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The Chester Grosvenor and Spa - Chester

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Five-star luxury in the heart of Chester

Want to escape the city, but not a big fan of in-the-middle-of-nowhere rural retreats? We may have found just the place – luxurious and stylish enough to rate with the Capital’s Big Boys, but in a peaceful and picturesque corner of England that is bound to calm your urban nerves.

The Chester Grosvenor Hotel is one of the North-West’s hottest places to stay, with one of the few AA 5-red-star ratings outside of London and is the perfect place for a pampering. Despite dating back to 1865 and being owned by the family of the Duke of Westminster, it is as far from being old-fashioned and stuffy as you can get. Modern, yet warm interiors, two vibrant, award-winning restaurants and a state-of-art spa, make The Grosvenor a destination in itself. The hotel’s 66 individually-designed bedrooms are gorgeous – neutral colour-schemes picked out with a bright sofa or a stunning bit of antiquery – and all with the luxuries that have come to be expected from hardened Weekenders. Choose from a cosy classic room, an elegant suite or the enormous, two-bedroomed Presidential suite – complete with a bird’s eye view of Chester’s famous Eastgate Clock.

Downstairs, the hotel’s restaurants make going elsewhere for a meal a bit of a moot point. The Arkle has retained its Michelin star for 17 years and has become a bit of a Chester institution. Head Chef, Simon Radley, produces exciting, seasonal menus that will make your mouth water, even if you’re just reading them online. Along with one of the biggest and explorable wine lists in England – over 1000 bins at the last count – an evening meal here is one to be remembered. For a more relaxed alternative, the hotel’s Brasserie is laid-back French chic personified, albeit with a distinctly British edge. Classic bistro favourites are made with local produce, alongside a wine list to rival its Michelin-starred sibling. Cosy and filling afternoon teas in The Library complete the day’s culinary schedule and mean that you could spend the whole weekend without stepping outside the door.

The Grosvenor’s crowning glory - for those looking for total relaxation, at least – is its spa. Five luxury treatment rooms, a relaxation area, steam room, herb sauna, ice fountain, foot baths, themed shower and salt grotto make this one of the best in the country, and all a few steps from your bed! Day-long and half-day spa packages will put a lazy smile on the face of even the most hardened weekday workaholic.

Where is it?

The Chester Grosvenor and Spa is in… Chester – an almost perfect, but oft-overlooked weekend destination. Sitting somewhat in the shadow of its North-West superpower neighbours, Manchester and Liverpool, it is a beautiful and historic city, with fantastic shopping and some stunning countryside right on its doorstep. Fans of Hollyoaks may know the city centre as the place to go when your boyfriend’s dumped you and you need some retail therapy, while the cult of Cheshire’s WAGS has also made its mark on the city’s shopping facilities, but all this belies Chester’s remarkable medieval architecture, including its ancient city walls and huge cathedral – the most complete monastic complex still standing in the UK (www.chestercathedral.com Tel: 01244 324756).

Everything to see and do in and around Chester is within easy reach of The Grosvenor. If history is your bag, you’ll be delighted – it’s everywhere. The fab Grosvenor Museum (www.grosvenormuseum.co.uk Tel: 01244 402008) is the bet place to start, taking you through Chester’s famous Roman heritage right up to the present day. Otherwise, The Chester Heritage Tour (www.chesterheritagetours.co.uk Tel: 0870 765 6840), on a gorgeous open-topped vintage bus, is a great way to experience Chester and its history in a nutshell.

If you’re more interested in Armani than architecture, however, you’ve also hit the right place. Chester has become a shopping mecca in recent years, with its black-and-white Tudor buildings full of designer brands. The best place to start is probably Tessuti (www.tessuti.co.uk Tel: 01244 312585), the headquarters of Chester shopping, including designer concessions from Alice Temperley, Paul Smith and Vivienne Westwood. With over 1000 shops within easy walking distance, many on the picturesque medieval second-level walkways that circle the city centre, you’ll need to leave your credit cards at home if you’re easily tempted. Alternatively, you could visit Cheshire Oaks (www.cheshireoaksdesigneroutlet.com Tel: 0151 348 5600), a huge out-of-town outlet village that sells all your favourite high-end brands at cheaper prices.

Other Chester favourites are the famous and fabulous Chester Zoo (www.chesterzoo.org Tel: 01244 380 280) – the most popular zoo in the UK, and riverboat cruises on the pretty River Dee (www.chesterboat.co.uk Tel: 01244 325394), on which Chester stands. Alternatively, you could escape the city altogether and explore the beautiful countryside east of Chester and into nearby Wales. In fact, why not do it Cheshire footballer-style, in your own supercar? Northern Ferrari Hire (www.northernferrarihire.com Tel: 0845 260 8 360) hire out Ferraris, Aston Martins, Lamborghinis and other auto-monsters for a day, or a whole weekend.

Where can I eat?

The Arkle and La Brasserie at The Grosvenor are no-brainers as eating options in Chester. Not only are they both fantastic, and probably two of the best places to eat in town anyway, but there’s also nothing better than enjoying an amazing meal and a bottle, or two, of wine knowing that you’re within stumbling distance of your bed.

If you are looking for alternatives, however, there is plenty on offer. Brasserie 10-16 (www.brasserie1016.com Tel: 01244 322288) is a buzzy, informal and popular restaurant with fantastic, sophisticated food for all budgets. British, Mediterranean and oriental influences all get a look-in. Or you could try the Chester institution that is Francs (www.francs.co.uk Tel: 01244 317952), a super-friendly French restaurant that offers fantastic seasonal menus and any excuse for a bit of a knees-up.

If you want out of the city, just 15 minutes’ drive takes you to the rural village of Higher Burwardsley and The Pheasant Inn (www.thepheasantinn.co.uk Tel: 01829 770434). Award-winning British dishes made with local and seasonal produce are almost as stunning as the breathtaking views across the Cheshire countryside outside. If you’re after a picnicky day out, Chester is full of great delis and specialist foodie shops, including the much-loved Cheese Shop (Tel: 01244 346240), which stocks over 100 British cheeses.

Top of page

Want to escape the city, but not a big fan of in-the-middle-of-nowhere rural retreats? The Chester Grosvenor may be just the place – luxurious and stylish enough to rate with the Capital’s Big Boys, but in a peaceful and picturesque corner of England that is bound to calm your urban nerves.