Paddington Brings Positive Footfall to Chester

Over the past six months, Chester’s very own Paddington Bench has been on a city-wide adventure, capturing the hearts of locals and visitors alike through the Andean Adventurer Trail.

Paddington first arrived in Chester in 2024, after the city was chosen as one of just 23 locations nationwide to host the beloved bear, following his starring role in Paddington In Peru. Thanks to Chester BID, who funded the project, the city was able to welcome the Paddington Bench as a permanent fixture, with Chester being the only city to have transformed it into a fully interactive trail.

Six venues across the city centre took part in the Andean Adventure, each hosting Paddington and supporting with themed events and activities, including Picturehouse which hosted special screenings of Paddington in Peru, whilst Storyhouse delivered over 16 hours of free Paddington arts & crafts sessions for families. Inside the popular Grosvenor Shopping Centre, a Teddy Bear Maze was launched during the Easter half-term holidays. Down at the River Dee, Hickory’s Smokehouse donated a family voucher for a Paddington-themed giveaway, and the Cathedral allowed Paddington to enjoy the Picturesque Cathedral Gardens. Paddington took a final stop at the Rooftop Social Club, where he welcomed travel writers and journalists to experience the city. 

Families and visitors were invited to pick up their Andean Adventurer Passport and start collecting their Paddington-themed sticker, one featured at every location. The trail proved hugely popular, with over 2,500 stickers collected across the six-month campaign.

A grand prize draw rewarded one lucky winner with a £100 Chester Gift Card and a family ticket to Chester Zoo. The winner was adventurer Nina Gaffney, who had travelled the city with mum and dad, William and Nicola.  

Nicola Gaffney said:

“We had a great couple of months following the Andean Adventure Trail and discovered new locations in the city that we’re looking forward to revisiting! Nina enjoyed checking how Paddington was at every stop, and we took plenty of photos! We are excited to see the next city project.”

Carl Critchlow, CEO at Chester BID, said:

“Paddington is a character loved by generations, and we’re thrilled that Chester has embraced him as part of the city’s visitor experience. The Andean Adventurer Trail was designed to bring families back into the city, encourage exploration, and support our businesses. The response has been fantastic, and Chester remains the only city to have created a trail of this kind.”

Luka Morrell, Business Engagement Manager at Chester BID, added:

“The Andean Adventure trail has been a brilliant way to connect our local businesses with families and visitors to the city. From film screenings to creative crafts and even a teddy bear maze, the activities brought something unique to each venue while showcasing all that Chester has to offer. We’re already looking forward to building on this success with future projects.”

Paddington has now returned to his original home at the end of Foregate Street, where he will continue to be a much-loved feature of the city for years to come.