Chester

The return of quality theatre to Chester is set to boost the city’s economy by at least £1m – Chester West and Chester Council Leader Cllr Mike Jones has revealed.

Cllr Jones was speaking at the unveiling of plans for the 350-seat Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre which he promised would be a “magical, unforgettable experience for residents and visitors alike.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council, backing the project to the tune of £100,000, believes it will be the first stage towards the authority’s goal of seeing Chester created City of Culture in 2017.

“We also see this as a significant step towards delivering our ambition to create a permanent theatre for Chester” said the Leader.

Grosvenor Park will stage its first season from 15 July – 8 August, for performances of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and a new play, Hercules, for families.

And it is hoped that the open air arena will host up to 10,000 theatregoers.

The design of the summer theatre is described as simple but unique. The horseshoe shaped theatre will have terrace seats surrounding the stage and an area in front for audiences to enjoy picnics.

Actors and musicians will mingle and perform amongst the audience creating an enclosed, bustling space. It is hoped the intimate setting will create a close connection between the actors and the audience with nobody being far from the action.

Andrew Bentley, Director of Chester Performs, said: “These images reveal the unusual setting of our Open Air structure. The season of Open Air Theatre is particularly unique – both the stage and entire auditorium are uncovered.

“Being outdoors in the glorious setting of Grosvenor Park will be an integral part of the experience, which we hope audiences will embrace.”

Cllr Richard Short, Executive Member for Culture and Recreation, said that Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre represented the authority’s investment in Chester’s cultural life and its bid to improve it.

Work on the feasibility study for the proposed state of the art theatre was well under way and by the end of June members would have a much better idea of the proposed design and costs involved.

Martin Bocking, Chester based architects Lovelock Mitchell designed the theatre, said: “We wanted to ensure the design was part of the park, inspired by the backdrop of the ruins of St John’s church and the beauty of Grosvenor Park, we have created a sympathetic, natural setting.”

The theatre has two types of seats – picnic space and raised terraces. Picnic spaces are on the grass and audiences can bring their own deck chairs or picnic blankets, and picnic before and during the show. Terraces are raised wooden bench style seats, with cushions available to hire from the theatre.

Tickets for Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre are on sale now, terrace seats from £10, picnic spaces £18. Book now by calling 0843 208 0500 or visit Chester Tourist Information Centre or online at www.chesterperforms.com.

Lord Cholmondeley has announced that this year’s Cholmondeley Pageant of Power will be held over the weekend 17-18 July 2010. This will be the third festival at Cholmondeley Castle that blends high-octane action on track, water and air – a celebration of speed, nerve and flair with exceptional design and engineering.

Collections of delectable contemporary and historic racing cars and bikes have been invited to compete on the demanding Cholmondeley Circuit. The classes comprise Le Mans and Grand Prix cars plus aero-engined fire spitters and classic rally cars. The bikes will feature a strong TT pedigree in addition to production superbikes. The public will have the chance to see exceptionally rare and valuable vehicles racing with famous names behind the wheel.

On the water, powerboat action will include the powerful Formula 2 and 4 classes, together with 400cc ISO Seniors and Thundercats as part of the international racing circuit.

In the air, a wealth of helicopters will be joined by the Breitling display team and a host of other stunning aerobatic exhibitions.

The weekend will again include the Fireworks Concert and Military Tattoo on Saturday evening the military aspects of the Pageant thrilled the crowds last year. As a tribute to HM Forces the event will be proudly supporting Help for Heroes. Displays and attractions will include the stunning Concours d’Elegance, a colossal car club enclosure, off-roading, children’s activities, bars and a shopping village.

For more information and discounted tickets from £13.50 please visit www.cpop.co.uk or telephone 01829 772432.

The View has announced a woodland gig for this summer. The show is the third and final concert to be to be staged in Delamere Forest, Cheshire as part of the Forestry Commission Live Music 2010.

Currently working on their third album, their previous two, ‘Which Bitch?’ and No 1 debut ‘Hats Off To The Buskers’ have established the act as one of the most exciting and on-the-edge bands of recent years with cracking singles like ‘Superstar Tradesman’, ‘5 Rebbeccas’, ‘Wasted Little DJ’s’ and ‘Same Jeans’.

Money generated by Forestry Commission Live Music ticket sales is spent directly on the nation’s woodlands, benefiting everything from butterflies to mountain bikers.

The View will be performing at:

Delamere Forest, Delamere, Cheshire on Sunday 4th July.

Tickets £25.00 (subject to booking fee) go on sale at 9.00am Thursday 29th April from the Forestry Commission box office tel 01842 814612 or buy online at www.forestry.gov.uk/music

Info:
www.theviewareonfire.com
www.forestry.gov.uk/music

A heavyweight new arrival charged into Chester today – a gift from the world-class zoo on the city’s doorstep.

Chester Zoo has donated a bronze elephant calf – similar to that at its own main entrance. From its new home on St Werburgh’s Street/Northgate Street, the female calf will be symbolic of the links between the UK’s largest zoo and the city. It is also hoped that the 1m tall statue, sculpted by Hampshire-based sculptress Annette Yarrow, will encourage city tourists to venture to the zoo.

Alasdair McNee, Corporate Director for Chester Zoo, said: “We are delighted to unveil the latest addition to the city centre. Chester city has a world-class attraction – the UK’s largest and most successful zoo – on its doorstep and we hope this magnificent sculpture will be a permanent reminder of that fact. Our own bronze elephant is a huge draw for young and old alike and we hope to recreate this impact in the city. Chester Zoo however is far more than a visitor attraction and has conservation at the core of all its activities. The city’s new calf reflects what the zoo is all about.”

The zoo has been working closely with Chester Renaissance, which has looked after the installation and interpretation for the city’s new attraction.

Renowned sculptress Annette, who also crafted the zoo’s bronze elephant, has drawn on her experience of growing up in India to create the calf, which took her six months to complete.

The elephant installation will be followed shortly by interpretation panels to tell both members of the public and visitors the story of the elephant and the city’s links with the zoo.

The exciting plans for the first phase of the transformation of Chester’s historic Cathedral Quarter are to be displayed for people to comment on.

The Chester Cathedral Quarter partnership is keen for Chester residents and visitors to view the display boards and feedback their comments.

Rita Waters, Chief Executive of Chester Renaissance, said: “The people of Chester are a vital part of our consultation process and we want to encourage everyone to get involved in this exciting transformation of the cathedral.”

The display about the project will be placed in the Cathedral Undercroft and the second floor of the Forum Offices on Monday, 15 March for two weeks. The display will then move to the Visitor Information Centre at Cheshire Oaks from Monday, 22 March.

Phase one of the transformation of Chester Cathedral is being led by a partnership of the Cathedral, Cheshire West and Chester Council and Chester Renaissance with the aim of attracting an extra 130,000 visitors a year to the city.

Cllr Richard Short, Executive Member, Culture and Recreation said: “We are confident that this project will result in a major increase of visitors to the Cathedral and city bringing considerable economic benefits to Chester and the whole region.”

An innovative new tourist information centre has been unveiled at Cheshire Oaks.

The initiative offers a showcase for Cheshire’s visitor economy for more than seven million visitors who flock to the outlet village each year, many travelling more than an hour to reach the destination.

They’ll also have access to high quality service and information designed to help them make the most of their visit to the area.

The new centre, which replaces an existing facility, is the result of a partnership between the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), destination management organisation Visit Chester & Cheshire and McArthur Glen.

Staff will have a high level of product knowledge and the emphasis of the service will be on meeting and exceeding visitors’ specific expectations.

“This is a huge opportunity to access a massive and growing visitor base, many of whom are travelling from farther afield to visit Cheshire Oaks,” said Visit Chester & Cheshire’s Chief Executive, Chris Brown.

“This is a timely improvement to the quality of information facilities that will encourage visitors to stay longer, spend more and return more often to explore the vast range of Cheshire’s visitor opportunities, among them food and drink, accommodation, events, and gardens.”

Colin Wilding, General Manager of McArthur Glen Cheshire Oaks added: “This is a further milestone in the close relationship that has been established between MacArthur Glen and Visit Chester & Cheshire, one that will generate significant benefits for Cheshire Oaks and the wider visitor economy in Chester and Cheshire.”

The new visitor information centre is the latest in a series of major investments made by the NWDA to improve the provision of visitor information across Cheshire and the whole of the Northwest.

Nick Brooks-Sykes, Director of Tourism at the NWDA said: “Our aim is to have a modern network of well located visitor information centres across the whole of the Northwest. This investment in Cheshire Oaks Visitor Information Centre will ensure it is able to provide an excellent visitor experience as well as a top quality signposting service for Cheshire and the wider Northwest region.”

The first phase of exciting plans for the transformation of Chester’s historic Cathedral Quarter was announced yesterday.

Vital to Chester’s reinstatement as an international tourism and cultural centre, the £7.5m project will remodel the area to provide an ideal setting for the city’s top heritage destination.

The Cathedral, Cheshire West and Chester Council and Chester Renaissance have combined to drive a project which, it is hoped, will attract an extra 130,000 visitors annually.

Phase one will be centred on the medieval Cathedral and its immediate precincts with designs for new iconic entrance and visitor centre being developed.

“The Cathedral is a fascinating and intriguing complex, making a significant contribution to the life of the city, spiritually, culturally and economically. However, it is often said that it is hidden in full view and we want to improve its setting to allow greater appreciation and easier access to this wonderful complex.” said the Dean of Chester the Very Revd. Professor Gordon McPhate.

The initial stage of the scheme will also feature internal and external improvements designed to improve the Cathedral’s visitor appeal including lighting, heating and a new terrace café.

A new flexible stage in the Nave will provide the Cathedral and city with scope for sustaining a wider range of events capable of housing audiences ranging from 1,200 to 1,800.

And it is hoped to open up areas of the building previously closed to visitors to provide viewing platforms with stunning views of the Cathedral and city centre.

Public realm work in St Werburgh Street will create a new square linking the city centre and leading more visitors to the gothic masterpiece, originally erected as a monastery by Hugh Lupus, first Norman Earl of Chester, in 1092.

The project is being led by Cheshire West and Chester Council and the Cathedral.

Said Cllr Richard Short Executive Member, Culture and Recreation: “The Cathedral is one of the jewels of our rich heritage – but it is a jewel that deserves a better setting.

“We are confident that this project will result in a major increase of visitors to the Cathedral and city bringing considerable economic benefits to Chester and the whole region.”

The Cathedral together with Chester Renaissance Special Projects Team are currently co-ordinating project management of the scheme, led by Building Design Partnership’s Liverpool Studio and involving specialists in the fields of conservation, architecture, archaeology, engineering, lighting and acoustics.

At present, work is continuing on all aspects of the scheme and options will form the basis of widespread consultation with all interested groups.

Chester Renaissance Chief Executive, Rita Waters said: “The Cathedral Quarter is a vital area of historic Chester and we are determined to enhance its potential in a way which will provide a perfect backcloth for a magnificent building.

“This is a hugely exciting and unique opportunity for the city to show its support for its Cathedral which will continue to welcome and increase the many visitors it will bring into our city.”

A planning application to both the local authority and the Cathedral Fabrics Commission for England will be submitted in the spring. Determination should take place by October, with completion of the first phase scheduled for March 2012.

For the twentieth consecutive year, the Michelin Guide has awarded a much coveted star to the fine dining restaurant at The Chester Grosvenor and Spa. The respected guide has also awarded the Simon Radley ‘rising two star’ status.

Executive Chef Simon Radley said ‘For the restaurant to be tipped as a ‘rising two star’ is obviously a large boost to the whole team. We have been quietly plugging away, doing our thing and I think it gives us added direction.’

Simon Radley at The Chester Grosvenor is now one of only four restaurants in the UK to have been awarded one or more Michelin stars for the past twenty years and the only restaurant to have been awarded ‘rising two stars’ status in 2010.

Simon Radley at The Chester Grosvenor Named after its highly respected Executive Chef, this gourmet restaurant serves French cuisine with a contemporary flavour. The menu is complemented by one of the most extensive wine cellars in England boasting over 1000 bins. It is open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday and the adjoining Arkle Bar and Lounge is ideal for pre-dinner drinks, morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon tea or an after work cocktail.

Simon Radley (Executive Chef and Director of Catering) joined The Chester Grosvenor and Spa in 1986 and went on to become Head Chef within seven years. The restaurant was refurbished and renamed in honour of his culinary expertise during the summer 2008 and has since attained 4 AA rosettes whilst the hard working team have won two prestigious Hotel Catey awards.

For reservations at the restaurant, call: 01244 324024 or email restaurants@chestergrosvenor.com.

Plans to restore Grosvenor Park in Chester have been boosted by an award from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Cheshire West and Chester Council has been given £94,300 to draw up detailed plans for the £3.5 million scheme. The plans will include a bid for £2.3 million of HLF cash.

Sara Hilton, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund North West, said, ‘We know that a well-kept and thriving local park makes a really big difference to people’s lives. Over 260,000 people a year use Grosvenor Park and we know how important this green space is to the centre of Chester. We hope that news of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s initial backing for this excellent project will provide local people with some valuable festive cheer.’

From May to September 2010, Tatton Park stages its second Biennial of contemporary art, a laboratory for creative experiment and exchange, with new works commissioned for the Deer Park, Mansion and Formal Gardens.

Twenty-one artists are contributing to the life of the Biennial, with commissions considering ideas about what links people to place, notions of history and place-making and collective visions for the future.

A wide ranging programme of events, performances, workshops, talks and tours is planned for the 2010 Biennial. Working around the idea of Framing Identity, the programme will reveal artists’ responses to the site and the intersections between contemporary art, culture, science and industry.

Biennial partners, academics, artists and curators will contribute to the programme and special weekends of events are scheduled throughout the five months of the Biennial.

For further information on the programme and forthcoming events please visit tattonparkbiennial.org.