumping and dressage (Bolesworth Castle, 13-17 

Jun, from £8). And while it doesn’t come with 

a canine sideshow, Hack Green Secret Nuclear 

Bunker does welcome dogs, which means you 

can give your four-legged friend the lowdown on 

what might happen in the event of a nuclear attack 

(Nantwich, daily, from £6). Just leave out the part about 

pets ending up in post-attack pies, eh? Elsewhere, a treetop 

climb at Go Ape (Delamere Forest, daily, from £25) means 

you’ll get closer to the wildlife that inhabits Delamere’s 

woods and, finally, if you prefer your animals to be of the 

stuffed variety, may we point you towards a Teddy Bear’s 

Picnic (Dunham Massey, 2 & 3 Jun, free to NT members). 

Bring your own bear for an afternoon of games, stories and 

the joyful oompah-oompah of a real brass band. 

FROM TOP 

GERONIMO / 

BLUEDOT 

09

KIDS GO FREE! 

Children aged 17 and under are 

eligible to attend all racedays at Chester 

completely FREE of charge 

4 

2018 RACING FIXTURES 

city day 

Wednesday 9 May 

ladies day 

Thursday 10 May 

188bet 

chester cup day 

Friday 11 May 

MBNA 

ROMAN DAY 

Saturday 26 May 

HALEWOOD 

Summer Saturday 

Saturday 16 June 

SPORTINGBET 

LADIES EVENING 

Friday 29 June 

MATTHEW CLARK 

Summer FESTIVAL 

Saturday 30 June 

MR GREEN 

LADIES & GENTS EVENING 

Friday 13 July 

SIGNATURE LIVING 

CITY PLATE DAy 

Saturday 14 July 

STELLA ARTOIS 

MIDSUMMER MEETING 

Saturday 28 July 

MBNA 

FAMILY FUNDAY 

Sunday 5 August 

FOXY BINGO 

LADIES day 

Saturday 1 September 

MBNA 

AUTUMN FESTIVAL 

Friday 14 September 

32RED 

AUTUMN FESTIVAL 


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SEASON FINALE 


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FIXTURES 

Friday 8 & Saturday 9 June 

Friday 7 & Saturday 8 September 

Tickets are available from £10 I Hospitality packages available from £50 * 

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* 

Prices are per person +VAT at the current prevailing rate, based on a White Horse Garden Package for either MBNA Roman Day or MBNA Family Funday.

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6

14

There’s nowt wrong 

with nostalgia 

We round up some of the best rose-tinted events 

and festivals of the season. 

Moaning about the weather, cups 

of tea in a crisis and the ability to 

form a queue: according to a recent 

‘Britishness audit’ these are the 

characteristics that mark us out as 

Brits. Yet it’s an audit that surely 

skipped our biggest trait. Nostalgia. 

A love of the past that explains why, 

this summer, you will doubtless find 

yourself at a steam rally, country show 

or summer fair (or, as it’s known in 

ye olde book of marketing, a ‘summer 

fayre’), peering interestedly at the 

inner workings of a vehicle that’d 

make you lose the will to live should 

you be stuck behind it on a country 

lane. As indeed you probably will be 

the minute you decide to make your 

way home. 

The nostalgia-fest kicks off with the 

Llandudno Transport Festival (5-7 

May). Actually two Bank Holiday 

events in one, a transport festival 

and a Victorian Extravaganza, they 

make for a riot of steam, fairground 

rides, costumed parades and candyfloss 

– and there’s nothing that beats 

the sight of so many steam engines 

trundling epically along Llandudno’s 

streets. Arrive early, and expect 

crowds (if it gets too much, strike 

out for the sweeping West Shore, a 

beach that’s unimpeded by tourist 

hordes). Ashley Hall Traction Engine 

Rally (12-13 May) is a similar beast, 

a relative newbie that nevertheless 

packs in classic cars, steam engines, 

fairground organs and a food marquee. 

It’s also close to Altrincham; swing 

by Altrincham Market for its take on 

the traditional weekend market – live 

music, independent food, and craft, 

design or vintage stalls that appear on 

rotation every Sunday. 

The transport theme continues with 

the Heritage Transport Festival at 

the ever-friendly Lion Salt Works 

(Nantwich, 9-10 Jun), the 30 yearold 

Cheshire Steam Fair (Daresbury, 

14-15 Jul) and Lymm’s Historic 

Transport Day (Lymm, 24 Jun). The 

latter sees the village swamped by all 

things vehicular, with a line-up that 

includes cars from the movies (if you 

ever wanted to see the Ecto-1 from 

Ghostbusters, now’s your chance), 

working boats on the canal, stunt bikes 

and the chance to sit inside a fighter 

jet cockpit. It’s also so dog friendly that 

pets are allowed to ride the vintage 

buses that ply the route between 

park-and-ride and the village. 

IMAGES 

CHESHIRE 

STEAM FAIR 

15

IMAGES 

TOP: TATTON PARK 

RIGHT: ROYAL CHESHIRE 

SHOW 

Traditional 

pubs with a 

gastro feel. 

Fancy a taste of 

how it used to 

be, but with all 

mod cons? 

Try this top 

four: 

It’s not all buses and cars. The 175 year-old Royal Cheshire 

County Show (Knutsford, 19-20 Jul) is all about agriculture 

– the best animals, the best breeding and, in the case of its 

dog and horse shows, the best behaviour. It also stages pony 

club games, a farmers’ market and the Tabley Eye, a Ferris 

wheel with commanding views across the showground. On a 

smaller scale is Tatton’s Traditional Country Weekend at the 

Farm, which promises a “traditional English fayre” (Tatton 

Park, 25-27 Aug). 

If that doesn’t float your boat, then perhaps the Northwich 

River Festival will. The main action centres on the boat 

races, but there’s street theatre, live music and an artisan 

food market, too (Northwich, 14-15 Jul). 

It shares a boating theme with the Middlewich FAB Festival 

(15-17 Jun), a folk and boat festival set up in 1990 to mark 

the town’s canal-boat heritage; it’s since been rated as one 

of England’s top three folk festivals. Although this year’s 

headliner (a certain Peter Hook) may grab the limelight, it’s 

the spectacle of hundreds of narrowboats gathered together 

that makes this something special – and perhaps proves the 

point that many of this summer’s best events have their feet 

firmly planted in the past. 

#1. The Church Inn, Mobberley. 

A restored 18th-century boozer now 

replete with craft beer, sun terrace and 

seasonal food. 

#2. The Church Green, Lymm. 

Celebrated chef Aiden Byrne has 

been at the helm for the best part of a 

decade; he does not disappoint. 

#3. The Vale Inn, Bollington. 

Craft ales, beer garden and simple yet 

expertly cooked food make this dogfriendly 

pub a winner. 

#4. The Pheasant Inn, Higher 

Burwardsley. A historic pub that has 

won many awards (including an AA 

Rosette), with an outdoor terrace 

overlooking the Cheshire Plain. 

16

7 

Tel. 01829 760 288 

www.reclaimedworld.com 

Open 9am – 5pm Mon – Sat. 

Reclamation ∙ Salvage ∙ Antiques ∙ Vintage ∙ Home ∙ Garden ∙ Flooring ∙ Stone ∙ Timber 

Tarporley Road (A49), Little Budworth, Cheshire, CW6 9ES. 

Based close to Tarporley, in the heart of Cheshire, Reclaimed World is a unique three-acre antiques, 

salvage and reclamation emporium. 

In addition to our huge selection of reclaimed stone, wood flooring and traditional salvage materials, 

our beautiful showrooms and garden areas are brimming with fabulous treasures for your home.

© MARK CARLINE 2015 

IMAGES 

ABOVE: GROSVENOR PARK 

OPEN AIR THEATRE / 

ROUNDEL: BLUEDOT 

A Little 

Something 

For The 

Weekend 

The best art, culture, 

festivals and more are 

taking place in Cheshire 

this season. Here’s what 

not to miss... 

“Every time I see it, I trudge 

in like a schoolboy to class. 

Then I’m always surprised 

by how much I like it. It never 

fails.” So said Academy 

Award-winning composer 

Stephen Sondheim of A Little 

Night Music – understating, 

just a little bit, the runaway 

success of a musical comedy 

that’s one of Broadway’s 

biggest hits, a show about 

love and longing (with some 

impressive romantic trysts 

thrown in along the way). 

Sondheim’s masterpiece is 

one of a trio of classics staged 

at Storyhouse this summer, 

with A Little Night Music (5 

May-8 Jul) followed by Arthur 

Miller’s chilling thriller 

The Crucible (15 Jun-7 Jul) 

and the sugary, summery 

Swallows and Amazons 

(1-30 Jun). Each is reworked 

especially for Chester and 

performed by Storyhouse’s 

resident cast of actors. 

If the sun shines, through, 

camp out at Grosvenor Park 

Open Air Theatre. With the 

enormously enjoyable Much 

Ado About Nothing (6 Jul-25 

Aug) and The Tempest (27 

Jul-26 Aug), the park’s pop-up 

theatre is surely one of the 

treats of the Cheshire summer. 

Talking of treats, Bluedot’s 

line-up includes The 

Chemical Brothers, The 

Flaming Lips and Slowdive 

– although the non-musical 

listings at this self-styled 

“intergalactic festival” are 

just as good (Jodrell Bank, 

20-22 Jul). Expect standup 

comedy, stargazing, 

science workshops and 

more beneath the epic dish 

of the Lovell Telescope. 

Wellies at the ready? Forest 

Live returns to Delamere 

Forest for three, one-off gigs 

(Delamere, 8-10 Jun). Paul 

Heaton and Jacqui Abbott, 

Paloma Faith and local ladmade-good, 

Gary Barlow, 

all appear under the sweet 

chestnut trees. 

18

8 

7 - 9 SEPTEMBER 

SET IN GLADSTONE’S LIBRARY, NEAR CHESTER 

THE BEST CONTEMPORARY WRITERS 

BOOK SIGNINGS 

ALL-NEW GLADFEST FRINGE 

FREE CRAFTING FOR ALL THE FAMILY 

TASTY LOCAL FOOD 

AND MUCH MORE! 

01244 532350 www.gladfest.co.uk enquiries@gladlib.org 

Gladstone’s Library, Church Lane, Hawarden, Flintshire, CH5 3DF 

9 

Live Park 

2018 

at ArleyHall 

Saturday 

14th July 

Picnic Concert 

Fantastic Fireworks Finale 

Gates open at 5pm 

Early Bird tickets 

from 1st February 

£19.50 

(children up to 16yrs £14.50) 

Family tickets also available 

Tickets bought from 1st May: 

£22.50 

(children up to 16yrs £17.50) 

10 

in the 

John Colins Band 

Le Chic 

Pete Valentine as 

George Michael 

Malcolm Pitt as 

All Proceeds to 

reg charity 1023606 

Lionel Richie 

Tickets From: www.nmcentre.com, 01606 861733 

or Arley Hall, Northwich 01565 777 353

IMAGES 

LEFT: CHESTER 

MYSTERY PLAYS 

/ BELOW: 

CREAMFIELDS 

The Chester Mystery 

Plays make an 

appearance this year, 

the cycle of medieval 

Biblical plays are 

performed only every 

five years 

The energetic should make for 

Creamfields, whose 21st birthday 

billing features pretty much every 

purveyor of electronic music you’ve 

ever heard of, from Annie Mac and 

Groove Armada to Yousef and Maya 

Jane Coles (Daresbury, 23-26 Aug). 

Never heard of ‘em? Never mind - 

Classic Ibiza at Capesthorne Hall may 

be more your thing (Siddington, 30 

Jun). It brings the music of the White 

Island to orchestral life, at a slightly 

more sedate pace. 

The Chester Mystery Plays also 

make an appearance this year, the 

cycle of medieval Biblical plays that 

are performed only every five years 

(Chester Cathedral, 27 Jun-14 Jul). 

With a production team that includes 

BBC radio director Peter Leslie Wild 

and actor and playwright Deborah 

20 

McAndrew - and a mammoth cast of 

400 actors – they’re part of the wider 

Chester Heritage Festival (22-30 Jun). 

Originally written by monks some 

700 years ago, and once considered 

too raucous to be performed inside 

(players stood on carts dotted across 

the city’s streets instead), this year the 

plays will be staged daily inside the 

ever-atmospheric Chester Cathedral. 

Macclesfield’s Barnaby Festival (15-24 

Jun) can also claim medieval roots. 

The Barnaby Fair dates to the 13th 

century, changing shape along the 

way to become a biennial festival that 

celebrates the art and the music of 

Macclesfield. “It’s astounding how 

much creativity comes from a town 

of just 60,000 people,” says festival 

director Mandy Martinez. “It has 

become a place where artists and 

musicians settle, where there is art 

in every nook and cranny.” Look out 

for art trails, parkour, theatre, spoken 

word and live music from Macc (and 

further afield; the James Taylor 

Quartet and poet Tony Walsh are 

both on the billing). “There’s nothing 

more life-affirming than sitting in 

the market square, drinking a beer, 

listening to a live band,” says Mandy. 

“It’s a lovely mix of local and outside 

acts. You get an introduction to the 

town, its people and its creative spirit.” 

And there it is in a nutshell. Cheshire’s 

cultural summer is all about the past, 

the present and a series of one-off 

events that you’d be wise to take 

advantage of.

11 

May - July Highlights 

New winter brochure 

out now! 

25 MINS FROM CHESTER, 35 MINS FROM LIVERPOOL, 45 MINS FROM MANCHESTER

12 

THE LAMBING SHED, KNUTSFORD 

7 – 9 SEPTEMBER 2018 

FRIDAY EVENING SATURDAY EVENING SUNDAY EVENING 

TOM ODELL 

SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR 

RAZORLIGHT 

MELANIE C 

SQUEEZE 

SCOUTING FOR GIRLS 

SATURDAY AFTERNOON 

SUNDAY AFTERNOON 

TOPLOADER 

GABRIELLE APLIN 

THE CHRISTIANS 

SOUND OF THE SIRENS 

CHEF DEMOS 

TOM KERRIDGE | JOSH EGGLETON | PAUL AINSWORTH | STEPHEN TERRY 

JAMES MACKENZIE | ANDREW PERN | ANGELA HARTNETT | CANDICE BROWN 

POP-UP PUBS 

THE HAND & FLOWERS | THE COACH | THE PONY & TRAP 

PAUL AINSWORTH RESTAURANTS | THE HARDWICK | PIPE & GLASS 

THE STAR INN | CAFÉ MURANO | THE CHURCH INN 

Tickets on sale now at 

www.pubintheparkuk.com 

Event partners 

Sponsored by

13 

10% off 

Save 10% on our Half-hour City 

Cruise with discount code UG18 

Cruise along Chester’s beautiful River Dee 

Half-hour City Cruise 

Enjoy a different view of Chester - elegant houses, riverside gardens and tranquil meadows. 

Daily sailings at least once an hour until October. 

Two-hour Iron Bridge Cruise 

Leave the city behind and cruise through the glorious Cheshire countryside. Will you spot the kingfishers? 

Weekends in May and June, daily in July & August. 

Combined Bus and Boat Tickets 

The freedom of the City! Sail with us, then enjoy a hop-on, hop-off bus tour with City Sightseeing. 

Available every day. 

Tasty Treats, Nights Out and Special Occasions 

Afternoon Teas; Fish & Chip Cruises; Curry & Quiz Nights; Party Nights Afloat. Our boats are warm, 

comfortable and have on-board bars. We also offer private charter packages for your perfect celebration. 

Cruises depart from The Groves, Chester, CH1 1SZ 

Save money by booking advance tickets online, or just turn up and buy a ticket on board 

(subject to availability). Special events must be booked in advance. 

01244 325 394 | chesterboat.co.uk 

14 


Ice Cream 

Sold 

We sell tickets for a variety of buses the daily hop on 

and hop off sightseeing bus, National Express Coaches 

all over the country, Busy Bus and Easy Bus. 

We also sell bus tickets for Arriva . 

We sell discounted tickets for the Blue Planet 

Aquarium and Chester Zoo. 

We are the Chester agents for Jones holidays. 

We have guided walks which leave the Visitor Centre 

daily at 10.30 and 2.00pm. 

Roman soldier walking tours are available at 12 and 

3.00 Monday –Saturday . 

We also sell Chester Running Tours. 

The Chester Ghost tour is every Saturday night and 

can be booked from the Visitor Centre. 

We have a busy retail shop selling a variety of Chester 

themed products sourced if possible locally. 

www.visitcheshire.com

15

Event 

Guide 

May / Aug 

2018 

9 May 

CHESTER RACES 

- BOODLES MAY 

FESTIVAL - CITY DAY 

The 2018 season opener 

celebrating 100 years of the 

Chester Vase. This meeting 

serves up some fantastic 

on-track action with both 

Derby trials separating the 

men from the boys, as topclass 

contenders go head to 

head to compete at Epsom 

later in the season. 

www.chester-races.co.uk 

9 May 

PASHA KOVALEV 

- THE MAGIC OF 

HOLLYWOOD 

The BBC TV’s Strictly Come 

Dancing star returns with 

his brand new show. It is 

jam packed with sequins, 

glitz and glamour as Pasha 

takes to the stage with his 

sensational dancers as 

they perform ‘Oscar worthy 

performances’. 

www.thebrindley.org.uk 

10 May 

CHESTER RACES 

- BOODLES MAY 

FESTIVAL - LADIES DAY 

Thursday’s Ladies Day will 

offer an intoxicating mix 

of competitive handicaps 

and top class Group races, 

contrasting with the 

vibrancy of an enthusiastic 

stylish crowd. 


11 May 

CHESTER RACES 

- BOODLES MAY 

FESTIVAL - CHESTER 

CUP DAY 

The final day of the Boodles 

May Festival culminates 

with the highest profile 

race of the three days, the 

Chester Cup. Supported by 

the Huxley Stakes, Chester 

Cup Day will command 

the largest crowd of the 

three days and a palpable 

atmosphere, impossible to 

bottle. 


13 May 

REASEHEATH 

FAMILY FESTIVAL 

Enjoy a fantastic day out at 

our annual Family Festival 

which has been held at the 

college for almost 40 years! 

You’ll find an exciting range 

of fun activities for the 

whole family to enjoy. 

www.reaseheath.ac.uk/ 

familyfestival 

19 May – 7 October 

MICHAEL SANDLE: 

MONUMENTAL RAGE 

This exhibition presents the 

immensely powerful work 

of this important artist, 

whose international status 

is unmatched in his field 

by any other British artist 

of his generation. With 

sculptures, drawings and 

prints spanning sixty years, 

it offers an extraordinary 

aesthetic, intellectual and 

emotional experience for 

visitors. 

www.westcheshire 

museums.co.uk 

IMAGES TOP 

TO BOTTOM 

CHESTER RACES / 

REASEHEATH FAMILY 

FESTIVAL / MICHAEL 

SANDLE 

25

≥ 

16 

SUMMER CONCERTS 

AT THE BRIDGEWATER HALL, MANCHESTER 

THIS SUMMER, BE WHISKED AWAY ON A MUSICAL JOURNEY WITH THE HALLÉ. 

SATURDAY 23 JUNE, 7 

.30PM • ’80s MIXTAPE 

SUNDAY 1 JULY, 3PM • MAGICAL JOURNEYS 

SATURDAY 7 JULY, 7.30PM • CHORAL EXTRAVAGANZA 

FRIDAY 13 JULY, 6PM • THANK HALLÉ IT’S FRIDAY! 

SATURDAY 14 JULY, 7.30PM • MAGIC OF THE MUSICALS 

SATURDAY 28 JULY, 7.30PM • THE LAST NIGHT OF THE HALLÉ PROMS 

0161 907 9000 • www.halle.co.uk/summer 

TAKE YOUR SEAT IN THE BRIDGEWATER HALL AND BRACE YOURSELF FOR THE SYMPHONIC ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME.

© LINDSAY MELBOURNE 

IMAGES 

LEFT: GERONIMO 

FAMILY FESTIVAL 

ROUNDEL: LDF 

INTERNATIONAL 

POLO 

8 June 

LDF INTERNATIONAL 

POLO SEMI-FINALS 

DAY 

The Sport of Kings returns to 

the Roodee. It’s the perfect 

opportunity to gather a few 

friends, pack a picnic and 

enjoy the beautiful outdoors 

to see the oldest and most 

exhilarating team sport, 

pitch side free of charge. 


25 – 28 May 

GERONIMO FAMILY 

FESTIVAL 

Geronimo has a kids’ 

field like no other festival, 

catering solely to children 

and allowing families to 

connect for a fairytale 

weekend of madness. New 

for 2018 are the Tigers 

Motorcycle Display Team, 

a full-scale Highland 

Games takeover in the 

main arena, and the Sock 

Wrestling Federation’s daily 

tournaments. 

www.geronimofest.com 

26 May 

CHESTER RACES - 

MBNA ROMAN DAY 

MBNA’s Roman Day is 

always a regal affair. Enjoy 

an unforgettable afternoon, 

with non-stop racing action 

alongside family friendly 

Roman themed activities for 

younger racegoers. Spot the 

Roman foot soldiers walking 

about the course - they’ll be 

happy to pose for a photo 

or two. 


26 & 27 May 

PEPPA PIG’S 

ADVENTURE 

Join Peppa as she gets 

ready to go on an exciting 

camping trip to the woods 

with George and her school 

friends. With lunch-boxes 

packed and Daddy Pig 

driving the bus, Peppa and 

friends are excited about 

their outdoor adventure, full 

of games, laughter and live 

music! 

www.venuecymru.co.uk 

June - 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): 16 June, 30 June, 

14 July, 28 July. 

26 May - 3 June 

AMAZED BY SCIENCE 

Come and join in the fun with 

events and activities taking 

place across Cheshire. Visit 

website for full details. 

www.amazedbyscience.com 

29 May – 2 June 

SON OF A 

PREACHER MAN 

Directed and choreographed 

by Strictly Come Dancing’s 

Craig Revel Horwood and 

featuring the greatest 

hits of Dusty Springfield, 

this sparklingly funny 

and sweetly touching 

new musical play by 

internationally-renowned 

writer Warner Brown will 

have you laughing, crying 

and singing your heart out to 

some of the greatest songs 

ever written. 


8 JUNE 

THE TRUE STORY OF 

JIMI HENDRIX 

Leon Hendrix is the younger 

brother of Jimi Hendrix 

and was his companion 

throughout his career. He 

will be performing all Jimi’s 

hits and more. He will also 

talk openly about his life 

with Jimi and the audience 

will be given the chance to 

pose questions in a Q & A 

session. 


9 June 

LDF INTERNATIONAL 

POLO FINALS DAY 

Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere 

of Finals Day. Guest will be 

presented with a drink on 

arrival and a sumptuous 

two-course buffet will be 

served at midday before the 

subsidiary match begins 

at 2pm. Finals Day guests 

are also lucky enough to 

take part in the champagne 

soaked presentations, where 

guests can congratulate the 

winning players and toast to 

their success! 


27

13 – 17 June 

THE EQUERRY 

BOLESWORTH 

INTERNATIONAL 

HORSE SHOW 

The Bolesworth 

International plays host 

to world-class, 4-star 

equestrian sporting action; 

and plenty of family friendly 

attractions and activities, 

guaranteeing a fabulous 

day out for the whole family 

to enjoy. The newly-added 

watersports element will 

feature as a headline 

attraction, along with the 

famous dog shows. 

www.bolesworth 

international.com 

14 – 16 June 

20TH CENTURY BOY 

This hit musical, inspired by 

the life of rock legend Marc 

Bolan, returns to the stage 

to mark the 40th anniversary 

of the iconic star’s untimely 

death. Featuring some of 

the greatest rock songs 

ever written, 20th Century 

Boy tells the life story of 

the legendary Bolan and his 

band T. Rex. 


15 – 17 June 

MIDDLEWICH FAB 

FESTIVAL 

This year promises to be 

even bigger and more 

popular than ever, having 

historically attracted an 

estimated 25,000 visitors 

into Middlewich over the 

three day festival. Friday’s 

headline act Peter Hook 

and The Light! Saturday & 

Sunday concerts are free! 

www.middlewich.org.uk/ 

middlewich-fab-festival 

16 June 

CHESTER RACES – 

HALEWOOD SUMMER 

SATURDAY 

Attracting crowds of 

enthusiastic racing fans 

and those looking to up the 

style stakes, racegoers flock 

from around the country to 

witness history unfold before 

their eyes across the season 

at Chester Racecourse. 


16 & 17 June 

DOGFEST 

The UK’s Summer Festival 

for Dogs! DogFest is a funfilled, 

action packed day for 

you and your dog, hosted by 

Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick. 

The Ultimate day out for you 

and your furry friend! 

www.dog-fest.co.uk/ 

cheshire 

19 & 20 June 

THE ROYAL 

CHESHIRE COUNTY 

SHOW 

For more than 175 years, 

the Cheshire show has been 

the premier summertime 

agricultural event in the 

North West. This prestigious 

event enables all to 

experience and celebrate all 

that is great and good about 

the countryside. 

www.royalcheshireshow.org 

23 June 

LES MUSICALS 

Musical Theatre’s leading 

men and X Factor stars; 

Jonathan Ansell (G4 

frontman) & Rhydian Roberts 

join forces for the first time 

ever to create a dramatic & 

spine tingling concert. Hear 

classics from Les Miserables, 

Phantom Of The Opera, Miss 

Saigon, Chess, We Will Rock 

You & many more. 


23 & 24 June 

MIDSUMMER WATCH 

PARADE 

One of the oldest and 

most colourful events in 

the country with 500 local 

participants including 

angels, devils, green men 

and mythical beasts rub 

shoulders with Romans, 

St Werburgh, elephants and 

camels in a parade full of 

colour and music that dates 

back to the late 1400s. 

www.midsummerwatch. 

co.uk 

27 June – 14 July 

CHESTER MYSTERY 

PLAYS 

Produced every five years, 

the Chester Mystery Plays 

will be performed by a 

community cast of hundreds 

in the nave of Chester 

Cathedral. These medieval 

tales of ambition, intrigue, 

betrayal and passion are 

drawn from iconic Bible 

stories with a special 

Chester twist. 

www.chestermysteryplays. 

com 

29 June 


LADIES EVENING 

The perfect way to enjoy an 

early summer Friday evening 

and get the weekend off to a 

winning start. 


30 June 


MATTHEW CLARK 

SUMMER FESTIVAL 










IMAGES TOP 

TO BOTTOM 

THE EQUERRY 

BOLESWORTH 

INTERNATIONAL 

HORSE SHOW / 

DOGFEST / 

MIDSUMMER 

WATCH PARADE / 

CHESTER MYSTERY 

PLAYS 

28

The Bridgewater Hall International Concert Series 17|18 

Dresden Philharmonic 

Michael Sanderling conductor | Arabella Steinbacher violin 

Friday 25 May 7.30pm 

17 

Weber Euryanthe Overture 

Bruch Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor 

Beethoven Symphony No.5 in C minor 

The Sixteen’s Choral Pilgrimage 2018 

Sacred & Profane 

Harry Christophers conductor 

Thursday 7 June 7.30pm 

A programme of Britten and Cornysh 

Murray Perahia 

Friday 15 June 7.30pm 

Programme to be announced 

Wayne Marshall 

Friday 22 June 7.30pm 

A programme of British organ music 

Box Office: 0161 907 9000 

www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk 

Box Office: 0161 907 9000 


London Philharmonic 

Orchestra 

with Anne-Sophie Mutter 

Łukasz Borowicz conductor 

Tuesday 1 May 7.30pm 

Jonathan Scott Lunchtime Organ Concerts 

Around the World | Friday 25 May 1.10pm 

Greatest Hits | Monday 2 July 1.10pm 

Berlioz Le Carnaval Romain 

Penderecki Violin Concerto No.2 

Prokofiev Symphony No.5 

Box Office: 0161 907 9000 


Box Office: 0161 907 9000 

www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk

20 – 22 July 

BLUEDOT FESTIVAL 

Set against a backdrop of 

the iconic Lovell Telescope 

at Jodrell Bank, Bluedot 

combines a truly stellar lineup 

of music with a groundbreaking 

programme of live 

science experiments, expert 

talks and immersive artworks. 

www.discoverthebluedot.com 

21 July 

MACCLESFIELD 

FESTIVAL 

IMAGE 

LEFT:TATTON 

PARK FOODIES 

FESTIVAL 

A fabulous day out for both 

families and music lovers 

with over 50 live acts, a 

giant funfair, VIP clubhouse, 

competitions, displays, 

artisan market and much 

more. This year will be an 

even bigger and better event. 

www.macclesfieldfestival. 

co.uk 

1 - 8 July 

CH1 CHESTER 

COMEDY FESTIVAL 

8 days, 16 comedians, 

26 locations! Famous TV 

comedians including Paul 

Sinha, Joe Caulfield and 

Chester funny man Jeff 

Green are set to perform 

at some of the city’s most 

iconic venues this summer 

as part of a brand new 

comedy festival being 

launched by Chester’s 

Business Improvement 

District CH1ChesterBID. 

www.ch1chestercomedy 

festival.com 

13 July 

CHESTER RACES – 

MR GREEN LADIES & 

GENTS EVENING 

Start the weekend with an 

evening to remember at 

Ladies & Gents Evening! 


13 – 15 July 

TATTON PARK 

FOODIES FESTIVAL 

Watch Great British Bake Off 

winners baking live in The 

Cake & Desserts Theatre. 

Meet Michelin starred chefs, 

Great British Menu winners, 

MasterChef champions 

and top local chefs cooking 

their signature recipes in 

the Stoves Chefs Theatre. 

Feast in the Street Food 

Avenue; learn to bake in 

the Cake and Bake Theatre; 

enjoy afternoon tea in the 

Vintage Tea Tent; taste wine, 

Champagne and craft beer in 

the Drinks Theatre; buy from 

local producers in the Artisan 

Market and lots more! 

www.tattonpark.org.uk 

14 July 


SIGNATURE LIVING 

CITY PLATE DAY 










14 & 15 July 

CHESHIRE 

STEAM FAIR 

The grounds of Daresbury 

open once again featuring 

the Flyin Ryan Stunt Show. 

This event showcases 

products like steam 

engines, classic cars, 

vintage tractors, classic 

motorcycles, fairground 

organs, miniature steam 

engines, stationary engines 

and vintage commercials. 

www.outdoorshows.co.uk 

18 – 22 July 

RHS FLOWER SHOW 

TATTON PARK 

Set in magnificent 

parklands, the RHS Flower 

Show at Tatton Park is a 

celebration of the best in 

gardening with a vibrant 

carnival atmosphere. 

A spectacular day out, not 

just for plant lovers, but for 

friends and family too. 

www.rhs.org.uk/ 

shows-events 

21 & 22 July 

COUNTRYSIDE FAIR 

This is a brilliant family 

friendly event celebrating the 

best of the beautiful British 

countryside and the many 

pursuits available locally. 

Enjoy animals, fun dog 

shows, artisan stalls, craft 

activities, arena displays and 

demonstrations, fair rides, 

local clubs and associations, 

delicious food stalls, an 

outside bar and much more. 

www.blakemerevillage.com 

14 July 

LIVE IN THE PARK 

Live music concert at the 

stunning Arley Hall & Gardens, 

where you can bring a picnic 

before you’re entertained 

by tributes to some of the 

greatest acts of all time. Acts 

this year include: Le Chic, a 

collective of some of the UK’s 

finest musicians and vocalists, 

Pete Valentine, a fantastic 

George Michael tribute, and 

headlining is Malcolm Pitt 

as Lionel Richie; Europe’s 

leading Lionel Richie 

Tribute act. 

www.nmcentre.com 

30

Welcome to the 

CHESHIRE GAME 

& COUNTRY FAIR 

Saturday, Sunday & Monday 

25th - 27th August 

Including 

The 14th English 

Open Chainsaw 

Carving 

Competition 

• A large Country Fair wih all day entertainment in the three Main Show Arenas by 

some of the countrysides top names and organisations • Food Glorious Food 

• Hands on experience, come and ‘Have a Go’ at country sports 

• World of dogs, Gundogs, Lurcher and Terriers • Craft Village 

• Shooting Village, ATEO Airguns, ACA Archery, Clayshoot 

• Lots of children’s entertainment and attractions 

For more information visit 

www.cheshiregameandcountryfair.co.uk 

Telephone 01283 820548 

Cheshire County Showground 

Tabley • Knutsford 


WA16 0HJ 

18 

Admission 

Adults £14.00 

Over 65s £13.00 

Children £4.00 

LH0101 107x145 CHESHIRE FAIR 30-3.indd 1 27/03/2018 15:06 

Eaton Hall Gardens 

Charity Open Days 2018 

19 

20 

Sunday 

27 May 

Sunday 

29 July 

Sunday 

26 August 

£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

IMAGE: 

SHREK THE 

MUSICAL, 

VENUE CYMRU 

THE CHESTER TOUR 

The must-do walking tour 

of Chester 

Your guide will lead you on a 

captivating journey through 

2,000 years of history, 

taking in all the main sites 

along the way, including 

the unique Rows, mighty 

Walls, beautiful River Dee, 

impressive Cathedral and 

not forgetting the worldfamous 

Eastgate Clock. 

Tours at 10.30am and 2pm. 

For more information please 

visit chestertours.org.uk 

25 July 

NANTWICH SHOW 

AND INTERNATIONAL 

CHEESE AWARDS 

A day not to be missed! 

With celebrity chef demos 

and massive marquees will 

house the International 

Cheese Awards. Also 

displays of cattle, horses, 

sheep, poultry, pigeons, and 

dogs, whilst other exhibits 

will include over 450 trade 

stands, with something for 

everyone! 

www.nantwichshow.co.uk 

26 July 

KEVIN AND KAREN 

DANCE 

Following a sensational 

sell-out debut tour last 

year, Strictly sweethearts 

Kevin and Karen Clifton 

are back with a brand new 

show. It’s a high-energy 

performance filled with 

sassy tunes, heart-pounding 

choreography and sparkling 

costumes. 


27 – 29 July 

CARFEST NORTH 

First acts confirmed 

include Bananarama, Billy 

Ocean, Jools Holland, Rick 

Astley, Status Quo and The 

Proclaimers. Packed with 

as much 4 wheeled action 

as we can squeeze into a 

weekend. From our Hill 

Climb Track Show, Car Club 

displays, Vintage Village, and 

the ever popular Sporting 

Bears Dream Rides. 

www.carfest.org 

28 July 

CHESTER RACES 

- STELLA ARTOIS 

MIDSUMMER 

MEETING 










17 – 19 August 

JUST SO FESTIVAL 

An annual, intimate, 

weekend long festival - an 

imaginative outdoor family 

adventure like no other, a 

wonderland of world-class 

literature, arts, theatre, 

dance, music, comedy and 

creative pursuits. 

www.justsofestival.org.uk 

21 August – 2 September 

SHREK THE MUSICAL 

Based on the story and 

characters from the Oscarwinning 

DreamWorks 

Animation film, this hilarious 

and spectacular production 

turns the world of fairytales 

upside down in an allsinging, 

all-dancing, mustsee 

musical comedy. 


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. Tours at 11.30am on 

the first Tuesday and 3rd 

Friday of the month. 

For more information please 

visit chestertours.org.uk 

32

21 

22 

CASH IN 

YOUR 

CELLAR? 

An internationally inspired grill using 

outstanding ingredients. 

Standing out from the crowd, this 400-seater 

restaurant is housed over two floors and 

brings theatre on a grand scale to Chester. 

Free wine & whisky 

valuations 

Private sales 

arranged 

LIVE MUSIC 

EVERY WEEK 

Macallan Private Eye 

Sold for £2,250 

01270 440357 

mark@marklittler.com 

www.marklittler.com 

23 

CONQUER THE 

TOP SPOT 

Race up the woodland trails and storm 

the castle for some high-spirited fun. 

T: 01244 343 888 

E: Opera.Grill@Individualrestaurants.com 

Opera Grill, Pepper St, Chester CH1 1DF 

operagrill.com 

Chapel Lane, Cheshire CW6 9TX

24 

© 

SUMMER at 

BOAT LIFT 

A FANTASTIC DAY OUT FOR ALL THE FAMILY 

Take a river cruise, boat trip through the lift or simply explore with FREE entry into our coffee shop, 

interactive exhibition, gift shop and grounds with NEW play area. Events throughout the summer. 

For more information call 01606 786 777 or 

visit www.andertonboatlift.co.uk

As the market 

for traditional 

antiques fades, new 

opportunities for 

collectors arise – 

and among them 

is the relatively 

new market for 

fine whisky, says 

Mark Littler. 

Whisky? 

As A 

Collector’s 

Item? 

The most sought-after whisky on the market is 

made by The Macallan distillery. Established in 

1824, it’s a distillery that strives to be the Faberge 

(to use an antique analogy) of the whisky world, 

its whisky matured almost exclusively in rare 

ex-Oloroso sherry casks. In fact, such is their 

demand that The Macallan now makes casks from 

Spanish oak and lends them to sherry producers, 

all so that it can secure a reliable supply of casks 

in which to mature its whisky. 

So just how expensive and sought after is The 

Macallan? Last October, a cask distilled in 

1987 sold for £285,000 – though the cask itself 

contained hundreds of bottles of whisky. At 

around the same time, Bonhams sold a complete 

set of The Macallan in its ‘Lalique Six Pillars 

Collection’ for £360,000. The set comprised six 

bottles (each made by Lalique) containing whisky 

aged between 50 and 65 years – a sale price that 

makes that 1987 cask seem like a bargain. But by 

far the most expensive bottle of The Macallan sold 

at auction was a six-litre bottle of Macallan M. It 

took Lalique over 50 hours to craft the 70cm high 

bottle. Sold by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong, the sale 

price was in excess of £460,000. 

These sales represent the top of The Macallan 

market. In the UK, auctions are dominated by 

bottles in the £500-£5,000 range. The main things 

that effect their value are the age of the whisky 

(how long it has spent in the cask, not the bottle), 

the bottling date (whisky doesn’t improve once 

bottled, but older bottles do tend to be rarer), 

limited editions, the distillation year (collectors 

often try and collect one from each year), the level 

(the level of the whisky should be into the neck of 

the bottle; if it’s lower it will have less flavour and 

thus less value) and, finally, the (ideally pristine) 

labels and packaging. 

marklittler.com 

35

On top of that, there are a number of soughtafter 

ranges, such as the 25 Year Old Anniversary 

Malt. Housed in distinctive wooden boxes with 

The Macallan branding, the first edition was 

distilled in 1957 and was matured for 25 years, 

being released at £25 per bottle in 1983. The last 

bottling of the edition was released in the year 

2000, and the 25 Year Old Anniversary Malts now 

sell for between £1,000 and £3,000 per bottle. 

Other such ranges include the Macallan Private 

Eye – with only 5,000 released in 1996, today they 

can sell for as much as £3,000 per bottle – and 

two editions of the Macallan Royal Marriage, the 

first marking the marriage of Prince Charles 

and Diana, the second a marriage of two casks, 

one filled on 29 April 1996 and the other on 29 

April 1999, to celebrate the wedding of Prince 

William and Catherine Middleton on 29 April 2010. 

Originally priced at £100 per bottle, it now sells 

for around £1,500-£2,000 per bottle. 

While demand for The Macallan bottlings has 

risen exponentially in the past decade, many, 

myself included, don’t think that this level of 

growth can be sustained. As more owners of 

The Macallan begin to realise the value of their 

bottles, the market will become saturated and 

no one knows if demand will continue to outstrip 

supply. That said, a crash is unlikely; we’re more 

likely to see a correction of prices followed by 

slower growth. One positive in this respect is the 

number of bottles that my clients consume – 

steadily increasing the rarity of the 

remaining bottles. 

Mark Littler is an 

independent antiques valuer 

and consultant 

marklittler.com 

36

CHESTER 

MYSTERY 

PLAYS 

June 27 - July 14 2018 

CHESTER CATHEDRAL 

Book now: 01244 500959 

www.chestermysteryplays.com 

Written by Deborah McAndrew 

Directed by Peter Leslie Wild 

Music by Matt Baker 

Designed by Dawn Allsopp 

25 

SPECTACLE & HiSToRY, MiRACLES & MYSTERY 

A community cast of hundreds tells how God created the world, Noah (and Mrs Noah) built 

their ark and jovial shepherds made their way from North Wales to witness the birth of Jesus.

26 

Book at rhs.org.uk/tatton 

Supported by

Maps 

Chester 

4 

28 

14 

15 

25 

21 

13 

3 

1 Chester Zoo 

2 The Ice Cream Farm 

3 City Sightseeing 

4 Chester Races 

6 Jodrell Bank 

7 Reclaimed World 

8 Venue Cymru 

9 GladFest 

10 Live in the Park 

11 The Brindley 

12 Pub in the Park 

13 ChesterBoat 

14 VIC 

15 Grosvenor Museum 

16 Halle 

17 Bridgewater Hall 

18 Cheshire Game & 

Country Fair 

19 Eaton Hall Gardens 

20 Hack Green 

21 Opera Grill 

23 Beeston Castle 

24 Anderton Boat Lift 

25 Chester Mystery Plays 

26 RHS 

28 Storyhouse 

29 Tatton Park 


16 17 

11 

10 2629 

24 

18 

12 

8 

1 

9 7 

6 

19 

2 

23 

20 

Not featured on map: 

5 Chester Comedy Festival 

22 Mark Littler 

27 Amazed by Science 

39

eviewed... 

The Chef ’s 

Table 

Small but apparently perfectly formed – 

Susie Stubbs finds out how one Chester independent is 

giving the competition a run for its money. 

Independent. Artisan. 

Seasonal. Authentic. They’re 

the watchwords of the food 

scene, the markers of the 

sorts of restaurants that 

gather acclaim as easily as a 

sommelier collects empties 

at the end of the night. But 

they’re also words bandied 

about so often that they risk 

becoming meaningless; so 

much noise in a world where 

hype has become the norm. 

Yet there are still places 

where the independent spirit 

is alive and kicking. In fact, 

there are a growing number 

of restaurants where the 

covers are kept low and the 

service relaxed, and where a 

real knowledge of food and 

drink is key to an experience 

that’s about as far from 

hype as the sun is from a 

Manchester sky. 

Take Stockport’s Where the 

Light Gets In, Sticky Walnut 

in Hoole, Aidan Byrne’s 

The Church Green (p16), or 

Chester’s own The Chef’s 

Table – the latter a place 

so unassuming that, tucked 

away along a medieval 

passageway, I walked past 

it twice before I realised 

where it was. It’s worth 

hunting down, though, this 

30-cover restaurant whose 

menus have won it the sort 

of awards that many a 

big-time restaurant would 

spend serious time and 

money chasing. 

According to Tom Hughes 

(who runs The Chef’s Table 

with Katie McLachlan and 

chef Liam McKay), the 

reason for its success is 

simple. “To run a small 

independent at this level,” 

he says, “it’s about pride, 

it’s about showing people 

how to run things the right 

way.” It’s also about “bloody 

hard work”, the sort of graft 

that sees Tom driving up 

to his vegetable supplier 

in the morning, washing 

the produce in buckets and 

serving it on the same day 

- a distinct lack of glamour 

that Tom reckons many of 

his diners just don’t get. 

“They see the accolades, our 

refurbishment, how slick 

it is, but they don’t see the 

fact that 95% of the time it’s 

really hard.” 

40

The presentation 

was jewel-like, 

the choice of 

ingredients clever 

without being 

show-off 

And why would they? On the 

Friday lunchtime I visited 

the place was buzzing, every 

table full, the chefs banging 

out stellar dish after dish, 

the waiting staff quietly 

attentive. As for the food: 

pickled mussels came with 

the aniseed taste of fennel, a 

carrot and ginger soup was 

elevated via the inclusion 

of marigold leaves, blood 

orange and pumpkin seeds 

(“I’ve never tasted anything 

like it,” said the waitress 

of the piquant, perfumed 

leaves). Cod loin was served 

with roe that glistened like 

a ripe blackberry, the flakes 

of seared fish shored up by 

roast potato and a risotto 

made with Parmesan, carrot 

and celery. The presentation 

was jewel-like, the choice of 

ingredients clever without 

being show-off. In other 

words, as lunches go, it was 

none too shabby. 

The vegetable supplier Tom 

mentioned is the Natural 

Veg Men, a three-acre 

organic site near Malpas 

that supplies all of the 

restaurant’s fresh produce 

between April and October. 

The relationship between 

the two businesses started 

over Twitter, developed over 

a cuppa, with the two now so 

close that, “Liam calls up the 

Veg Men to see what they’ve 

got, and works out the menu 

based on that,” says Tom. 

“It 100% causes a headache 

sometimes, but this is 

produce coming from one of 

the oldest pieces of organic 

land in the country and it’s 

so fresh – you won’t get that 

anywhere else in Chester.” 

What else is unique is 

the restaurant’s attention 

to detail. While Liam’s 

inventiveness is the 

undeniable star of the 

show (his signature dish 

is made with the electric 

daisy, a Brazilian flower with 

anaesthetic properties), this 

is a restaurant that spends 

time getting the basics right. 

“We have four lads who bake 

on site, twice a day,” says 

Tom. “Baking gets you in 

the right frame of mind; if 

you can get the bread right, 

you can get anything right.” 

What this means, then, is 

that it’s the food that does 

the talking here, not the 

marketing department. And 

while the making of it might 

be hard work, Tom, Katie 

and Liam make it look – and 

taste – anything but. This is 

one restaurant that’s more 

than living up to the hype. 

The Chef’s Table, Music Hall 

Passage, Chester CH1 2EU. 

www.chefstablechester.co.uk 

41

ABS UG AD_Layout 1 17/04/2018 17:57 Page 1 

27 

Supported by 

26th May – 3rd June 2018 

COME AND JOIN THE FUN 

Amazing Events 

and activities are 

taking place across 

Cheshire at various 

locations! 

@amazedbyscience 

amazedbyscience 

www.amazedbyscience.com

Summer 2018 

5 May - 8 July 

By William Shakespeare 

6 July – 25 August 

By William Shakespeare 


1 June - 26 august 

Stage version by Bryony Lavery, based 

on the original by Arthur Ransome 


15 June - 7 July 

storyhouse.com 

#madebystoryhouse 

storyhouse.com 

#madebystoryhouse 

28

NEW 

FOR 2018 

29 

A Taste of Tatton 

In its heyday, the Tatton Estate fed the Egerton family and staff. 

This year we’re bringing this story to life with exciting activities 

that give you a Taste of Tatton and the chance to discover 

fascinating facts about where your food comes from. 

FARM • GARDENS • MANSION • PARKLAND 

tattonpark.org.uk/FieldToFork

The Ultimate Guide to Chester and Cheshire -Summer Edition

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