Multi million pound investment all adds up for Chester - Cheshire

The self-styled home of England’s finest gardens has revealed its ambitions to become the first choice destination for the UK’s leading conference planners and event organisers.

The last eighteen months have seen massive investment in new infrastructure and facilities in Chester-Cheshire, with further expenditure planned over the next year.

On the back of its success in hosting high-profile events such as the Britain in Bloom annual awards and the UNISON disabled members’ conference, Chester-Cheshire is working to boost interest from associations and event organisers by emphasising the area’s compelling choice of rural and urban venues and opportunities.

Chester has attracted multi million pound investment in the last twelve months. Highlights include £27 million to create only the third ‘Doubletree by Hilton’ hotel in the country and an £18 million expansion of the Queen Hotel, making it Chester’s largest hotel with 218 bedrooms following the creation of the “Kings at the Queen”, a superb conversion of an adjacent building into a further 87 super deluxe suites, an executive lounge, bar and restaurant.

The latest £10 million upgrade of The Chester Grosvenor and Spa has delivered state-of-the-art conference facilities, while Nunsmere Hall, renowned as one of the most luxurious country house hotels in the North West, has undergone a £350,000 refurbishment. Meanwhile, the UK’s oldest racecourse has created a ‘one stop’ conference venue with a capacity to host, accommodate, feed and entertain thousands of delegates at a single event.

Overlooking the Racecourse, on the site of the former Cheshire Constabulary headquarters, construction of ABode Chester, an 80 bed boutique hotel is well underway. Due to open in February 2010 and developed by ABode in partnership with Liberty Properties, ABode Chester will also boast a 60 cover restaurant, a Champagne Bar, Café Bar, Boutique and BarMC.

Yet more significant investment has gone towards creating world-class conference opportunities in Cheshire’s stunning rural landscape. Choices range from the purpose-built conference and events centre adjoining Crewe Hall, a breathtaking Jacobean manor house, to the wooded Peckforton Castle, Britain’s only intact medieval style castle.

All this comes on top of additional £multi-millions underpinning the creation of several new hotels and support facilities in and around Cheshire, and a massive upgrade in West Coast rail links between Chester, the Midlands, London and the South coast.

Cheshire’s confidence in the future has been further boosted by record levels of association business for the coming months. Events include: Garden Centre Association international conference and annual conferences for The Royal Society of Chemistry, the Association of British Riding Schools and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.

The latest marketing drive is being spearheaded by the Chester & Cheshire Conference Bureau (CCCB), a division of local tourism board Visit Chester & Cheshire.

Fiona Brown, Account Manager at CCCB, said:

“We recognise the tremendous competition we face from other regions but where we believe we can score with organisers and delegates is with the fantastic choice of venue styles, the quality of our food and drink offer, and a vast range of activities and events that are available for all interests and age groups.”