October Sainsbury's Magazine feature - Chester - Travel Guide

 

Chester is rich in Tudor architecture, a haven for horse-racing fans, and a mecca for food lovers. Equidistant from Manchester and Liverpool Airports, and home to the historic Chester Races, the city attracts its fair share of tourists from around the world. While I didn’t bet on the GeeGees, I did explore the city’s culinary delights and was amazed at the quality available.

I checked in to Moxy Chester, part of the Marriott group, located on the picturesque canal, just a short walk from the train station. Its vast lounge area with hanging plants and quirky design touches gave me cool, East London vibes without the price tag. moxy-hotels.marriott.com

I chose a Taste of Chester walking tour to get a closer look at the city. We passed historic Tudor buildings on the high streets and learned about the city’s ancient history. I even discovered where the term "Gee-Gees" came from. (It’s thought to be traced back to Henry Gee, who raised the first horse racing course in Chester in the 1500s.) www.walkingfoodtoursuk.co.uk

The latest addition to Chester's burgeoning food scene is restaurant Twenty-eight. It serves hyper-seasonal farm-to-table food with an emphasis on sustainability. Partnered with a Cheshire-based farm, Growing at Field 28 (a family-run urban farm in Daresbury), the menu mirrors the farm's seasonal growing schedule as part of the restaurant's commitment to supporting local agriculture and minimising food waste and carbon footprint. Chef Jay Tanner offers lots of tapas-style plant-based options here, along with seasonal meat. www.restaurant28.com

For meat lovers and wine enthusiasts, Upstairs at the Grill is a cut above the rest. It has served Chester for nearly 20 years but underwent a complete renovation over lockdown and has transformed into its current, breathtakingly cool bar and grill. Set up by Jason Blygh, a business developer and wine connoisseur, his expertise in wine is evident in the extensive cellar that showcases some of the finest Californian wines, including exclusive Napa Valley labels. This place offers New York vibes by the glass and plateful. The dimly lit, speakeasy-style bar with fine art and high ceilings offers well-crafted cocktails, and the new terrace dining area serves oysters, fish, and, of course, steaks. Showcasing some of the very best cuts from British farmers as well as beef from around the world, you will need to set aside time for this experience, because it’s truly dinner to savour. If you want to add a layer of style, you could ask owner Jason to pair your wine. I was treated to a Fort Ross Chardonnay from Sonoma in California with my scallops and CAMi Merlot from Napa in California with my côte de bœuf. In an era where dining out is about more than just food, Upstairs at the Grill felt like a haven to appreciate the finer things in life. www.upstairsatthegrill.co.uk

With events like Ibiza Classics Evening and Soul Sunset Racing with Craig Charles in July, and Liverpool John Lennon Family Day in August, Chester Races offer a unique lineup of racing and entertainment this year. www.chester-races.com

Cheese & Meade Tasting
Chester is famous for cheese, so I felt obliged to fit in a cheese tasting event. Chester Cheese Shop has over 200 cheeses on sale along with other local products like Meade, which I learned is far more than a sweet, honey-based drink. Think light, bright flavors like elderflower and pomegranate. You can even have it chilled and sparkling. It’s incredible paired with cheese! Cheese & Meade tasting from £20. @thecheeseshopchester

Visit Chester Tudor Tour
I did a short walking tour focusing on Chester under the five Tudor monarchs: Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. It’s just two miles, staying inside the walls of Chester city center, passing medieval Leche House, Chester Castle built in 1070, and the oldest Tudor building in Chester, Tudor House. visitchester.com

Wine Tasting in Vin Santo
Located in Chester's historic 13th-century crypted cellars on Watergate Street, sipping wine in Vin Santo felt very special. A cavernous wine merchant and bar, it serves a wide variety of exceptional labels, and our wine tasting was cozy and informal. Wine tastings from £25. www.vinsantochester.co.uk

Going down under!
Down a little lane, in a courtyard in the heart of the city, I found artisan micro-bakery Koolaburra. Along with great coffee, there was a vast selection of world-class pastries with an Australian twist. It’s run by Jessica Reynolds, an Aussie who fell in love with Chester a few short years ago. She still bakes most of the cakes herself, so it’s likely she’ll be in the shop working away. @koolaburra_bakehouse