Chester’s hospitality opens cautiously with a ‘fuss-free opening’

The city’s hospitality businesses carefully welcome visitors to Chester with innovative safety measures.

Chester city centre restaurants, cafes, bars and opened their doors to customers at the weekend as visitors came to enjoy the much-lauded foodie delights of the city centre’s celebrated hospitality sector.

Carl Critchlow, CH1 Chester Business Improvement District Manager, said: ‘Super Saturday was attended well and gave the city a very cheery atmosphere. The feedback is that businesses managed it well, with customers appreciating an emphasis on safety and caution. We estimate just under two-thirds of the city’s hospitality businesses are open. Many of the city’s businesses are still preparing to open as they undertake refurbishments to facilitate a safe opening.

Carl Critchlow added: ‘What has been really interesting to see is the innovative way the businesses are managing the safety measures. We’re seeing new and improved al fresco areas, table buzzers that tell you when your food is ready, large menus you can photograph or single use menus - and apps and VR codes that bring your menu up on your phone so you can order from the table. Some businesses are managing queues by using planting and non-obtrusive decorative ways that don’t deter from the enjoyment of a dining out experience. Hand sanitisation provision is consistently available throughout.’

The CH1ChesterBID City Hosts are on the streets of the city ready to help visitors in the city. They are offering advice and guidance and will also be happy to hear feedback or suggestions for improvements. Chester Racecourse continues to offer free parking at both the racecourse and Linenhall car parks. Linenhall parking will operate between 6am and 6pm from July 8^th as it will be used in the evenings to host Storyhouse’s Moonlight Drive cinema.

About CH1ChesterBID Company:

A Business Improvement District (BID) is a business-led, business-funded body created to improve a defined commercial area. The CH1ChesterBID is funded solely by the businesses within the city.

There are over 460 businesses in Chester’s BID area with a rateable value of more than £18,000. Each of these contribute a levy equal to 1% of their business rates every year to fund a wide range of improvements identified by the businesses themselves. It is expected that approximately £2.5m of private sector funds will be generated over the five-year BID term and this money will be reinvested back into the city centre.

In June 2019, hundreds of businesses voted in favour of the plans to renew the BID’s term in Chester and on September 1^st, 2019, CH1ChesterBID Company started a second five year-term with the intention of continuing to deliver a more vibrant and successful trading environment for Chester city centre.

For more information, visit www.CH1ChesterBID.co.uk

Pictured - Amanda Stein from Steins at Chester Market. They enjoyed a steady weekend, with 'grateful customers who were happy to eat out again'.