What's ON - March / April 2017

WHAT’SON 

F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 7 { F R E E } 

{ C H E S T E R C H E S H I R E W A R R I N G T O N N O R T H W A L E S } 

Available online at www.visitchester.com and www.discovercheshire.com 

AR K 

World-class sculpture for everyone 

Taking T 

up residence e at a t Chester Cathedral al 

15 July - 15 October 2017 

T he largest free to enter, 

, contemporary sculpture exhibition to be held in the north west 

of England, it will feature e 80 works by 50 internationally renowned sculptors including 

Damien Hirst, Antony Gormley & Ly 

ynn Chadwick. 

For more details - chestercathedral.com/visit-us/ARK 

cathedral.com/visit-us/A 

SUPPORTED BY 

THOUGHT-PROVOKING & AWE-INSPIRING | EXTRAORDINARY AND EXCEPTIONAL | ACCESSIBLE & INCLUSIVE | EDUCATIONAL 

In This Issue 

Scarecrow Festival • The Cheshire Wedding Fayre 

The Chester Antiques Show • Snowdrop Walks 

Ark at The Cathedral • Lambing Fortnight at the Farm 

Clonter Opera Prize • WayWord 

Mother's Day Vintage Afternoon Tea Cruise 

Nantwich Jazz & Blues Festival

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WhAt’SNeW 

Must-Sees for 

February, March 

& April... 

4th February 

Opera Prize 

www.clonteropera.com 

4th & 5th February 

The Wedding Show 

www.tattonpark.org.uk 

5 

13 

27 

25 

A perfect time to 

explore the region... 

We’re well and truly into 2017 now and there’s no shortage of events and attractions 

to warm body and spirit throughout Cheshire, the North West and North Wales. 

Snowdrops are blooming at Rode Hall, preparations are underway for eventing at 

Kelsall Hill and there are hundreds of expectant ewes ready for lambing at Reaseheath. 

There’s internationally acclaimed art coming to the region, with contemporary 

sculpture at Chester Cathedral and a season of the finest orchestral music from 

the Hallé. 

Bibliophiles will love Gladstone’s Library’s Hearth festival and other literary events, 

while mini bookworms will adore the Wayword kids’ literature festival in Chester. 

Looking further ahead, we’ve got the inside scoop on this year’s Geronimo festival 

and some of the highlights coming to Crewe Lyceum and The Brindley throughout 

the year. 

Look out for the new Ultimate Guide incorporating What’s On in Chester, Cheshire 

and the surrounding areas, launching in May. Produced in collaboration with 

Storyhouse, Chester’s brand new arts centre with theatre, this new, stylish, seasonal 

guide will be published three times per year. Pick up your guide, featuring interviews 

and stories from across the city and county on shopping, dining out, beautiful 

gardens and lots more! 

Don’t miss it! 

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy contained in this guide, Marketing Cheshire cannot accept responsibility in 

respect of any error or omission which may have occurred. 

4th February – 5th March 

Snowdrop Walks 

www.rodehall.co.uk 

9th – 12th February 

Chester Antiques Show 

www.penman-fairs.co.uk 


Scarecrow Festival 



WayWord 

www.storyhouse.com 

23rd February 

Putting the house to bed 


26th March 

ChesterBoat - Mother's Day Vintage 

Afternoon Tea Cruise 

www.chesterboat.co.uk 

2nd April 

The Cheshire Wedding Fayre 

www.thecheshireweddingfayre.co.uk 

8th – 17th April 

Lambing Fortnight at the Farm 



Nantwich Jazz & Blues Festival 

www.nantwichjazz.com 


The Easter Shopping Fair 


29th April – 1st May 

MCE Insurance British Superbike 

Championship 

www.oultonpark.co.uk 

Editorial/Pictures/Advertising: 

Leanne Eaton 

Tel: 01244 405632 

Email: l.eaton@marketingcheshire.co.uk 

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20 – 24 February 2017 

Chester Town Halll 

and 

Cheshire Libraries 

a uthors, illustrators, c 

omedians, 

drummers, dancers, yogis, 

gamers, 

coders, mathematicia ans, builders, 

upcyclers, storytellerss 

and more! 

information and 

booking 

storyhouse.com 

@StoryhouseLive 

P RODUCED BY 

F UNDED BY 

IN PAR 

TNERSHIP WITH 

F ESTIVAL BOOKSELLER

WayWord festival is back 

the Cathedral of 

the Canals 

The Anderton Boat Lift is one of the 

marvels of British canals, and home to a 

free interactive museum exhibition, 

viewing platform and events throughout 

the year. 

Coming up on Sunday 26th March is a 

very special Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea 

in the marquee. 

Then from 14th – 17th April visitors can 

embark on a free Easter Treasure Hunt, 

following in the Easter Bunny’s trail to 

retrieve lots of chocolatey treats. 

Set between the River Weaver and the 

Trent and Mersey Canal, the Anderton 

Boat Lift is sometimes known as ‘the 

cathedral of the canals’. The site now 

combines the working boat lift and 

educational experience, large terraced 

lawns, a play area and cafe. 

Throughout Easter there will also be 

regular boat trips for which there is a 

charge. 

For the boat trip booking is advisable on 

01606 786 777. For more information 

visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk 

Chester’s children’s literature festival, 

created by Storyhouse, is back for 

February half term. 

This year’s WayWord festival, from 20th - 

24th February is the perfect way to beat 

the half-term blues. Chester Town Hall 

and libraries across Cheshire will be jampacked 

with activities and events as top 

authors, illustrators, musicians, scientists, 

dancers and comedians come together 

with the festival’s most interactive line-up 

yet. 

It’s designed to entertain and inspire 

primary-school-aged children with a 

wonderfully diverse series of events and 

workshops. 

Bestselling author and filmmaker Frank 

Cottrell-Boyce wants to tell you all about 

what happened to the first dog in space. 

Children’s literature star Jeremy Strong 

has a lot to say about Romans on the 

Rampage. Celebrated author and 

illustrator Kate Pankhurst will be 

shedding a light on Fantastically Great 

Women who Changed the World. 

Younger WayWord fans are also well 

catered for. They can be the first to meet a 

brand new CBeebies animation from 

writer and illustrator Leigh Hodgkinson, 

or join author Steven Lenton as he 

searches for a lost panda in his book Let’s 

Find Fred. 

Pied Piper Theatre will bring to life wellloved 

kids’ book The Lighthouse Keeper’s 

Lunch. Kids who’d rather be on stage than 

in the audience can get stuck in, creating 

A Play in a Day. 

Maths whiz Katie Steckles will introduce 

you to the amazing world of shapes, while 

Ben Lyttleton explores the world of 

science by talking about football. 

There’ll be a whole day dedicated to 

building dens with professional denbuilder 

Cathy Cross, and even an 

inflatable pop-up story room. 

There’s kid-friendly stand-up comedy 

from Bec Hill and Tiernan Douieb, and 

even a children’s stand-up workshop. 

Music workshops include the chance to 

write your own theme tune, play the 

drums or learn hip hop dance. Plus there’s 

children’s yoga from Janice Wong. 

All this plus free craft activities taking 

place all day in Chester Town Hall and 

throughout the mornings in a host of 

Cheshire libraries - plus free workshops 

including Digital Storytelling and Light 

Box Animation. 

Tickets are £4 (more for some workshops). 

Library activities are free. 

Find out more and book at 


Cheshire Oaks turns 21 

Did you know that Cheshire Oaks is celebrating its 21st birthday this year? It was the UK’s first 

Designer Outlet, and remains the largest in the country, with over 145 stores, boutiques, 

restaurants and cafés. 

Cheshire Oaks is home to a huge range of brands, with savings of up to 60% to be had all year 

round. Get kitted out with athletic brands like Nike and Adidas, and high-street favourites like Marks 

& Spencer, Gap and Next. Or find something special from iconic fashion brands including Burberry, 

Polo, Michael Kors and Hugo Boss. 

Take a well-earned break and enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner in restaurants like Giraffe, Carluccio’s, 

Café Rouge and Wagamama. Or refuel with coffee and snacks from the likes of Starbucks, 

Thorntons and Patisserie Valerie. 

Did you also know that if you’re travelling in a group of 10 or more you can grab even more savings. 

Just book your visit online first and you’ll receive a welcome pack including a 10% discount card for 

all visitors, exclusive discounts at restaurants and cafés and a reserved parking space. 

For more information visit www.mcarthurglen.com/uk/cheshire-oaks-designer-outlet 

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40 friendly knowledgeable dealers, 

offering Furniture, Ceramics, 

Silver, Jewellery, Paintings & 

Watercolouors, Glass, 

Sculpture, Treen, Objets Virtu, 

& Decorative Accessories 

for the Home and Collection 

All Vetted by expert committees, 

labelled with date, price & details. 

Excellent licenced Catering 

Turf Restaurant, ground floor 

1539 Fine Dining, first floor 

Joy’s Bistro Bar, top floor 

The White Horse, centre of the course. 

Free Parking 

subject to availability 

Organised by 


At the Fair: 07961 371 961 

Complimentary Invitation 

9 th - 12 th February 

County Grandstand, 

Chester Racecourse, Chester CH1 2LY 

Thursday ~ Sunday, 10.30am ~ 5pm 

Admit Two on any day, after 2pm, 

with the Compliments of “Welcome to Cheshire” 

To receive Complimentary E-Tickets 

for future Penman Fairs in the North West, 

please write your EMAIL ADDRESS 

IN UPPER CASE, please, for legibility: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

heartwarming 

theatre at the 

Brindley 

Halton’s award-winning theatre The 

Brindley is gearing up for a brilliant 

year. 

The venue continues to attract the best 

of the UK comedy circuit. Manford’s 

Comedy Club is now a firmly established 

event, with acts hand-picked by Jason 

Manford and a few surprise big name 

appearances. Also featured in 2017 are 

household names Lee Nelson and Lee 

Hurst. 

There’s more comedy in the shape of If 

the Show Fits, a play full of sharp 

observation and humour set in a 

Liverpool shoe shop. Local playwright 

Michael Livesley presents the 

quintessential English comedy, Sir Henry 

at Rawlinson’s End, which has garnered 

five star reviews in the national press. 

Game Of Thrones actor Rhodri Miles 

presents his brilliant one-man show 

Burton in March, about the life of great 

Welsh actor Richard Burton. 

Strictly Come Dancing star Pasha 

Kovalev presents his brand new show on 

9th March, accompanied by his fantastic 

dancers. Expect all your favourite 

dances, stunning costumes and fun for 

all the family. 

The whole family is catered for, from The 

Sooty Show on 23rd April through to 

spectacular Irish dance show Rhythm of 

the Dance. 

Mercury Prize-nominated British folk 

pioneers The Unthanks appear on 10th 

May, plus the best of classic rock and 

folk are represented by From the Jam 

and The Manfreds 

Opera buffs and newcomers alike will 

enjoy London Festival Opera’s A Night at 

the Opera on 24th May, featuring the 

English National Opera, Glyndebourne. 

Ballet fans can enjoy Sleeping Beauty 

this February and Alice in Wonderland in 

April. 

For full information and tickets visit 

www.thebrindley.org.uk or call 0151 

907 8360. 

The Hallé celebrates Elgar 

This March, the Hallé and their Music 

Director Sir Mark Elder pay tribute to one 

of Britain’s most famous and best-loved 

composers, Edward Elgar, in a threeconcert 

festival celebrating some of his 

greatest works at the Bridgewater Hall in 

Manchester. 

On Thursday 9th March, the Hallé 

perform a piece that is incredibly 

important in the orchestra’s history – 

Elgar’s Symphony No. 1, which was given 

its world premiere by the orchestra in 

December 1908. 

Saturday 11th March sees the orchestra 

exploring the composer’s legendary 

Enigma Variations in Gerard McBurney’s 

Beyond the Score. Actors will portray 

Elgar and his friends as he plots out the 

different themes of the music, alongside 

accompanying images and film with 

excerpts played by the orchestra. The 

three centuries of antiques 

concert finishes with a full performance 

of the Variations. 

The festival ends on Sunday 12th March 

with a performance of Elgar’s vast choral 

spectacle The Dream of Gerontius. 

Acclaimed soloists Iain Paterson and 

David Butt Phillips join Mezzo Soprano 

Sasha Cooke, the Hallé Choir and the 

Hallé Youth Choir. The orchestra’s 2009 

recording of this piece was awarded Best 

Choral work in the Gramophone 

Magazine awards and this concert should 

prove an unmissable experience. 

Sir Mark Elder will conduct all three 

performances, as well as giving a preconcert 

talk on Thursday 9th March 

about Elgar’s profound and overarching 

influence on the modern landscape of 

classical music. 

For more information and tickets visit 

www.halle.co.uk or call 0161 907 9000. 

Now in its 28th year, the Chester Antiques Show gathers 

three centuries of art and antiques to Chester 

Racecourse. With a wide range of objects on sale, from 

classic Georgian pieces to mid-20th-Century 

Modernism, the show runs from 9th – 12th February. 

With over 40 stalls across three floors of the County 

Grandstand, you’ll find everything from Art Deco 

lighting to ornate Victorian mirrors, from vintage 

cocktail dresses to stunning diamond necklaces, 

and from nineteenth century watercolours to 

exotic French bronze statues. 

All exhibitors are approved by fair organisers Penman 

Fairs for quality and authenticity, and with prices ranging from under £25 to 

over £25,000, there’s plenty of choice, whether you’re a curious first-timer or 

an expert buyer. 

Penman Fairs are well respected for their high-quality antiques fairs, which 

run throughout the country. Trusted by connoisseurs, collectors, interior 

designers and gallery owners, Penman Fairs are renowned for their range and 

quality of exhibitors. 

Tickets are £5. For more information visit www.penman-fairs.co.uk 

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February- April Highlights

Buck, J - Noah 

and the Raven 

ARK at 

the Cathedral 

This year an abundance of world-class 

art is coming to Chester Cathedral. ARK, 

which runs from 15th July – 15th 

October, brings together pieces from 

celebrated artists like Damien Hirst and 

Antony Gormley. It’s an unprecedented 

opportunity to see internationally 

important sculpture right in the centre of 

Chester, and it’s totally free. 

It’s the largest modern sculpture 

exhibition ever to be held in the North 

West, with 80 works from 50 

internationally renowned sculptors. 

The exhibition continues Chester 

Cathedral’s run of attracting top-class art 

to the city, set in the dramatic centuriesold 

cathedral itself. It’s set to be thoughtprovoking 

and awe-inspiring — a 

world-class cultural experience everyone 

can be part of. 

For full information visit 

www.chestercathedral.com 

Top comedy and 

theatre at Crewe 

Lyceum 

2017 sees great entertainment for 

everyone with top comedy, music, 

children’s performances and more at the 

Crewe Lyceum Theatre. 

Kicking the year off with a laugh are 

comedy performances from Chris 

Ramsey, Joel Dommett, Jon Richardson, 

Al Murray and more. 

Family favourites include productions of 

Room on the Broom and We’re Going on 

a Bear Hunt, plus the smash hit Ben and 

Holly’s Little Kingdom and a brand new 

production from David Walliams, The 

First Hippo on the Moon. 

The theatre’s programme is packed full 

of great nights out, including 

entertainment from Jasper Carrott, 

Pasha Kovalev, top tributes like the 

Spirit of Elvis and Thank ABBA for the 

Music. And don’t miss great comedy 

musicals including Menopause: the 

Musical, starring Cheryl Fergison 

and Maureen Nolan. 

For tickets and information about all 

upcoming shows visit 

www.crewelyceum.co.uk 

Eventing at Kelsall Hill 

Kelsall Hill’s next British Eventingaffiliated 

horse trials will run from Friday 

21st – Sunday 23rd April. The event 

combines dressage, show jumping and 

cross country. The event is set in rolling 

Cheshire farmland, surrounded by 

Delamere forest. 

Catering for entrants from the grassroots 

entry level of BE80 right up to Advanced 

Intermediate (AI), Kelsall Hill attracts 

some of the country’s top rider 

combinations. The Advanced 

Intermediate competition runs on 

Saturday with £1000 to the winner. 

The event is presented to look like a 

version of Badminton, with cross country 

courses designed by Olympic goldmedallist 

Captain Mark Phillips and built 

by Olympic course-builder David Evans 

and his team. The flowers that decorate 

the jumps are all done by Mary Kennerly, 

whose previous commissions have 

New arrivals at Reaseheath 

included the London 2012 Olympic 

Games! 

On the Sunday there’ll be an additional 

arena eventing competition for the first 

time, combining show jumping and cross 

country fences in an arena setting on 

grass. 

There’s a great range of equine trade 

stands to peruse and plenty of food 

concessions to fill up at — though you are 

welcome to bring a picnic if you like. 

Then sit back and enjoy the spectacle of 

horsemanship and control in dressage, 

precision in show jumping and courage in 

cross country as riders taken on the 

courses. Particular highlight will be the 

feature fences of the water complex and 

ski jump. 

Entry fee is £10 per car (free for British 

Eventing members). For full information 

and bookings visit www.kelsallhill.co.uk 

Experience the arrival of 1,000 new lambs in early March as Reaseheath 

College opens its lambing sheds to the public. 

The college in Nantwich has around 500 expectant ewes, so there’s sure to be 

plenty of action throughout the month. Visitors can meet the proud parents 

and their newborn lambs across the first two weekends of March, and 

hopefully witness a birth. 

TV screens will show lambing highlights, and experts will be on hand to 

explain the special care and attention the new mums and lambs need, like 

health checks and bottle feeds. 

Reaseheath’s zoo is also open, with tapirs, lemurs, meerkats, reptiles and birds 

of prey on display. Plus there’ll be crafts and activities and educational talks 

from the zookeepers. 

For more than 20 years, lambing at Reaseheath has been a huge community 

crowd-pleaser, attracting thousands of visitors. 

Reaseheath is also gearing up for its annual Family Festival on Sunday 21st 

May, one of the best value days out in Cheshire. 

The event offers hundreds of activities, displays and 

headline acts — from sheep shearing and horse riding 

displays to musical acts and a dog show. Visitors can 

also get stuck in with activities from tree climbing 

and bushcraft to bricklaying and operating a digger. 

For more details or to book tickets visit 

www.reaseheath.ac.uk/lambing or call 

01270 613215. 

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Rode Hall 

Snowdrop Walks 

4th Feb – 5th Mar, Tues – Sun 11 am – 4 pm 

(Closed Mondays) 

www.hackgreen.co.uk 

One of the finest displays of Snowdrops in the 

North West 

• Tearooms serving homemade light lunches & cream teas 

• Renowned farmers’ market Sat 4th Feb and Sat 4th Mar 

• Children’s trail with stunning willow sculptures 

• Candlelight & Snowdrops at All Saints Church, Odd Rode 

• Local Art Exhibition 

Tel: 01270 873237 


A unique and fascinating day out for the family. 

Discover the secret world of underground nuclear 

government. Declassified in 1993, the 35,000 sq ft 

bunker contains authentic equipment in original 

settings to fire the imagination. 

Nantwich, Cheshire. Sat Nav: CW5 8AL 

Info Line: 01270 629219 

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Anderton Boat Lift 

Easter 

treasure hunt 

14th - 17th April 2017 

The Easter Bunny has visited the 

Boat Lift and delivered lots of 

chocolaty treats! Come along and 

join in the fun with our FREE Easter 

Treasure Hunts. 

Find out more at 

canalrivertrust.org.uk/anderton

W W W.V I S I T C H E S T E R .C O M 

Brand new 

restaurant at 

Chester Lakes 

Wild Goose Restaurant is a brand new 

eatery serving up the best of local 

British cuisine and international 

flavours, tucked away in the peaceful 

Cheshire countryside of Dodleston, four 

miles from Chester. 

Offering guests a rural retreat with 

views over the gorgeous Chester Lakes, 

Wild Goose will dish up fresh and 

creative small plates. 

With meat and other fresh ingredients 

sourced straight from local farms and 

producers, the menu begins with the 

best possible seasonal ingredients. 

A well-stocked craft gin and vodka bar 

is accompanied by traditional ales and 

bar snacks, with proper fresh coffee on 

the menu too. 

Wild Goose Restaurant is due to open in 

late February. 

For more information visit 

www.chesterlakes.co.uk 

and keep your eye out for 

www.wildgooserestaurant.co.uk 

West Cheshire’s wealth of museums 

There’s loads to see and do across West 

Cheshire Museums. 

There is still time to catch Cold Places, 

Sue Flood’s photographic exhibition from 

the two poles at Chester’s Grosvenor 

Museum, running until 22nd February. 

Louise Rayner: Victorian Watercolours are 

on display at the Grosvenor Museum until 

17th April, bringing Chester’s picturesque 

streets to life. 

Grosvenor Museum’s 12th Open Art 

Exhibition will run from March to June 

2017, celebrating the best of the region’s 

contemporary art. 

Elsewhere in the county, the awardwinning 

Lion Salt Works in Northwich 

takes a look at the Cheshire Salt Industry 

today in an exhibition which runs until the 

end of March. You can also peruse the 

restored salt works at your own pace or 

join a popular guided tour. 

Open at weekends from April (1pm – 

5pm), Stretton Watermill houses one of 

the country’s best preserved 

demonstration water-powered corn mills, 

as well as a 19th century stable and 

exhibition space, and beautiful grounds 

with a picnic area. 

Weaver Hall Museum & Workhouse 

features photographs and 

photomontages from artist Stephen 

Clarke in an ‘End of the Season’ exhibition 

from March to July, which seeks to 

recapture a child’s-eye-view of Rhyl. 

For more details visit 

www.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk 

Cheshire Wedding Fayre 

After the success of the 2016 event, The Cheshire 

Wedding Fayre is returning on Sunday 2nd April, 

bigger and better than ever. 

Visit Chester’s largest wedding event, ideally located at 

The Cheshire County Sports Club in Chester. Meet more 

than 80 top quality wedding specialists, offering 

everything you need for your perfect wedding day. 

Enjoy free parking, free entry and a complimentary 

glass of fizz (from the prosecco van!), as well as an 

exclusive goody bag on arrival. 

Meander through The Wedding Garden and discover 

your wedding transport, pay a visit to the Inflatable Pub 

and strike a pose in a vintage photo booth. 

In The Tasting Room you can chat to loads of food and 

drink producers and hear the 

top trends for 2017. 

Visit The Wedding Hub to 

enjoy live music performances 

and stunning catwalk shows 

throughout the day. 

Most exhibitors have exciting 

special offers and discounts exclusively 

to brides that attend the fayre. Why not bring 

your entire bridal party and make a day of it? 

Open from 10am – 3pm. 


www.thecheshireweddingfayre.co.uk pre-book for an 

exclusive discount booklet. 

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Geronimo! 

Gladstone’s 

Library 

It’s a busy few months at Gladstone’s 

Library. 

1st February is the first Jelly Day of the 

year. Those who usually work at home 

can bring their laptops and share the 

inspirational surroundings (and the free 

WiFi) with other workers. 

Hearth, the bi-annual micro-festival 

returns from the 4th – 5th February, 

welcoming authors Caroline Brothers 

(The Memory Stones), Julia Forster 

(What a Way to Go), Antonia Honeywell 

(The Ship) and Malachy Tallack (The 

Un-Discovered Islands, 60 Degrees 

North) for a weekend of talks and 

conversation around the fireside. 

On 11th February, join librarian Gary 

Butler to uncover some of the treasures 

of the library collection, or flex your 

creative muscles at a practical poetry 

writing workshop with Ian Parks on 4th 

March. 

A residential course from 31st March – 

2nd April gives you the chance to stay 

in the gorgeous Gladstone’s Library as 

you examine cultural representations of 

sin, sex and salvation from the middle 

ages to the present day. 

On 4th April Writer in Residence Rowan 

Hisayo Buchanan (Harmless Like You) 

will be shining a light on sidekicks in 

literature. Rowan also leads a practical 

writing masterclass exploring how 

animals in fiction can illuminate their 

human companions on 29th April. 

Then, on Saturday 15th April, there’s 

free entry for all at the Easter Craft Fair 

which promises the usual eclectic range 

of high quality arts, crafts and gifts and 

Easter fun for all the family! 

For more information and bookings 

visit www.gladstoneslibrary.org or 

call 01244 532350. 

The ever-popular Geronimo Festival is back for its third year and 2017’s event 

promises a whole weekend full of amazing acts and family activities. 

Taking place from 27th – 29th May, Geronimo will be held in the stunning 

grounds at Arley Hall in Northwich, Cheshire. This year families can turn the 

event into a mini-holiday with camping and glamping options available. 

The ultimate family festival, which has been billed as ‘Glastonbury for Kids!’ by 

the Daily Mirror, will play host to a huge array of TV stars who will take centre 

stage throughout the day. Faves from CBeebies, CBBC and ITV will all be on 

hand to keep their young fans entertained. This year older children will also be 

treated to a Digital Zone where they can meet their favourite YouTubers and 

gamers as well as try their hand at all the latest tech. 

Geronimo guests will also be treated to two full Circuses, a Theatre Tent and a 

Show Ground Arena with lots of displays 

including motorcycles, jousting and fencing. 

For the active kid, there’s so much to cram in 

including mobile climbing walls, cardboard 

harp workshops and a Bear Grylls Assault 

Course. In fact there are literally hundreds of 

activities to enjoy and something for kids of 

all ages (and big kids too!). 

For further information and tickets visit 

www.geronimofest.com 

The Lost Boy - how one boy’s 

story changed a seaside town 

Written by playwright Stephanie Dale, 

writer of the highly acclaimed 2013 

production of the Chester Mystery Plays, 

The Lost Boy is a brand new play with 

music and film that looks at the 

changing face of our communities as 

young people flee war-torn countries. 

The original score has been composed by 

Matt Baker, who recently won an award 

for his outstanding contribution to the 

arts in Cheshire. The play will be 

performed by four professional actors 

with a diverse community choir (to be 

recruited in February.) 

Working in collaboration with a frontline 

charity has been vital in bringing this 

project to fruition. Theatre in the Quarter 

has partnered with City of Sanctuary, a 

national charity that supports people 

who are escaping persecution, torture or 

warfare in their own countries. 

It will run from 21st April - 7th May at St 

Mary’s Creative Space, Chester. 

Tickets are available from 

www.ticketsource.co.uk/creativemarys 

or calling 07854 550549. 

More information can be found by 

visiting Theatre in the Quarter’s 

Facebook page or by visiting 

www.theatreinthequarter.co.uk 

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Joseph Molina Harmonia Mundi 2 

International 

Concert Series 

Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall continues 

its International Concert Series into 2017 

with acclaimed Liverpool-born pianist 

Paul Lewis’s debut recital at the venue. 

Later in February the series welcomes 

The Vienna Tonkünstler Orchestra with 

the ever-popular Emma Johnson playing 

Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A. In March, 

Gidon Kremer brings his orchestra 

Kremerata Baltica to play a programme 

influenced by the seasons, including 

Philip Glass’s second violin concerto, 

known as ‘The American Four Seasons’. 

On the folk music front, don’t miss 

Transatlantic Sessions on 10th February. 

Based on the award-winning TV series, 

this concert brings together today’s 

finest Celtic and Americana musicians for 

the ultimate backporch session. This 

year’s line-up includes Grammy-winning 

country star Jim Lauderdale, as well as 

John Paul White (formerly of The Civil 

Wars), Jerry Douglas, Aly Bain, Dirk 

Powell, Eddi Reader, John Doyle, Danny 

Thompson, Michael McGoldrick, Russ 

Barenberg, John McCusker, Donald Shaw 

and James Mackintosh. 

You can also enjoy a guided tour of the 

fabulous Bridgewater building. 

For more information and tickets visit 

www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk 

Snowdrop walks at Rode hall 

Calling all galanthophiles (that’s 

snowdrop fans to you and me). Don your 

walking shoes and take in one of the 

great spectacles of early spring at Rode 

Hall, on a romantic mile-long route 

through diverse landscapes and 

carpets of delicate white 

flowers. 

With more than 70 

types, including rare 

varieties, the 

snowdrops at Rode 

Hall have been tended 

by six generations of 

the Wilbraham family 

since they were first 

planted in 1833. 

The snowdrop walk takes in 

the Old Wood, Wild Garden, and 

the formal Nesfield garden, as well as 

views of the two acre Walled Kitchen 

Garden and Colonel’s Walk. Shorter or 

longer routes are available. 

Enjoy a post-walk lunch in the Tea Rooms 

by the warmth of the wood burner. Much 

of the delicious home cooked food is 

grown in the nearby Kitchen Garden. And 

don’t forget to take in the florally 

decorated All Saints Church and an 

exhibition of local artists in the barn. 

Green-fingered visitors can pick up Rode 

Hall snowdrops in the shop, 

including many of the rarer 

varieties. The shop also has 

a great supply of spring 

plants, dried flowers 

and Rode’s new range 

of preserves and 

cordials, made with 

organically grown 

produce from the 

Kitchen Garden. 

On Saturday 4th 

February and Saturday 

4th March, Rode Hall 

Farmers Market brings together 

70 top growers and producers from 

Cheshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and 

Lancashire. 

Snowdrop walks run until 5th March, 

every day except Monday, 11am – 4pm. 


www.rodehall.co.uk or call 

01270 873 237. 

Cheshire Residents’ Festival 2017 

To mark English Tourism Week and celebrate all that our lovely county has to offer, 

residents of Cheshire have the opportunity to discover the gems that are right on their 

doorstep — totally FREE for one week only! 

From 25th March – 2nd April several fantastic attractions throughout the county will be 

welcoming Cheshire residents to explore for free, unearthing the hidden history of the 

county and finding their new favourite places. From Cholmondeley Castle to the 

Anderton Boat Lift and Macclesfield Museums, there’s a huge range of venues, exhibitions 

and events on offer. 

And the fantastic festival is a treat for Cheshire residents only! 

Vouchers are limited. Grab yours or find out more at www.discovercheshire.com 

{ 1 3 }

24 

 

8 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s On 

at Reaseheath 

Live Lambing 

Weekends 

March 2017 

Reaseheath Zoo will also be open to the 

public on these dates. 

Reaseheath 

Family Festival 

May 2017 

7 

CRAFT 

FAIR 

SAT 15TH APRIL 

10.30AM - 4PM 

FREE 

ENTRY 

• Beautiful contemporary crafts & gifts 

• Tasty home-cooked food & snacks 

• Bookstall for adults & young people 

• A fun, family day out! 

11 

reaseheath.ac.uk 

enquiries@reaseheath.ac.uk 

Reaseheath College, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 6DF 

www.gladstoneslibrary.org

WhAt’SON {Listings} 


3rd February, 7.30pm 

The Brindley, High Street, Runcorn, 

WA7 1BG. Tel: 0151 907 8360 

www.thebrindley.org.uk 

THE ELVIS YEARS (A) 

An outstanding musical production that 

brings to the stage the incredible and 

compelling story of the ‘King of rock & roll’. 

With a top line up of actors and musicians, 

costume changes and nostalgic film 

footage, the glittering two-hour 

production charts the highs and lows of 

Elvis’ amazing journey. 

Tickets: £22.50, Concs £21.50 

4th February, 7pm 

Clonter Opera, Swettenham Heath, 

Congleton, CW12 2LR. Tel: 01260 224514 

www.clonter.org 

OPERA PRIZE (A) 

Contestants nominated by the UK’s 

leading conservatories, compete for a 

prize of £3,000 before a distinguished 

panel of judges. The audience collectively 

act as one judge. The audience’s vote is 

also revealed, and is accompanied by a 

bottle of champagne. Come and cast your 

vote! 

Tickets: £22, £27, £32, U3A £15, 

Students £10 

4th February, 7.30pm 

Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Heath St, Crewe, 

CW1 2DA. Tel: 01270 368242 


BACK TO BACHARACH (A) 

Back to Bacharach celebrates the magical 

music of Burt Bacharach, one of the most 

accomplished popular composers of the 

20th Century, who together with Hal David 

penned some of the most memorable and 

iconic hits that stand the test of time. 


4th & 5th February 

Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire, 

WA16 6QN. Tel: 01625 374400 


THE WEDDING SHOW (A) 

Celebrating its 15th anniversary and the 

highlight for many will be the fabulous 

catwalk show. With more than 150 local 

wedding suppliers to help and inspire you 

to create your dream day, from 

photographers to venues, bridal boutiques 

to jewellers and caterers to florists, this is 

not to be missed. 

Tickets: £10 Adv, £15 on the day 

4th February – 5th March 

Rode Hall, Church Lane, Scholar Green, 

ST7 3QP. Tel: 01270 873237 


SNOWDROP WALKS (A) 

One of the finest displays of snowdrops in 

the North West. Tearooms are also open 

serving homemade light lunches and 

cream teas. 

Adm: Hall & Gardens: £8 adults, £7 

concessions, Children £1/Under 5's free, 

Gardens Only: £5 adults, Children 

£1/Under 5's free 

5th February, 11am – 3pm 

Arley Hall & Gardens, Arley, Northwich 

CW9 6NA. Tel: 01565 777353 

WEDDING OPEN DAY 

See the hall set as an exclusive wedding 

venue and experience for yourself the 

romantic and welcoming atmosphere 

which the hall offers you and your guests. 

Meet the team who will be happy to help 

with any advice and tips for the perfect 

day and speak to some of our preferred 

suppliers who will be on hand to offer 

suggestions and show examples of their 

work. 

Free 

8th February, 10am – 12pm 


WA16 6QN. Tel: 01625 374400 


WINTER DEER WALK (A) 

Join the Rangers for a guided walk of the 

winter parkland, observing Tatton’s deer in 

their natural surroundings. This event is 

intended for adult visitors (min age 18). 

This event must be pre-booked. 

Tickets: £10pp 

(T) = TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM TOWN HALL VISITOR CENTRE 

(A) = ADVERTISER WITHIN OUR GUIDE...PLEASE SUPPORT (IT’S HOW WE ARE ABLE TO KEEP THIS GUIDE FREE!) 

{ 1 5 }

24 

10 

9 9

WhAt’SON {Listings} 


9th – 12th February, 

10.30am – 5pm 

County Grandstand, Chester Racecourse, 

Chester, CH1 2LY. 


CHESTER ANTIQUES SHOW (A) 

Art and antique dealers from across the country 

will be gathering for the winter edition of this everpopular 

show that aims to offer a wide range of 

high quality, authenticated antiques and works of 

art from the past three hundred years. 

Tickets: £5 

* 

EDITOR’S 

CHOICE 



CW1 2DA. Tel: 01270 368242 


THE OPERA BOYS (A) 

Leading men from London’s West End 

combine in a powerhouse of vocal 

harmony to deliver a stunning blend of 

music ranging from Opera to Pop, and 

everything in between. 

Tickets: £22 



WA7 1BG. Tel: 0151 907 8360 


BLACK MAGIC – THE LITTE 

MIX SHOW (A) 

A highly energetic tribute show that 

follows in the footsteps of the award 

winning girl band, Little Mix. This Iconic 

show has live vocals and full out dance 

choreography. 

Tickets: £15, Concs £13 



CW1 2DA. Tel: 01270 368242 


BLACK MAGIC - THE 

LITTLE MIX SHOW (A) 

A tribute show following the awardwinning 

girl band, Little Mix. Suitable for 

kids, tweens, teens and adults alike, this 

show brings the full pop concert 

experience to you. 

Tickets: Adults £15, Children £12, 

Family of Four £48 

18th & 19th February, 7pm 

& Sun matinee 2pm 


WA7 1BG. Tel: 0151 907 8360 


SCROOGE! (A) 

Winners of the Tony Bamber Award – Ella, 

are back with their brand new production, 

the classic tale of Scrooge. Prepare to be 

wowed by this wonderful company. This 

amateur production of Scrooge is 

presented by special arrangement with 

Samuel French. 

Tickets: £13 



{ 1 7 }

CheShIRe 

ReSIDeNtS’ 

FeStIvAL 

2017 

25th March - 2nd april 

For one week only, enjoy FREE and discounted 

entry to over 20 attractions across Cheshire! 

Be a tourist for a day and discover what's on your 

doorstep. explore the beautiful gardens at 

Cholmondeley Castle and take a trip back in 

time at the Silk Museum. 

Tickets are limited, find out more at 

discovercheshire.com


18th – 26th February, 

normal opening times 


WA16 6QN. Tel: 01625 374400 


SCARECROW FESTIVAL (A) 

Over 30 scarecrows will be resident in the 

Gardens. Find the farmyard scarecrows 

and have a go at making your own. Closed 

Monday. 

Tickets: Normal admission applies; 

carpark entry charge £6 


Chester Town Hall and libraries across 

Cheshire 


WAYWORD (A) 

Fun filled activities and events as authors, 

illustrators, musicians, scientists, coders 

and stand-up comedians come together 

to make up the festival’s most interactive 

line-up ever. Aimed at primary school 

children seeking to beat boredom during 

the week’s school holiday, WayWord 

consists of a wonderfully diverse set of 

events and workshops featuring a host of 

talent. 

21st & 22nd February, 

9.30am – 10.30am 


WA16 6QN. Tel: 01625 374400 


DEER FEED AND TRAILER 

RIDE (A) 

Take a trailer ride with the Rangers to 

watch the daily deer feed. Get a close look 

at hundreds of deer feeding in their 

beautiful natural setting. Adults and 

children (min age 4) welcome. This event 

must be pre-booked. 


22nd – 26th February, Wed 

& Thurs 11am & 2.30pm, Fri 

& Sat 2.30pm & 7pm 

Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, 

Chester, CH1 2BH. Tel: 01244 341296 

THE BOY WHO FELL INTO 

A BOOK 

This is a fantasy adventure, served up with 

Alan Ayckbourn magic and lashings of 

imagination. A wonderfully inventive play 

by Britain’s most popular and most 

frequently performed dramatist which 

emphasises the value of reading, and the 

power of the imagination to transport the 

reader to other worlds. 

Tickets: £11, Concs £9, Family £36 

23rd February, 

10.30am – 11.30am 


WA16 6QN. Tel: 01625 374400 


PUTTING THE HOUSE 

TO BED (A) 

As well as learning about the house and 

the history of the Egerton family who 

owned it, you will see the mansion 

assistants using their special skills to 

conservation clean different items from 

the collection, and explaining how they 

keep a house of this size dust and bug 

free. 



Clonter Opera, Swettenham Heath, 

Congleton, CW12 2LR. Tel: 01260 224514 

www.clonter.org 

WILDE WITHOUT THE BOY 

(A) 

Olivier Award Nominee and winner of The 

Stage Newspaper’s Award for “Best solo 

show of the 2011 Edinburgh Festival”, this 

one man show is a dramatic interpretation 

of “De Profundis”, The letter Wilde wrote to 

his lover, Lord Alfred Douglas, from his cell 

in Reading gaol. The timing of this show 

coincides with LGBT month 

Tickets: £12, £10 Students 

1st March, 7.30pm 

St Mary's Creative Space, St Mary's Hill, 

Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2DW. 

Tel: 0333 666 3366 

ABBEY GATE COLLEGE 

CHOIR AND MUSICIANS 

Returning to the Music Society Club by 

popular demand the Abbey Gate College 

Choir and Musicians promise an exciting 

evening of music. Stuart Smith – 

conductor. 

Tickets: £5 at the door 

4th March, 7.30pm 

Chester Cathedral, St Werburgh Street, 

Chester, CH1 2DY. Tel: 01244 500959 


CHESTER PHILHARMONIC 

PRESENTS 

‘SHOSTAKOVICH’S 

ANSWER TO STALIN’ (A) 

The second Cathedral Concert in the “High 

Fives” Season sees a performance of the 

dark brooding Fifth Symphony of 

Shostakovich. 

Tickets: £16, £12, £9, School Children & 

Students £5 



{ 1 9 }

The Bridgewater Hall 

International Concert Series 16|17 

12 

Paul Lewis piano 

Sunday 12 February 7.30pm 

Bach Partita No.1 in B-flat BWV825 

Beethoven Piano Sonata No.4 in E-flat Op.7 

Chopin Three Waltzes: A minor Op.34 No.2, F minor Op.70 No.2, 

A-flat Op.42 

Weber Piano Sonata No.2 in A-flat J199 

The Vienna Tonkünstler Orchestra 

Yutaka Sado conductor | Emma Johnson clarinet 

Friday 24 February 7.30pm 

Schubert Symphony No.8 in B minor ‘Unfinished’ 

Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A 

Brahms Symphony No.1 in C minor 

Kremerata Baltica 

Gidon Kremer violin 

Friday 24 March 7.30pm 

Pärt Passacaglia for violin and strings 

Philip Glass Violin Concerto No.2 

‘The American Four Seasons’ 

Raskatov The Seasons’ Digest 

Piazzolla (arr. Desyatnikov) Four Seasons 

of Buenos Aires Box Office: 0161 907 9000 

www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk 

17


5th March, 2.30pm & 

4.30pm 


CW1 2DA. Tel: 01270 368242 


FIRST HIPPO ON THE 

MOON (A) 

From the number one bestselling 

Children’s author David Walliams comes an 

explosively funny space adventure for 

children of 3 and up. Two big hippos. One 

ENORMOUS dream. Who can make it to 

the moon first? Age recommendation 3+ 

Tickets: From £14.50 


St Mary's Creative Space, St Mary's Hill, 

Chester, CH1 2DW. 

Tel: 0333 666 3366 

CHESTER MUSIC SOCIETY 

- ESCHER STRING 

QUARTET 

Escher string Quartet, Adam Barnett-Hart 

violin, Aaron Boyd violin, Pierre LaPointe 

viola, Brook Speltz cello, Borodin String 

Quartet No 2 in D major, Shostakovich 

Quartet No 9 in E flat and Tchaikovsky 

Quartet No 1 in D major. 

Tickets: £15 at the door 



CW1 2DA. Tel: 01270 368242 


CHRIS RAMSEY (A) 

A brand new stand up show from the 

comedian you’ve seen on The Royal 

Variety Performance, Celebrity Juice, 

Hebburn, Live At The Apollo and various 

newspapers when he was wrongly 

arrested in a hotel in his underpants. 

Tickets: £24 

11th – 25th March, 7.30pm, 

Sat 4.30pm & 8pm, Sun 

2.30pm 

Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, 

Chester, CH1 2BH. Tel: 01244 341296 

BOUNCERS 

By John Godber. Bursting with 

imagination and wit and presented by just 

four actors, Bouncers is an outrageous and 

hilarious parody of the disco scene. The 

four brutish bouncers of the title portray 

over twenty different characters as we are 

invited for a night out on the town. 

Tickets: £11, £7, Concs £11, £9, £7 



WA7 1BG. Tel: 0151 907 8360 


THE SINGULAR EXPLOITS 

OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (A) 

Acclaimed actor Jonathan Goodwin stars 

as the Baker Street sleuth. The show 

features the great detective recounting 

highlights of his crime-busting career. 




WA7 1BG. Tel: 0151 907 8360 


JEAN GENIE - THE BEST 

OF DAVID BOWIE (A) 

Tickets: £19 


Oulton Park, Little Budworth, Tarporley, 

CW6 9BW. Tel: 01829 760301 

BARC CLUB CAR 

CHAMPIONSHIPS 

Tickets: Adults £10 online, £15 on the 

gate, discounted Concs on the day, 

U13s free 

19th March, 12pm - 5pm 

(last entry 4pm) 


WA16 6QN. Tel: 01625 374400 


ADOPT A FARM ANIMAL 

DAY (A) 

Come to the Farm and meet the rare breed 

animals which are up for adoption. Choose 

from Prancer the Reindeer, Blossom the 

Clydesdale Horse, Tamzin the Tamworth 

Pig and Frosty the Donkey. 

Tickets: Normal farm adm charges apply; 

cark park charge & mini-bus entry £6 

22nd March, 7.30pm 


CW1 2DA. Tel: 01270 368242 


THE SYD LAWRENCE 

ORCHESTRA (A) 

Golden Night of Swing - 50th Anniversary 

Tour. Come and join this wonderful 

Orchestra to celebrate 50 glorious years of 

swing! 

Tickets: £24.50 



{ 2 1 }

ha 

0 8 

n 

15 

ENTERTAINMENT TAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS 

THIS SPRING AT CREWE LYCEUM... 

FEBRUARY... 

FRI 3 FEBRUARY 

SUN 12 FEBRUARY 

MON 13 FEBRUARY 

The opera boys 

Pitmen Poets 

FRI 17 FEBRUARY 

MARCH... 

Illustrations © Tony Ross, 2014. 

Author’s name branding 

SUN 5 MARCH © Quentin Blake, 2010 

APRIL... 

MON 6 MARCH 

MICHAEL PORTILLO 

TUE 28 MARCH 

JON RICHARDSON 

FRI 31 MARCH 

 

“Magic 

for small 

children” 

” 

Whatsonstage.com 

ta om 

Live on stage! 

© The Elf 

Factory Ltd/Entertainment One UK 

Ltd 2008. 

SAT 1 APRIL 

Pasha Kovalev TUE 4 – WED 5 APRIL MON 24 – TUE 25 APRIL SAT 29 APRIL 

MON 27 FEBRUARY & TUE 21 MARCH 

Ghost t Hunts at 

Crewe Lyceum 

Explore the historic Crewe Lyceum in after hours ghost hunt nights! 

Book online for these shows and many more at 

crewelyceum.co.uk 

co.uk

WhAt’SON 



Chester Cathedral, Chester, CH1 2HU. 

Tel: 01244 500959 


MUSIC OF VAUGHAN 

WILLIAMS (A) 

Chester Music Society Choir present a 

performance of music by Vaughan 

Williams including The Garden of 

Proserpine and Dona Nobis Pacem with 

soloists Alison Pearce and James Cleverton 

and Liverpool Sinfonia conducted by 

Graham Jordan Ellis. 

Tickets: £7, £14 & £20 from the cathedral 

ticket desk or on the above number 



CW6 9BW. Tel: 01829 760301 

BRSCC CLUB CAR 

CHAMPIONSHIPS 

Tickets: Adults £10 online, £15 on the 

gate, discounted Concs on the day, 

U13s free 

26th March, 12pm & 3pm 

ChesterBoat, Souters Lane, The Groves, 

Chester, CH1 1SD. 

Tel: 01244 325394 

CHESTERBOAT - 

MOTHER'S DAY VINTAGE 

AFTERNOON TEA CRUISE 

Each Mum in your party will receive a box 

of chocolates to either take home or to 

share if you still have room after your 

delicious afternoon tea. 

Tickets: Adult online £25, Booked via 

office £27.50, Children (5-15 yrs old) 

Online £12.50, Children via office £13.50 

31st March, 7.30pm 


CW1 2DA. Tel: 01270 368242 


MENOPAUSE THE 

MUSICAL (A) 

This hysterical show packed full of oneliners 

about night sweats, hot flushes and 

memory loss is backed by an instantly 

recognisable soundtrack of innuendoladen 

versions of 60s, 70s and 80s pop 

classics. 


1st April, 7.30pm 


CW1 2DA. Tel: 01270 368242 


PASHA KOVALEV - LETS 

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY 

(A) 

Pasha Kovalev from Strictly Come Dancing 

and his fantastic dancers are back again 

touring the UK with their completely 

Brand New Show. Expect all your favourite 

dances, stunning costumes, great music, 

chat and fun for all the family. 


2nd April, 10am – 4pm 

Cheshire County Sports Club, Plas Newton 

Lane, Chester, CH2 1PR. Tel: 07860 256174 

www.thecheshireweddingfayre.co.uk 

THE CHESHIRE 

WEDDING FAYRE (A) 

Meet over 70 of the most luxury and 

unique wedding specialists, enjoy a 

complimentary glass of fizz and make a 

day of it. With free entry for you and your 

bridal party this is certainly an event you 

don’t want to miss. Many of the exhibitors 

have special offers exclusively for brides 

that attend the fayre. 

Free adm 



{ 2 3 }

18 

BOOK YOUR TICKETS ON 

VISITCHESTER.COM 

Get the best prices available when you book online and in advance to some of 

Chester & Cheshire's top attractions. 

HERE ARE SOME OF OUR TOp pICKS: 

CHESTER ZOO 

visit Chester Zoo and it's 20,000 wild 

and wonderful animals from 500 exotic 

and endangered species. Best prices 

when you book online in advance. 

CHESHIRE ICE CREAM FARM 

Lots of fun to be had at this family 

friendly attraction with more than 40 

flavours of ice-cream, kids' play areas, 

farm animals and quad bikes. 

COTEBROOK SHIRE HORSE CENTRE 

Cotebrook Shire horse Centre is set in 

50 acres in the heart of the beautiful 

Cheshire countryside, and offers 

everything for the perfect day out.



4th & 5th April, Tues 2pm & 

7pm, Wed 2pm 


WA7 1BG. Tel: 0151 907 8360 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 

(A) 

An Easter pantomime spectacular 

presented by Anton Benson Productions 

starring Keith Chegwin and Basil Brush. 


4th & 5th April, Tues 1pm & 

4.30pm, Wed 10am & 1pm 


CW1 2DA. Tel: 01270 368242 


BEN & HOLLY’S LITTLE 

KINGDOM (A) 

Join Ben and Holly, and their friends on 

this exciting, enchanting and magical 

musical adventure packed full of games, 

songs and laughter. 

Tickets: £12 - £21.50 

6th April, 10.30am – 

12.30pm 


WA16 6QN. Tel: 01625 374400 


HERE COMES THE 

VIKINGS (A) 

Come along to Tatton Old Hall to meet 

Viking explorers and experience life in 

their settlement. Recommended for 

children aged 7-11 years old. 


8th – 17th April, 12pm - 5pm 

(last entry 4pm) 


WA16 6QN. Tel: 01625 374400 


LAMBING FORTNIGHT AT 

THE FARM (A) 

Will you be lucky enough to see our lambs 

being born? This year we have 

synchronised our ewes to lamb within a 

10-day period. Regular meet the sheep 

talks and sheepy quiz. 

Normal admission charges apply, car 

park & mini-bus entry £6 


12.30pm 


WA16 6QN. Tel: 01625 374400 


THE COURT OF HENRY VIII 

(A) 

Step back in time to experience what life 

was like in King Henry’s court. Hear tales of 

intrigue and learn to joust with Henry 

himself. Recommended for children aged 

7 - 11 years old. 

Tickets: £12pp + Car Park Entry 


12.30pm 


WA16 6QN. Tel: 01625 374400 


CREATIVE CRAFTS WITH 

WOOL & NATURAL 

MATERIALS (A) 

Come along and be creative with wool and 

other natural materials. A fantastic family 

activity, recommended for children aged 7 

and above. Try your hand at traditional 

crafts such as simple weaving and 

braiding. 

Tickets: £12pp + Car Park Entry 



{ 2 5 }

14





WA16 6QN. Tel: 01625 374400 


THE EASTER SHOPPING FAIR 

(A) 

Free admission to the Mansion's Tenants Hall 

packed with gifts for everyone, specialist food 

producers plus craft, fashion and home 

furnishings. 

Tickets: Free entry to Gift Fair in Tenants Hall; 

car & mini-bus entry charge £6 

* 

EDITOR’S 

CHOICE 

19th April, 7pm 


WA7 1BG. Tel: 0151 907 8360 


ALICE IN WONDERLAND - 

BALLET (A) 

Basing his ballet on Lewis Carroll’s muchloved 

children’s books, Ballet Theatre UK’s 

Artistic Director Christopher Moore has 

created a captivating piece, brimming 

with wit, humour and charm. Delightful 

entertainment for all ages. 



Various venues across Nantwich 

NANTWICH JAZZ & BLUES 

FESTIVAL 

Now in its 21st year, the line-up this year is 

stronger than ever. 2017 sees the return of 

some old favourites including Geno 

Washington & The Ram Jam Band opening 

the festival on the Thursday 

complemented by Sean Chapman the 

Northern Soul, Ska and Mod DJ. For more 

info visit: www.nantwichjazz.com 



Cheshire, CW6 9BW. Tel: 0843 453 9000 

EASTER BRITISH GT AND 

F3 CHAMPIONSHIPS 

The British GT Championship is one of the 

UK's most spectacular racing series, with 

powerful supercars battling for supremacy. 

Tickets: Weekend £24, Teen Weekend £15, 

U13s Free, Monday only £19, Teen £12, 

U13s free 



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CHEYNEY RD 

GARDEN LN 

BOUVERIE ST 

D 

WALPOLE 

BROOK LN 

Advertisers’ Location Maps 

ST 

CHICHESTER ST 

VICTORIA 

CRES 

VICTORIA RD 

NORTHGATE AVE 

Northgate 

Arena 

INNER RING RD 

ST A NNE’S ST 

BROOK ST 

FRANCIS ST 

STATION RD 

HOOLE RD 

FAULKNER ST 

LIGHTFOOT ST 

STONE PL 

MINSTER RD 

WHIPCORD LN 

SOUTH VIEW RD 

SEALAND RD 

10% 

SELKIRK DR 

CANAL 

Off all 

merchandise 

(exc tickets) at 

Chester VIC 

4 

RAYMOND ST 

CITY WALLS RD 

HOWE RD 

GREEN 

CANAL ST 

INNER RING RD 

NUN’S RD 

KING ST 

GREYFRIARS 

NORTHGATE ST 

Bus Station 

Town3 

Hall 

Market 

NICHOLAS ST 

BLACKFRIARS 

GROSVENO R RD 

COMMONHALL ST 

CUPPIN ST 

Little Roodee 

Coach/Car Park 

Rufus 

Court 

Chester 

Cathedral 

PIERPOINT LN 

BROWNS LN 

GODSTALL LN 

GROSVENOR ST 

OVERLEIGH RD 

Grosvenor 

Shopping 

Centre 

CASTLE ST 

THE CASTLE 

EASTGATE ST 

WATERGATE ST FOREGATE ST 

CASTL E D R 

GORSE STACKS 

BRIDGE ST 

18 

I VE 

18 

HUGH ST 

PEPPER ST 

LOWER B RIDGE ST 

18 

DUKE ST 

SHROPSHIRE UNION CANAL 

F RO DSHAM ST 

ST JOHN ST 

S O UTERS LN 

HANDBRI D G E 

Roman 

Amphitheatre 

THE GRO VES 

ST OSWALD’S WAY 

EATON RD 

L N 

VI C A R S 

LOVE ST 

FOREST ST 

UNION ST 

Grosvenor 

Park 

SUSPENSION 

BRIDGE 

QUEEN’S PARK RD 

QUEEN’S PARK VIEW HARTINGTON 

CITY RD 

THE GROVES 

MEADOWS LN 

QUEEN’S ST 

VIC TO R 

Key 

I A 

APPLEYARDS LN 

DEE LN 

S CRESCENT RD 

CRES 

BEESTON VIEW 

LWR PARK RD 

PARK & RIDE 

COACH PARK 

PARKING 

TAXI RANK 

BOUGHTON 

ELIZABETH CRES 

QUEEN’S DR 

EDINBURGH WAY 

ST GEO R G E S CRES 

E S 

SHOPMOBILITY 

CRES 

ANDRE W S CRES 

MEADOWS LN 

PEDESTRIAN AREA 

RESTRICTED ACCESS 

TOWN HALL OFFICIAL 

VISITOR INFO CENTRE 

CRES 

BOTTOMS LN 

CHR 

12 

21 

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6 1 

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8 

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13 

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37


19th & 20th April, 7.30pm 


CW1 2DA. Tel: 01270 368242 


JASPER CARROTT’S 

STAND UP AND ROCK (A) 

Jasper Carrott’s Stand up and Rock does 

what it says on the tin….Jasper is back to 

his very best….mic in hand regaling the 

audience with his inimitable stand up 

routines before introducing his musical 

compatriots that have been ‘rockin’ 

audiences all over the world. 


21st April - 7th May 

St Mary’s Creative Space, Chester. 

Tel: 07854 550549 

THE LOST BOY 

Theatre in the Quarter's, 'The Lost Boy' is a 

brand new play with music and film. 

Written by playwright Stephanie Dale, 

writer of the highly acclaimed 2013 

production of the Chester Mystery Plays, 

The Lost Boy is a brand new play with 

music and film that looks at the changing 

face of our communities as young people 

flee war-torn countries. 

Tickets are available from 

www.ticketsource.co.uk/creativemarys 

or by calling 07854 550549. 

23rd April, 10am – 4pm 

Arley Hall & Gardens, Arley, Northwich 

CW9 6NA. Tel: 01565 777353 

SPRING PLANT FAIR 

Enjoy a day out browsing the specialist 

plant nurseries selling unusual plants, 

shrubs and spring flowering bulbs and 

gather great ideas for your garden for the 

coming seasons. 

Tickets: Adults £1.50 (redeemable 

against entry to the gardens), Children & 

parking are free 

29th April, 7.30pm 

Chester Cathedral, St Werburgh Street, 

Chester, CH1 2DY. Tel: 01244 500959 


CHESTER PHILHARMONIC 

PRESENTS ‘CELEBRATING 

100 YEARS OF FINNISH 

INDEPENDENCE’ (A) 

To honour this event the orchestra has 

chosen to perform an all Sibelius 

programme. The conductor, Italian Marco 

Bellasi and soloist from the Netherlands 

Olivia Doflein (formerly Scheepers), reflect 

the international emphasis of this event. 

Tickets: £16, £12, £9, School children & 

Students £5 

29th April – 1st May 


Cheshire, CW6 9BW. Tel: 0843 453 9000 

MCE INSURANCE BRITISH 

SUPERBIKE 

CHAMPIONSHIP 

With mouth-watering motorcycles from 

Ducati, Yamaha, Kawasaki, BMW, Suzuki, 

and more, this really is the country's best 

show on two wheels! 

Tickets: Weekend £35, Teens £20, U13s 

free, Mon only £27, Teens £16, U13s free 

Themed Cruises 

ChesterBoat, Souters Lane, The Groves, 

Chester, CH1 1SD. Tel: 01244 325394 

4th February: Hits of the 90’s 

11th February: 60’s, 70’s & 80’s Rewind 

18th February: Mamma Mia Cruise 

25th February: 60’s, 70’s & 80’s Rewind 

4th March: Hits of the 90’s 

11th March: 60’s, 70’s & 80’s Rewind 

18th March: Mamma Mia Cruise 

1st April: 60’s, 70’s & 80’s Rewind 

8th April: Motown 

15th April: Hits of the 90’s 

22nd April: Mamma Mia Cruise 

29th April: 60’s, 70’s & 80’s Rewind 

Tickets: £31.50 (online bookings), £33.50 

(booked via the office/over the phone) 

“A Vision of Beauty 

and Tranquillity” 

Ness Gardens Reviewed by Phil S 

Plan your perfect 

Cheshire trip 


(A) = ADVERTISER WITHIN OUR GUIDE...PLEASE SUPPORT (IT’S HOW 

WE ARE ABLE TO KEEP THIS GUIDE FREE!) 

{ 2 9 }

Cheshire 

hir e 

Ice Cream 

Sold 

Storyhouse tickets for 

f 

Beggars Opera starting on the 11th May, 

Alice in Wonderland, Julius Caesar 

and Midsummer Nights 

dream are available le for sale over the counter at The Visitor 

Information Centre. 

Why not spend the day at Chester Zoo - be sure to get your 

discounted tickets at the counter in the Visitor Information Centre e - 

we offer great savings on the gate price. 

We also sell discounted tickets for the Blue Planet Aquarium. 

Tickets are on sale for Jones Coach Holiday day trips, pick up their 

latest day trips programme from the Visitor Information Centre. 

We have a great range of Chester souvenirs sourced from 

local suppliers. 

We are the National Express Coaches 

booking agent in Chester er so 

come in to see us and book tickets. 

Get the most from your visit by going on a guided walking 

tour of Chester. 

Tours operate e daily at 10:30. 

Meet a real Roman Soldier on the Roman Soldier 

walking tours 

which run every day at 12:00 and 15:00. 

Be spooked on one of the t 

Chester Ghost Tours 

departing 

www.ghostcity.co.uk for details or to book. 

Tickets also on sale in the Visitor Information Centre, Town Hall, 

Northgate Street, Mon - Fri 9.30am-4.30pm, .30pm, Sat 9am-5pm, 

Sun 10am-4pm 

visitchester.com 

com

2 

Dream Bigger 

Update your wardrobe with must-have 

spring fashion for up to 60% less 

Dream bigger this spring, and discover 

the season’s key designer looks for less 

at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet. 

Just 15 minutes away from Chester 

 

at outlet prices, all year round. 

But that’s not all – as well as fashion’s 

biggest brands, we’re home to tempting 

restaurants and adventure playgrounds 

for kids, making us the perfect 

destination for a stylish day’s shopping. 

New Brands 

Three exciting new designer 

brands have just arrived. 

Discover Paul Smith, 

The Kooples and Coach Men 

next time you visit. 

Furla 

RRP £214 Outlet £139 

Spring Collections 

The new season’s in full 

bloom at Cheshire Oaks. 

Discover fresh new 

collections in stores now. 

Reiss 


Getting Here 

Find us just 

15 minutes away 

from Chester, 

off junction 10 

of the M53. 

Ted Baker 


See the spring looks from 

our brands online. 

#FashionReimagined 

cheshireoaksdesigneroutlet.com

OPENING 

OPENING 

G 

LATE FEB 

LAT TE FEB FEB 

13 

Wild Goose Restaurant is set in 100 acres of beautiful parkland and lakes on 

the fringe of Chester, serving locally sourced seasonal food in a relaxed and 

welcoming atmosphere. 

Our bar has a selection of Cheshire ales and more familiar beers while our wine 

selection brings together quality wines from small independent vineyards. 

We are open all day, serving freshly ground coffee and sumptuous pastries for 

breakfast and our lunch/dinner menu runs from midday to 9pm (sorry we’re 

closed on Mondays, everyone needs a day off!) 

We look forward to welcoming you. 

The Wild Goose Team 

Wild Goose Restaurant, Chester Lakes, Church Rd, Dodleston, CH4 9LQ 

email info@wildgooserestaurant.co.uk 

www.wildgooserestaurant.co.uk 

Like our page 

wildgooserestaurant

What's ON - March / April 2017

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