Chester Pride welcome Commissioner to Rainbow Tea Rooms

The Rainbow Tea Rooms was established by the Chester Pride charity who are also planning to launch a ‘safe space scheme’ across the city, sponsored by Police and Crime Commissioner, John Dwyer.

Opening in May 2022, the Rainbow Tea Rooms provides a space where everyone can feel safe, with a focus on the LGBTQ+ community. The café generates income for the charity, whilst celebrating diversity, inclusion and also supporting Chester Pride’s charitable projects.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer visited the tea rooms and met with Richard Euston, Head of Chester Pride, to discuss what further support could be provided to the charity and the LGBTQ+ community. The visit also provided an opportunity to find out how the Safe Space Scheme will be implemented across Chester.

The Safe Space Scheme looks to bring together businesses and organisations across Chester who are committed to providing a secure environment for members of the LGBTQ+ community and will use window stickers to identify them as somewhere that everyone is safe and respected.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer, said:

“I am delighted to have been able to sponsor the Safe Space Scheme and it is great to hear the plans of how this project is progressing.

“I was a sponsor of Chester Pride earlier in the year, so it has been an honour to visit the Rainbow Tea Rooms and hear about the charity’s latest work and what additional support I may be able to provide.”

Head of Chester Pride, Richard Euston, said:

“With the launch of our café we are setting the template for how venues can be inclusive and safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people. We’re looking forward to bringing many venues on board with our scheme and ensuring that every LGBTQ+ person knows where they can go to feel safe and supported.

“We’re grateful for John’s support of all of our work in supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and for championing us as we work to make Cheshire a place where people are free to be themselves.”

John Dwyer added:

“I am committed to protecting the vulnerable and at-risk members of our society and members of the LGBTQ+ community can be some of the most vulnerable in our society.

“I also want Cheshire to be a place where everybody can feel safe, that is why the Safe Space Scheme is so important, as well as all the other work that Chester Pride continue to do.

Pictured - Police and Crime Commissioner, John Dwyer with Head of Chester Pride, Richard Euston at The Rainbow Tea Rooms.