Chester Real Ale Festival 2013

Nothing brings people together quite like a glass of cold beer in beautiful surroundings Chester Real Ale Festivalwhich is exactly what the organisers of the Chester Real Ale Festival had in mind when they brought together this fine showcase.

Northern ale has no equal as any connoisseur and its exactly that kind of person who have their produce on tap for your enjoyment this October in beautiful Chester. If it’s a light, refreshing taste you’re after than any number of refined lagers will be available for you. Should you fancy a heady, strong tipple then there’s going to be plenty of choice from over 65 delicious drinks at The Guildhall.

The Guildhall is a gorgeous venue that can fit hundreds of people at once and as it used to be an active church, you couldn’t ask for a more idyllic location to hold any event.

Channelling the spirit of a bygone era when it was only rurally brewed ale you could find on tap at pubs, the CAMRA organisation have collaborated to bring together a head mix of all things hops. There are over 50 beers from local vendors available at a selection of pubs across Chester and 15 ciders to also sample, highlighting how varied and quietly successful the selection is.

There’s also plenty of food to enjoy across the venue with some truly delicious local produce to perfectly accompany your drink. Find the perfect partner to that Nine Standards Gold Standard or sip your New Plassey’s Dragon Breath after a hearty meal.

Don’t expect a just lad’s sort of event though as families are welcome with soft drinks available for the young ones throughout. Release that family rivalry with a round of pub games and a prize-laden tombola – who knows what you could win!

With this and much more to get involved with in Chester this month, it looks like this amazing town has a lot going for it still in 2013!

Chester Arts Festival 2013

A rich and cultured city, Chester is known for its beautiful surroundings and the gorgeous chester arts festival 2013art the people who reside there create. With such inspiration everywhere you look, it’s little wonder that last year’s very first Chester Arts Festival was held to celebrate the local and national wonders. This year, it looks to be improving even further with some high-class names in attendance.

Quite possibly the marquee master of the arts is Sir Peter Blake: the genius responsible for The Beatle’s famous Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover. In it, some of the most famous names in the world ranging from Marilyn Monroe to Karl Marx are displayed in a congregation and has gone on to be one of the most iconic art sleeves of all time. Blake’s work is regularly found in the Tate Gallery which serves to show what a powerhouse he is.

Not to be shown up as the biggest name on the roster is Kerry Darlington, a Rhyl born artist whose works are as broad and recognised as anyone’s in the country. So much so in fact that she was awarded  the title of “Best-Selling Published Artist” by respected galleries all over Britain .Further cementing her reputation, Darlington is known as the world’s first resin artist and specialises in texture and acrylics also.

More brilliant displays are expected from the likes of the beloved sculptor Nick Elphick, the man responsible for sculpting the Queen for her jubilee. British talents Antony Gormley and Michael Bennett shore up the bill and with the inclusion of international names such as Patricia Pastore and Ramses Marzouk, the fantastic festival has a worldwide feel to it.

Laura O’Hare, the event director, had this to say: “Chester Art Fair is built on a wide range of corporate and public partnerships and we are looking forward to working with these organisations to grow the event. We are in talks with local education providers and companies to see how they can get involved in Chester Arts Fair 2013.” This is an example of the festival’s importance to the community with charity also playing a part. Several works will be sold to help the Claire House Children’s Hospice and other brilliant foundations which help the young in the art realm.

With this and much more to look forward to, this year’s festival looks to hold a lot of interest to connoisseurs and newcomers alike.

Chester Literature Festival 2013

Chester Literature Festival

There are few festivals that celebrate literature quite like the annual event held in Chester and after the barnstorming success of 2012; it’s no surprise that it’s making its mark again this autumn.

This year, the reputation of the flourishing has attracted some big names and the billing is one not to be sniffed at. The famous names range from every genre imaginable, evidencing the recent lure of the two-week long event.  Possibly the most prestigious name is Derek Jacobi, the legendary Shakespearian actor known for his love of all things literary who will be holding a special evening event talking about his life and career – not be missed. Tim Vine is also on-hand to guide you through his Bumper Book of Silliness whilst Richard Bacon also delights an avid crowd by talking about tweeting his mother amongst other things on Thursday evening.

Chester Literature Festival

Tim Vine

Chester Literature Festival

Celebrity events are not purely the name of game here however with plenty of workshops held by established names in literature for your interest. Brush up on your skills with the likes of Luke Wright, David Lloyd and Ian McMillian & Tony Husband eager to show you their style.

Lunchtime performances take in the spirit of drama which range from the classic to avant-garde. Intimate readings are showcased by the likes of Joy Winkler who is an excitable and determined performer, eager to convey every paragraph and full stop as was intended when she put pen to paper. Another inspirational talk comes in the form of David Lloyd’s self-effacing yarn on his trouble with employment. Stifle a grin as he hilariously guides you through his latest exploits and reads from his book, Seven Streets. Other readings come from the likes of Paul Morley, Patrick Barlow, Fay Weldon, Clive James and many, many more.

The local community also features prominently at this year’s festival with the local university’s lecturers having a chance to talk over the few days. This represents a great chance for anyone interested in further education to sample what their future could hold.

Set aside the middle of October in your diary for a trip to Chester to experience an un-missable occasion from the 13th to 27th.

“Book Reading” by moonpointer 1 and “Untitled” by @paulbailey licenses available here.

Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre

This summer a range a productions will be taking place over the summer months! Some of the country’s finest actors will be performing ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, ‘Cyrano De Bergerac’, and ‘Othello’, three legendary tales that work incredibly out in the open air, with a beautiful and idyllic atmosphere this incredible set of productions have been called the ‘Northern alternative to Shakespeare’s Globe and Regents Part’.

With the beautiful British summer we have been having recently there’s no better time to enjoy this spectacle! (even if it rains, the seating area is covered!)

This is a must for any fans of Shakespeare or theatre in general these productions are an absolute must see, you’ve never seen theatre like this before! Capture the wild nature of the atmosphere during A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Feel the tension as you witness Othello.

The plays themselves are in the right hands! With Olivier award winning Lucy Pitman Wallace helming Cyrano de Belerac while the Artistic director of Three Legged Theatre Company Alex Clifton is taking the reins for both A Midsummer Night’s Dream as well as Othello.

The shows have been put on to great acclaim, and they only take place for a limited time over these summer weeks, so don’t miss out! You won’t have a chance to see it again!
The theatres national reputation has attracted actors from all over to get involved in the great production.

The shows will be running in repertory until the 25th of August, book your tickets now for only £14.50 for a picnic terrace or £45 for VIP tickets!

Not local to the area? why not try and find some accommodation in Chester and make a trip of it?

CarFest North 2013

CarFest NorthOulton Park Race Circuit in Cheshire is set to be the venue for this year’s CarFest North 2013, with the event taking place from 2nd to 4th August.

A former stately home which will be 60 years old in 2013, Oulton Park’s combination of stunning scenery and spectacular racing make it one of the most picturesque and best loved race circuits in the country, for both the drivers and spectators.

This venue brings a plethora of excitement, giving you the experience to enjoy watching some of the world’s greatest cars charging around the race track. There will also be many opportunities to get inside these cars to take a look, as well as enjoy live music, relax in front of the arena and much more fun activities that will ensure you have an amazing time at the festival.

The festival will see cars race around the track, along with a car auction, music, food, family activity, accommodation and much more. For those that make the trip from further afield, Cheshire is known for its wealth of places to stay on short breaks and holidays, so getting yourself checked into a hotel or guesthouse is highly recommended!

The CarFest North 2013 festival will see 3 evenings full of great music, with the liked of Texas, Jamie Cullum, The Feeling and Bellowhead all set to be present showing off their talent.

There are a limited number of Friday 2nd August CarFest North only, as the tickets have been “hotter than hotcakes”. There is camping facilities for those that wish to camp out at the festival, making it perfect for anyone after a weekend away without paying for a hotel room.

What’s on in North Wales this weekend?

Chester Rocks

2013 sees one of Chester Rocks’ hottest line ups to date with stunning acts ‘The Wanted’ performing on the 15th of June with special guests Union J, and Jessie J will be performing on the 16th of June, with special guests Lawson.

These fantastic acts will be performing right on Chester Racecourse, one of the finest and renowned outdoor music venues there is.

Jessie J is taking the music scene by storm and just announced she had a special ‘treat’ lined up to for comic relief. Meanwhile The Wanted have just been awarded the ‘People’s Choice Award’ in the USA.

Chief Executive Richard Thomas announced the line up with “Everyone at the racecourse is really excited to be hosting Chester Rocks again, this is a fantastic event for Chester and the North west to have; The Wanted and Jessie J on two consecutive days is amazing, I have no doubt that demand for tickets will be very high and attract attention from across the UK.”

The event is set to be a massive spectacle of music and fun, you definitely don’t want to miss out on Chester Rocks and see these 4 incredible acts.

If you arent local to the area there’s a variety of accomodation in the area to make full use of

What’s On at the Chester Racecourse this Summer?

chesterracesThe Chester Racecourse is a well recognised arena in the world of horse racing, with it being the oldest racecourse in the United Kingdom – and possibly the world, where the first recorded race took place on February 1539.

The racecourse holds a plethora of events, consisting of horse races, music events, parties and conferences. Known as the ‘Chester Races’, the horse racing is an extremely popular recurring event that sees average attendances of around 23,500. Equipped with fantastic infrastructure, Pavilion facility, Restaurant 1539 and Paddock redevelopment courtesy of a recent £10 million investment, the arena is more than capable of putting on a real show – and a fantastic experience for all those that attend.

As the Summer approaches, Chester Racecourse prepares for an excellent few months packed full of events that you will simply love. These race days are the perfect occasions for special days out, parties, fun days and occasions to dress up, with an unquestionably fun and exciting atmosphere.

Here are the race fixtures this summer at the Chester Racecourse:

Saturday 8th June – Gates Open: 11.30am
Friday 28th June – Ladies Evening – Gates Open: 4.30pm
Saturday 29th June – Gates Open: 11.30am
Friday 12th July – Ladies and Gents Evening Gates Open: 4.30pm
Saturday 13th July – Gates Open: 11.30am
Sunday 4th August – Gates Open: 11.30am
Saturday 17th August – Gates Open: 11.30am
Friday 30th August – ChesterBet Day – Gate Open: 11.30am
Saturday 31st August – Gates Open: 11.30am
Saturday 14th September – Gates Open 11.30am
Saturday 28th September – Chester Finale – Gates Open 11.30am