sarah coles

The Indie ShopperSPRING / SUMMER 2011 FREE

A guide to independent shopping in Chester...

Curioser and Curioser... Tumble down the rabbit hole into Chester’s new vintage emporium

‘MY MUM’S BEEN HOBNOBBING WITH ALEX JAMES!’The Cheese Shop’s manageress, Ann Faulkner, discusses celebrity brunch

‘It has become tougher to deliver’A five-minute chat with City Co-ordinatorSteven Wundke

PLUS!Victorian perfumesStep inside Penhaligon’s

Fashion & JewelleryWhy you should visit Nichols & Co.

The best of the restA list of Chester’s bestindependent shops

EventsWhat’s on this summer

NICHOLS & CO.5 Bridge Street Row

Chester

Image courtesy of www.nicholstyle.co.uk

Hello, and welcome to the first Spring / Summer Chester edition of The Indie Shopper! Now the days are getting warmer, and the nights longer, the city’s vibrancy and beauty really starts to come to life, and most Cextrians can be found lounging down by the River Dee on hot, sultry days. Chester’s independent shopping scene is also blossoming, having survived an unrelenting recession, and local residents and visitors alike are in for a real treat when they spy some of the beautiful boutique products on offer, which proud shoppers can flaunt to admiring family and friends, and admit they didn’t find their purchases on the high-street! The Shopper has also interviewed City Management Co-ordinator, and ex-professional cricketer Steven Wundke, about the eye-opening work he does to promote Chester; and the reasons why he has fallen in love with this beautiful city.So please, sit back and enjoy our new magazine!

Sarah Coles, Editor

THE INDIE SHOPPER 3

CONTENTSISSUE 1.04 - 05 Welcome to Chester

06 - 07 Becnick’s Wonder Emporium

08 - 09 The Cheese Shop

10 - 11 5-minutes with Steven Wundke

12 - 13 Gildas Books

14 - 15 Penhaligon’s

16 - 17 Nichols & Co.

18 - 19 Best of the Rest

20 - 21 Events 2011

The Indie ShopperChester,Cheshire,CH1 1AA.Tel: 01244 000000Email: [email protected]

WELCOME TO CHESTER!So, just what makes Chester so

By Sarah ColesThanks to Cheshire West and Chester Council’s new initiatives to upgrade the city and transform it into a modern cultural hotspot, Chester has never looked better or been more exciting to visit. Boutique shops, bars, restaurants and hotels line the streets, and a twelve month cal-endar listing a variety of festivals, events and exhibi-tions has finally enabled Chester to compete with nearby cities Liverpool and Manchester.Whilst Chester may be inching ever closer to achieving its ‘shopper’s paradise’ title, however, it is important to note that the city’s traditional side is still well worth a visit, or even a re-visit. We heartily recommend visitors take time out from their shopping schedules to walk a lap of this walled city - especially on a hot summer’s day – when accompanied by a delicious ice cream. A pit-stop break on the banks of the River Dee is also a must (and the place to stock up on re-freshments). Alternatively,

4 THE INDIE SHOPPER

shopping experience, were surprisingly ignorant about the city’s wealth of independent shops and admitted they often ‘felt lost’ when wandering around Chester’s meandering rows. The relatively small size of the city centre also proved to be a turn-off, with many commenting that the ‘I

wonder what’s round this corner?’ element of suprise and adventure was lost in a place as small as Chester. However, Chester’s snug city centre is

also its saving grace (less shopping miles to walk!), and there are alleged to be more independent boutiques dotted around this city centre than in either Liverpool or Manchester; yet frequent visitors will often dash past in favour of pursuing the high-street trends on offer in the Grosvenor Centre’s relatively cramped retail units. The Indie Shopper’s mission is to change the

the city’s ancient sandstone cathedral will also provide a cool sanctuary, come rain or shine, in the midst of Chester’s bustling centre, and the roman amphitheatre also provides space sit, observe and reflect. Chester is fortunate in that it is a ‘green’ city, and it is possible to amble off the main high street and locate the park, roman gardens, or river, in the space of two or three minutes. If you fancy some outer-city exploration, however, then cross the river into Handbridge to discover a quaint, typically English village setting, with further riverside walks, parks, cute cottages, churches, pubs and cafes.Uniquely picturesque and undoubtedly laden with history, yet in terms of pro-viding decent retail therapy, Chester would appear to have a lot to prove. Most people, when questioned about Chester as an overall

‘The Indie Shopper can

guarantee that you will discover

something new and exciting’

WELCOME TO CHESTER!negative shopping stereotype that Chester has found itself saddled with, and provide visitors – and even local residents – with an up to date, informative guide to a city that is both beautiful and bountiful. However, in order to get the most out of Chester, it is essential that visitors slow down to a casual stroll, and shun the high-street stores for just one day (we may be in the midst of a recession, but they’ll cope); and by looking just that little bit closer at a familiar cityscape, us folks here at The Shopper can guaran-tee that you will discover something new, and potentially exciting, as well as meeting some genuinely warm, friendly and accommodating business owners and sales assistants, who – especially during these dark days of financial doom and gloom – are eager to please, and will provide excellent, professional customer service. And this, we like to think, is the point of shopping; to explore, discover, and then spend, spend, spend!

THE INDIE SHOPPER 5

special, and why should you visit?

From top left-hand image, clockwise: The famous clock-bridge, Chester’s leafy roman walls, the cathedral, an antique sign for shops near the clock-bridge, and a young family enjoy their riverside walk.

Tumble down the rabbit hole into...

Becnick’s Wonder Emporium!

6 THE INDIE SHOPPER

By Sarah Coles

Following the recent closure of Chester’s vintage clothing store on Watergate Street, fans of classical style and antique accesso-ries were left feeling bereft and unfulfilled; with outings to Liverpool and Manchester seen as the only accessible means for fashion items that were distinctly ‘non high-street’ and low-price. Step forward into Spring 2011, however, and Chester’s vintage spark has been rekindled.Becnick’s Wonder Emporium, situated in a black and white building – Ye Olde Wheatsheaf - on the city outskirts, was launched by firm friends Rebecca Cooch and Nicola Freer (hence the name ‘Becnick’s’, a combi-nation of their first names), who passed the pub earlier this year and noticed it was up for sale.

After making a wild impulse purchase (on a grand scale!), the two friends lived in the ramshackle build-ing for five weeks to prepare for the grand opening. Becnick’s Wonder Emporium opened its doors to excited shoppers and local residents in March, and was liter-ally jam-packed, with guests offered glasses of cham-pagne and cupcakes upon their eagerly anticipated arrival.“The open day was very successful!” comments Rebecca. “There was such a mix of age groups and people, it was better than we could have hoped for.”“It was a nice atmo-sphere,” adds Ni-cola, “and we’ve had nothing but positive feedback about the business since then.”

When asked about their decision to open a vintage fashion and antiques store in Chester, the duo are quick to attack the city’s ‘bland’ high street stores, with Rebecca exclaim-ing: “Retail-wise, their prices are far too high!” Whereas Nicola explains that there is “too much

mass-produced cheap stuff, everyone looks the same.

We want people to feel good about the ethnicity of the clothes; it’s nice to have clothes with history.”“It’s a nice place, where people can buy nice things,” adds Rebecca, “we’re not money-grabbing, and the price ranges reflect that. We want to make enough money to live off and maybe expand.”

Situated a 10-minute walk from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, the shop has gone from strength to strength. A heady combination of gorgeous, afford-able vintage clothing, hand-made jewellery, belts, shoes and other accessories, alongside fifties crockery, picnic baskets, vintage records, an open art space and a tiny cupcake cafe, the Emporium keeps on expanding at every twist and turn. Despite being located on the city outskirts, Rebecca and Nicola have worked hard to provide a retail service that houses most shoppers needs under one distinct roof. “There are constant events being planned,” revealsRebecca, “we promote local art-ists and musicians, so keep checking our website and Facebook page for events!”

“We’re not money grabbing, and

our price ranges reflect that.”

Friends and business partners Rebecca Cooch and Nicola Freer don’t do things by halves; following an impulse purchase earlier this year, they

successfully transformed Ye Olde Wheatsheaf public house into Becnick’s Wonder Emporium, in just five weeks!

THE INDIE SHOPPER 7

Becnick’s Wonder Emporium is located on Christle-ton Road in Boughton, on the outskirts of Chester. Visit http://becnicks.com for more information, or to befriend them on Facebook, search ‘Becnicks Wonder-Emporium’.

From top right-hand image, clockwise: Vintage clothing and ornaments, waitresses at the cupcake cafe, some of the gorgeous antique furniture and decorations, and the Wonder Emporium’s old-fash-ioned tiled exterior.

More cheese...?Indulge your tastebuds and visit The Cheese Shop to sample a variety of

local produce, including ex-Blur musician Alex James’s home-made cheese.

8 THE INDIE SHOPPER

From top left-hand , clockwise: Outside The Cheese Shop, a slab of locally made cheese, inside the Cheese Shop (note the huge cheese counter!), and shelves stacked high with delicious, creamy cheeses.

Image courtesy of The Cheese Shop

Image courtesy of The Cheese Shop

Chester’s Cheese Shop has a huge fan base, and remains popular with a myriad of residents and visitors – even after 26 years! Manageress Ann Faulkner, daughter of owner Carole Faulkner, is grateful for the customer loyalty, commenting: “We have a very faith-ful fan base, and we also get a lot of visitors as a result of our Cheshire cheese, which is very popular!”Ann also reveals that her mother, Carole, previously owned the Blue Bell res-taurant opposite the shop, and frequently made her own cheeses; the result of her being born a farmer’s daughter and making local produce from a young age. “When the shop opposite came up for sale, mum decided to buy it and make and sell cheese,” reveals Ann, adding: “Over the years, cheese makers came to mum and would ask what she thought of their produce.

THE INDIE SHOPPER 9

We rely on our customers for feed-back whenever a new cheese is introduced.”The shop’s interior is warm and rustic, with wooden floorboards and walls stocked with a sumptuous variety of delicious produce, from olive oils, crackers, balsamic vinegars, and much more. The vast, glitter-ing cheese counter immediately catches your eye, and the variety is impres-sive. Staff are more than willing to help answer any queries, and customers can also sample a celeb-rity cheese; a result of ex-Blur band member Alex James

turning his hand to cheese making.“My mum’s been hobnob-bing with Alex James!” laugh Ann. “They have brunch toether, along with Juliet Harbutt, who judges the British Cheese Awards.”The Cheese Shop is also heavily involved with a number of local festivals and events, such as the upcoming Chester Food and Drink Fes-tival, and the Wirral Food and Drink Festival respectively.

Ann, like her mother, is keen to promote the wonderful abun-

dance of Cheshire produce, and the shop has strong connec-tions to this ‘dairy county’, with the result

that the Cheshire cheese is its best seller.“We specialise in so many artisan cheeses,” concludes Ann. “Fifty per-cent of which most people have never even heard of! It’s a real experience.”For more information visit www.ches-tercheeseshop.co.uk

“We get a lot of visitors as

a result of our Cheshire

cheese, which is very

popular!”

Corks Out on Watergate Street: Ann recommends food and drink lovers visit this independent specialist, to search for the perfect wine to accompany most dishes.

By Sarah Coles

‘It has become tougher to deliver in

2011’The Indie Shopper’s editor, Sarah Coles, meets Chester City

Management’s ‘man with a plan’, Steven Wundke, for a five-minute chat...

10 THE INDIE SHOPPER

Chester City Co-ordinator, Wundke

Q. What are your main duties as Chester City Co-ordinator?

A. It is my responsibility to drive the ‘foot fall’ into Chester. My job is to get all the people who could achieve that working together, and working towards attracting more visitors into the city. Q. How long have you been working in this position – was your previous job role very different?

A. The Chairman David Pickering and myself reinvented Chester City Management two years ago. I have always been involved in marketing, but I’ve owned restaurants and designed golf courses. There aren’t many jobs I haven’t had at some stage! Q. Are you from Cheshire?

A. I live in Chester, but I’m from Australia. I have lived in Chester for over 25 years now. I used to be a profes-sional cricketer and played in the Northwest, and really liked it, so I decided to stay!

Q. You are also the festival organiser for Chester’s Food, Drink & Lifestyle Festival (and the North West Food Lovers’ Festi-val at Tatton Park). Are there any other events that your are closely involved with, or help to organise?

A. Yes, I invented the Fashion Festival, and Chestival, which will take place this summer for five weeks. I was also responsible for arranging the Christmas Fair and ‘big wheel’ for Christmas 2010, which Chester will continue to host for a few years.

Q. Does Chester City work closely with the council, and Chester Renaissance, to help boost the city’s profile and attract visitors? A. Yes, the private sector is the mouthpiece of the street and it’s my job to listen and get the things the city lacks. We also work with the racecourse and the media to create a positive image about Chester, that’s the biggest change over the last two years, as the press were not positive about the city before. The editors were getting rubbish infor-mation and I did say ‘you’re being too harsh’. Q. Do you think seasonal events and festivals are crucial to put Chester ‘on the map’? A. If you’re going to market the city, we need to provide a reason to visit. Saying ‘we’re a nice city’ is not good enough anymore, we need events that make people say ‘wow!’. Ideally, I would like all of the city’s 90,000 residents to get on the phone and say to their friends and family: ‘You need to come to Chester!’

“We also work with the media to

create a positive image about

Chester, that’s the biggest change.”

THE INDIE SHOPPER 11

Q. Since planning for the regeneration of Chester began (to make the city a ‘must-see’ destina-tion), would you say that the city was in desperate need of a cultural make-over? A. Absolutely. It’s the reason why people go to towns and cities now. There is an expectation to back this beautiful city with culture. We’re not there yet, because there is no theatre, which is why we are putting on so many events. Q. Has the recession had an impact on Chester’s plans for regeneration? A. Not yet – no, but it has become tougher to deliver in 2011.

Q. Do you think that Chester is well on its way to becoming a ‘must-see’ city? A. That’s a tough one. We’ve got the asset base to deliver that, but this year the private sector will dictate if that will happen. If they believe I can make a difference then there needs to be more funding, because the public purse cannot afford it. Q. Finally, why work for a company that promotes Chester’s culture and tourism? A. If I was asked to use one word to describe the city I would say ‘beauty’. I have fallen in love with Chester, and never underestimate how lucky I am to be doing my job.

Chester city centre and the Grosvenor Shopping Centre: Is the high-street still haunted by a receding recession?

Climb the ancient steps to enter the realm of...

Gildas BooksBy Sarah Coles

Climb the crum-bling steps up to City Walls, and you’ll enter book heaven. Although Gildas Books has suffered from a series of mis-guided purchases and unfortunate business blunders, the book-shop commands an impressive viewpoint, seated on one of the roman wall’s highest vantage points, and featuring an array of impressive, second-hand books and antique literature.Timothy Youdell, one of the bookshop’s volunteer workers, has known and visited the book-shop for 20 years; he started working for the business just five months ago. “We have books you can’t find in a charity shop,” he says, be-fore adding: “We are the last second-hand bookshop in Chester. But this is a siesta business, we incurred debt again through the winter season,

and the recession has made it suffer.”After 25 years, it would be a shame if Gildas Books were to close its doors, with many residents and visitors alike familiar with the old book-shop situated ‘just up the steps’. However, the summer months are responsible for yielding a higher profit margin, and despite some bad business decisions being made following a series of blunders (apparently made by new owners who “didn’t have a clue”), Timothy is hopeful that business will improve. “And we’re always willing to negotiate on a price!” he quickly adds.The bookshop has a cosy, retro-atmosphere, com-plete with a working fireplace,


and is dotted with odd chairs and stools; should the eager reader fancy a sit-down in order to seriously sample and contemplate the purchase of a new (or rather, new-old), book.“Shoppers are likely to find something in here they can’t find anywhere else in Chester,” comments

Timothy. “We do have some antiquar-ian books and some

first editions, including a first-edition Virginia Woolf, which costs £850.”The Virginia Woolf novel, ‘Monday or Tuesday’, is an exquisite, delicate-looking book, which also features woodcuts made by her sister. The book is one of only a 1000 ever made, and was printed in the au-thor’s home.

“We are always on the lookout for interesting items, single or collections,” adds Timothy, “so people can also come here to buy and sell.”Whilst the book shop’s future remains uncertain, Timothy is keen to talk about his own plans for the business, if he were ever put in charge!“This could be turned into an antiquarian bookshop,” he com-ments, excitedly. “I would also sell books on the internet, and the rarer ones would go to book dealers. However, buying books has dropped in recent years, so we would need to com-bine selling books with providing teas, coffees and sweets.”In the meantime, Gildas Books stocks a series of good quality second-hand books, and is romantically placed on the walls. The staff are also friendly and chatty, and happy to help with any enquiries.

“We’re always willing to

negotiate on a price!”

Top left-hand picture, clockwise: A mix of stacked books and old-fashioned telephone, the £850 first edition Virginia Woolf novel, climbing the ‘book worm’ steps, and a collection of second-hand specialist books.


From top left-hand picture, clockwise:The Royal Wedding window display, Jill Parry (right) takes part in a fragrance profiling, the variety of luxurious candles on shelves, the fragrance profiling perfume bottles, and LP perfume - one of the shop’s top-sellers.


Image courtesy of Penhaligon’s

Victorian splendour...Fancy smelling like one of your 19th century ancestors? If so, step into Penhaligon’s and be overwhelmed by the sensuous sprays and luxurious

soaps in a sumptuous boutique setting

Situated on Eastgate Row, up on the city’s historical rows, Penhaligon’s perfumery is a treat for the eyes as well as the nose. Established over 135 years ago, when the founder William Penhaligon opened a barbershop in Vic-torian London, Penhaligon’s is not strictly an independent shop, in that there are a number of boutiques situ-ated in London, and also in department stores worldwide. However, what makes this particular branch notable is its decision to open in Chester city centre, when so many other cities across the country have been shunned.“A lot of local people still don’t know we’re here!” complains manageress Jill Parry. “But Chester was perceived to be ‘upmarket’, which suited the profile of the company.”However, don’t mistake high-class goods for snobbery, Jill and all her staff are friendly, helpful individuals, who readily offer their customers a chance to take part in a ‘fragrance profiling’, in which a person’s signature scent can be determined based on their favourite fashions and smells.

Set back from other shops with a relatively small window display, I happened upon Penhaligon’s one cold winters day, before Christmas last year, and was drawn inside by the dim-lighting and dark wood panelling, which makes the light shimmer and sparkle off an array of magic-looking potion bottles and polished silver. One friend commented that the interior reminded her of “a Harry Potter film”, and she’s not wrong. Victorian eccentricity is rife throughout the store, and reminds many people of a mad, if wonderfully scented, chemists shop.“We’re going to open one more UK store,” Jill reveals, “but I don’t know where! It’s all very secret. There are also two stores in Paris, and one in Tokyo, Dubai, South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore and Dublin, although most of our products are located in department stores. We’re an internationally recognised brand, and we also run a mail order service from Chester, covering the UK and Europe.”

Despite many of the perfumes costing a pretty penny (or two), it is possible to purchase quality scented

candles and soaps for just over £20, with smaller (and cheaper) samples of the perfumes also available;

alongside luxurious shaving kits and scents for the man in your life (it is Father’s Day in June…). My advice would be to visit Penhaligon’s pronto, even if you can hardly afford the gorgeous produce inside, it’s definitely one of Chester more fabulously elegant, exotic shops, with a great sense of fun.For more information about the history of Penhaligon’s, as well as where to find other UK-based stores, visitwww.penhaligons.comInternet browsers can also take part in an online fragrance profiling test, by answering a set of questions and providing their email addresses. Sign-up for the online newsletter to receive special offers and information about upcoming events in your nearest store.


By Sarah Coles

“We’re an internationally

recognised brand.”

“We offer a great shopping experience!”

Ronnie Nichols, owner of NICHOLS & CO.

Nichols & Co. is a gorgeous shop, and a fantastic appendage to Chester’s wealth of independent, elegant shops.From the outside, the shop looks mod-est in size, with a table and shelves groaning under the weight of gold, silver and colourful glass jewellery (all very reasonably priced, some bangles are only £5), but the building is a real labyrinth of designer clothes, shoes, handbags, and even crockery sets and antique furniture (complete with antique nutcrackers and corkscrews).Ronnie Nichols, the company’s managing director, started the business in 2002 with his partner Jean. Since then, the couple have moved the

By Sarah Coles Grundahl, it tran-spires, is a Danish fashion designer, but Ronnie is eager to point out that the business sells more recognisable fashion labels, such as Vivienne Westwood shoes and a variety of leather handbags made by a young

design-ers, which have also starred in a recent issue of Vogue. “We sold out of those handbags within days, after the Vogue

issue came out!” recalls Ronnie. “All our stock isexclusive, that’s why we offer a great shopping experi-ence. We tend to be 6-8 months ahead of a trend, and champion new designers.”

Ronnie’s larger than life Liverpudlian accent makes his reasons for setting up a business in Chester, and not his native city, all the more notable. Ronnie however, reveals his deci-sions were down to practical business acumen and profits: “Because of the architecture, Chester can’t demand high rents,” he says, “as a result, there are a higher number of independent businesses here. And I can’t afford £100,000 per annum to rent a unit in Liverpool!”Located in a beautiful Victorian building, and hidden from view as a result of the ancient shop-ping row location, Nichols & Co. is the perfect place to visit for unsual, quality gifts.


business around Chester, and its current location, on Bridge Street Row, was sourced three years ago when the property was available to let. At that time, Ronnie was running two re-tail businesses, but decided to close both of them and focus on combining fashion clothing, jewellery, furniture and other household odds and ends, all under one roof, in one impressive shop. “We offer cus-tomers individuality,” says Ronnie, who has launched Planet & Glow Worm Fashion Agency. “We are the only UK shop to stock for-eign designer labels like Ivan Grundahl.”

Danish fashion designer, Ivan

Grundahl’s label

From top left-hand image, clockwise: A designer bag, made in Germany (from antique sacking), Nichols & Co’s fash-ion wall, a £250 hand-made glass bead necklace, £5 bangles (the top-sellers), and more fashion-friendly jewellery items.


All images courtesy of www.nicholstyle.co.uk

the best of the rest


A list of other fantastic independent shops in and around Chester’s bustling city centre. Think we’ve missed your favourite shop, or are you an independent business owner and want to

appear in our magazine? Then please email [email protected]

As mentioned in our Cheese Shop feature, Ann Faulkner rates Corks Out, and highly recommends ‘foodies’ investigate this wine specialist before cooking a delicious, home-made meal. Corks Out is situated on Watergate Street, and for more information go to: www.corksout.com

Joseph Benjamen Deli lingers at the bottom of the City Wall book shop steps, so what better way to relax with your new book than to visit this popular deli bar and coffee house? The Deli is also a two-minute walk away from the main city centre, so is perfect for a relaxing tea-break before further shop-ping ensues. Visit www.josephbenjamin.co.uk

Specialising in Single Malt Scotch, American, Irish and Japanese, English and Welsh whisky, Chester’s boutique shop literally offers you the world in a (whisky) bottle. With over 150 liqueurs, including the full range from My Gineration, a Cheshire based company; the owner is always happy to impart his whisky knowledge with eager shoppers. Visit www.chesterwhisky.com for more information and offers.

Although the Indie Shopper doesn’t really encourage smoking... we like to think you trendy shoppers are capable of making your own minds up. Turmeaus Tobacconist (Est. 1817), on Watergate Street, is a fas-cinating shop, and offers a real sense of history. The store was completely refurbished in 2004, and suits Chester’s roman / medieval / Victorian style; it’s easy to imagine the pipe and cigar smokers of days gone prowling streets, leaving a stench of tobacco behind!

the best of the restA list of other fantastic independent shops in and around Chester’s bustling city centre.

Think we’ve missed your favourite shop, or are you an independent business owner and want to appear in our magazine? Then please email [email protected]

A favourite of Ronnie Nichols (see pages 16 & 17), The Antiques Shop, nestled on Watergate Street, is another independent business perfectly suited to Chester’s historical backdrop. Tourists, mainly Americains, are found outside marvelling over the eccentric collections of old English knick-knacks.

One of Chester’s most popular shops, Back Alley Music (on Northgate Street), is a music lovers paradise, especially keen guitarists. The shop boasts over 400 guitars, amongst a number of other, smaller instruments (anyone for a ukulele?), all at reasonable prices. Visit www.backalleymusic.co.uk for more information.

With the date for the Royal Wedding set for Friday 29th April, it’s likely we’ll all need a fancy hat smart enough to wear in Westminster Abbey (because we’ll definitely be getting an invite...). The Hat Company on Northgate Street ranges from the expensive, to the cheap, cheerful and chic. The winter months usually produce more suitable head candy, especially if need a woolly hat to keep out the cold!

For the DIY nut in your life, we recommend sending them off to Hoole Hardware store, on Faulkner Street, a mere 10-minute walk from the city centre. The Hardware store is fond of a ‘does what it says on the tin’ policy, and all the items are very reasonably priced. Faulkner Street itself is a bright, vibrant road with a real sense of com-munity spirit. There are numerous cafes, florists, bakers and the odd fashion shop, so we recommend you take a stroll that way if you fancy experiencing something new.


The Indie Shopper’s Guide to what’s hot

Chester Food, Drink & Lifestyle Festival, 23rd – 25th April

Cheshire is renowned for being a rich, dairy country, with delicious ice-creams, cheeses and butters readily produced all year round. So what better way to celebrate Chester’s produce, than to play host to one of the country’s biggest and best food festivals, hosted at the racecourse? Featuring a celebrity chef line-up with live cooking demonstrations, as well as all the county’s best ‘foodie’ shops, restaurants, ice-cream farms and even hotels, proudly displaying their home-made produce; it’s tempting to ditch the diet for one week-end and sample the array of heavenly Cheshire delights.

Chester Mid-Summer Watch Parade, 18th - 19th June

One of Britain’s oldest festivals, the Mid-Summer Watch Parade is a tradition that reflects over 500 years of the Chester’s history, featuring pageants, hobby horses, musicians, guildsmen, fire-eaters, fools, children in costume dressed as angels, goblins and green men. There are also enormous moving floats called the ‘Mounts’ which will move around the city in a live display. If you fancy celebrating something different, and attending a festival steeped in history, this is the event for you. Visit http://midsummerwatch.co.uk for more information.

Spring and Summer: Fun Festivals & Events in Cheshire

2011

Chester Charity Beer Festival 12th, 13th & 14th May

Fancy a boozy weekend, all in the name of charity? With 70 plus ‘real’ ales, ciders and perries, live entertainment, pub games, commemorative glass and programme, the Chester Charity Beer Festival is the drinking event of the year! Tickets have a reputation of selling out fast, so to get yours early, visit www.chesterontheweb.com. The event will also provide food, if you’re feeling peckish; and organisers promise there will be a variety of delicious hot and cold pies and pasties, sausage rolls, pork pies and a selection of freshly prepared sandwiches. Cheers!


The Indie Shopper’s Guide to what’s hot

Chestival, 4th June – 16th July

Launched only last year, Chestival is a festival designed to celebrate ‘all of Chester’s best bits’ and runs for over a month. This year’s key acts and events have yet to be confirmed, but if last year’s entertaining (if slightly random!) mix of romans, rhinos, BMX riders, show jumpers, international and local musicians, actors, town criers and giants, are anything to go by then visitors are guaranteed to enjoy themselves, whilst learning more about the history of Chester. Visit www.chesterfestivals.co.uk for more event information.

Spring and Summer: Fun Festivals & Events in Cheshire

2011

Chester Rocks, 2-3rd July

Chester’s very own brand, spanking new sum-mer music festival, located at the racecourse, has a great line-up featuring The Saturdays, McFly, The Wanted, Eliza Doolittle, and many, many more. To buy tickets, visit www.chester-rocks.com

‘What better way to celebrate Chester’s

produce, than to play host to one of the

country’s biggest and best food festivals?’

Chester Summer Music Festival, 1st – 16th July

In keeping with Chester’s Rocks’ musical theme, the city’s biggest and longest running musical festival begins the same weekend, and features an array of fantastic bands, sing-ers and performers. Musicians who have travelled from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, Norway, Belarus and Russia, will perform at various events and concerts throughout the festival, culminating in a big, British finale on the evening of the last day. For more information about performers and tickets, visit www.chesterfestivals.co.uk


Next issue... Autumn / Winter 2011

Whatever happened to The Twilight Zone?

Rumours of midnight tea parties persist, yet fixed ‘closed’ sign confuses vintage shoppers...

Autumn / Winter Style

Nichols & Co. invite The Indie

Shopper to their in-store fashion show... cue on-

slaught of images!

Images courtesy of www.nicholstyle.co.uk


PLUS! Chester’s Top Ten Bars: We give you the countdown to the city’s coolest watering holes

‘I used to get lost in Chester!’ We help one Liver bird find her way to the city’s top shops.

Fruit and veg: Food, glorious food! A guide to Chester’s best greengrocers, for fresh fruit ‘n’ veg.

For more information, visit www.theindieshopper.co.uk

Image courtesy of becnick.com

NICHOLS & CO.5 Bridge Street Row

Chester

Image courtesy of www.nicholstyle.co.uk

sarah coles

Documents

beautiful city

city centre

walled city

editorthe indie shopper

spring summer chester

indie shopperchester

city management coordinator

indie shopperspring