Solitary chicken - need advice

[Jules.]

Hubby & I are going away for a romantic weekend next month & we have picked Chester as our destination- it's not far if there is a crisis at home & we have to get back, & it's a lovely little place.

 

We're going on a budget, & will stay in a travelodge probably, but would like a nice meal out somewhere one of the nights.

 

Omleteer suggestions please!

Edited November 4, 2008 by Guest

[missuscluck]

I am proud to say I come from Chester. It is lovley. Um... ideas. Ill google some of my faves and get back to you later this evening. Just doing tea.

[Joojoo]

Ooh I shall be watching this with interest as we are hoping to visit for a night or two before Christmas

[missuscluck]

Im back!!

Chester is fab and you will have a fab time no doubt about it.

The shopping is great. Not to much and not too sprawly but all the high street usuals plus lots of nice individual shops.

A walk round the Walls is recomended as you will see plenty of historic Chester. Take a look in the Cathedral and when you get to the river take a walk down the riverside at 'the groves. Its truly one of my favourite places to be as I have lots of happy memories. You can take boat trips down the river Dee from here. Not too long, about a couple of hours but very nice and relaxing. When you get to the suspension bridge that crosses the river you will see the entrance to the park which is also worth a stroll round.

 

Chester is famous for it roman ruins. If you do the walls walk you will see some of these.

 

There is a museum, but dont bust a gut to go (small and mostly geared to kids school trips)

 

There are lots of resturants of all kinds.

My fave is Francs, a french resturant, small and intimate. The garlic french bread is to die for dripping in french cheese. This is in the town centre.

http://www.francs.co.uk/index.htm

 

If you want somewhere to park try this

http://www.telfordswarehouse.com/

Lovley pub just on the outside of the city wall by the canal with parking. Resturant upstairs not awfully big so would be advisable to book. Gets livley and they have bands on. Good fun.

 

Or this, an Itallian

http://www.piccolinorestaurants.co.uk/chester.html

I have never been here but have walked past often. It is on my 'to do' list.

 

There is lots and lots, it really depends what your tastes are.

There is lots of hotels and guest houses of varying prices. Im not to sure where the travel lodge is. I think there is one just by the Countess of Chester Hospital (up the road from my mum!!)

[missuscluck]

Just thought of another one. I used to meet my big sis here for lunch when she worked in Chester. Great for a nice lunch. Good sandwiches, panninis etc....

http://www.duttonschester.co.uk/

[Snowy]

Good to hear you are getting a break with OH Jules - hope you have a lovely time!

[Egluntyne]

Have a super time Jules.

 

Chester is very beautiful, but it is a good while since I was last there so can't mak e any recommendations.

 

I hope the weather is kind to you.

[chickencam]

My OH and I did all our courting in Chester, I lived in North Wales and he lived on the Wirral so it was an obvious place to meet up. We spent hours down by the river, you can hire little boats out or go on longer trips.

 

We took the children on one of the shorter trips down the river and back a couple of years ago, which had commentary on it and we really enjoyed it.

 

The walls are well worth a walk and the shopping is really interesting because of the Rows which are upstairs walkways past the shops and really old and lovely.

 

There is also a canal that you can walk along which has been cleaned up a lot since our day. Last time we went there was a lovely continental market in the square near the cathederal. The cathederal itself is well worth a look too.

 

They also do open top bus tours these days which would be a good way to get an overview of the place.

 

Ahh memories

 

Have a great time

[Jules.]

Thank you all

We've only been away on our own twice since we had children, once to Dublin for hubby's 30 th birthday & to Newcastle when he did the Great North Run ( & I was 5 months pregnant )

 

Really looking forward to it, it's just what we need. It's time to be "grown ups" again for a couple of days instead of mum & dad which we seem to have morphed into.

[Fizzle Knit]

Chester is lovely. I spent an enjoyable year there at college but that was a long time ago! I remember there was a very good cheese shop and a little Italian cafe that did brilliant coffee, both round the corner from the cathedral and opposite the library. Enjoy yourselves!

[Jules.]

Missuscluck I've just realised that Telfords Warehouse that you recommened us to go to to eat is where the Nizlopi gig is at tonight- so we will go there & report back on the food

 

We are staying in the new Travelodge which is slap bang in the middle of Chester and really looking forward to our night away, & the gig. I just hope hubby's headache/sorethroat/ high temperature gets better soon

 

We have decided to go on the train to Chester- it's only a half hour trip straight through from a local station, & we won't have to battle with the one-way system, or pay to park the car in the centre overnight.

 

Bring it on !

[Phonix]

have fun Jules!!!

[poachedegg]

Have a great time!

[missuscluck]

Have a lovley time. Hope you enjoy the gig, the food and the hotel.

Do let us know how you get on.

[Jules.]

It's been a mixed bag!

The Travel Lodge ( on St John's St so really central) was fine- it was a modern design with orange & brown colours in the room, & a red & white bathroom but it was clean & warm & comfy.

We did as advised & booked a table at the Telfords Warehouse before we left, & boy are we glad we did. There were only about 10 tables in the upstairs restaurant, & all had reserved signs on them. We were on the table next to the one reserved for Nizlopi The food was delicious, & there was loads of it.

The support act was called "The Loose Kites" and they were really good, with a sort of Beach Boys/Monkees influence. Nizlopi were good too, but we thought that the atmosphere was different at this gig than the Manchester one last month. At Manchester it was what we are used to - loads of students in attendance- Chester was more dare I say it Cheshire set people, older folks like us There was also two very drunk guys lurching around behind us On the whole though a great night, apart from hubby who was coming down with flu. He didn't sleep at all last night.

We were supposed to have the day in Chester today, but left on the 9am train in order to get to the Dr's. I was looking forward to walking around the walls, but will have to do that next time.

I've been to Chester quite a few times before but never on the train & it was a doddle, & so we thought we might take the boys there for a day out in the Christmas holidays.