An Award Winning Break - Chester and Tarporley

Treat yourself to an award winning break in Chester and explore nearby Tarporley this summer! Chester is a city full of high quality, award winning places to stay and visit and we've put together some ideas for the perfect break away.

Where to stay
 

The Swan at Tarporley (Small Serviced Accommodation Highly Commended)

The 16th century Swan is situated in the pretty village of Tarporley, just a 25 minute drive from Chester. Not only is the Swan award winning but Tarporley itself is a regular winner of the Best Kept Village award. The Swan has been welcoming guests through its doors for over 400 years, and was once a convenient resting place for those travelling the 200 miles from London to Chester. Today, the comfortable rooms and welcoming bar and dining areas mean that The Swan continues to be a haven for visitors from far and wide. Find out more about the Swan here.

Hollies Lodges

The Hollies Forest Log Cabins offer luxurious self-catering holiday accommodation in the heart of Cheshire. Set in a pine forest in the Cheshire countryside, the forest lodges are the perfect accommodation for that special family holiday, romantic getaway, or catch up with friends. Every Luxury Forest Lodge has a hot tub, so you can gaze up at the stars surrounded by trees. Find out more about Hollies Forest Log Cabins here.

Carden Park (Large Hotel of the Year Winner)

Carden Park is a 1000 acre estate situated in stunning Cheshire countryside just a 27 minute drive from Chester. With its world class luxury spa, championship golf course, fantastic dining, luxurious rooms and a range of onsite activities to enjoy, it's the perfect place for a getaway. Find out more about Carden Park Hotel.

Where to visit
 

Chester Zoo (Best Marketing Project Award Winner)

A visit to Chester is not complete without a trip to our famous zoo, home to over 27,000 endangered and unusual animals. With over 500 different animal species in 128 acres of award-winning gardens, you’re sure to have great day out full of adventure. Throughout the summer you can enjoy a visit to the zoo after hours for just £10 a ticket, watch your favourite movies in the open air surrounded by your favourite animals or sink your teeth into an amazing new ‘out of water’ shark experience. Find out more about Chester Zoo here. 

Tours Around Chester (Experience of the Year Award Winner)

Here is a new way to discover Chester, with an award winning food tour, providing you with the ultimate, off the beaten track, food and cultural experience. This guided walking tours offers a relaxed unique and memorable food tasting experience through historic Chester. So if you love food and you love Chester this might be a new one to try! Find out more about Chester Food Tours here.

Hollies Farm Shop (Taste of Cheshire Award Winner)

The Hollies Farm Shop is a family run business on the outskirts of Chester, proudly owned by the Cowap family and located in Cheshire’s glorious countryside. They love good food, and are dedicated to showcasing the very finest produce that the local area has to offer, as well as bringing together all the best food picks from around the world. From artisan-made breads, cheeses and cured meats, to luxury wines, beers, champagnes and spirits, to farm-fresh, locally produced fruits and vegetables, Hollies farm shop caters for every palette. Whether you are looking to cook a feast from scratch at home, or prefer to pick up something from our ready-made selection, your taste buds will certainly thank you for choosing the Hollies! Find out more about Hollies Farm Shop here.

Storyhouse (Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award Winner)

Storyhouse is a theatre, cinema and library based in Chester city centre, presenting the best home-produced and internationally acclaimed work. The restored and revitalised 1930s Odeon building houses an 800-seat auditorium, a 150-seat studio theatre, a restaurant and two bars plus a 100-seat boutique, independent cinema. Alongside the building, Storyhouse run a series of must see events such as Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre and Moonlight Flicks. At Storyhouse they aim to make a space for everyone with accessible parking and facilities. Find out more about Storyhouse here.

Ice Cream Farm (Resilience and Innovation Award Winner)

Cheshire's ice cream farm is a multi award winning family play attraction including crazy golf, birthday parties, soft play, mini-quads & the world's largest ice cream parlour with over 50 flavours of ice cream waiting to be enjoyed. Pay as you play at just £4.50 per attraction per child or get 5 plays for £15 (saving £7.50) or 10 for £30 (saving £15). Find out more about the Ice Cream Farm here.

Artezzan (New Tourism Business Highly Commended)

Located in Chester’s iconic Pepper Street, Artezzan takes an honest approach to Mediterranean inspired food served in a modern, fresh, feel-good way. Offering a unique dining and drinking experience celebrating an authentic Mediterranean taste.

The A La Carte menu has been designed to take guests on a journey through the Mediterranean. Inspired by the dishes of Spain, Italy, France & Greece, every bite will invoke memories of the golden beaches and sun-soaked terraces of holidays past. Find out more about Artezzan here.

Storyhouse

Head to the Kitchen at Storyhouse for freshly made, inspiring lunches and pre-theatre dinners. Grab a snack whilst you’re working, a drink to take into the cinema or theatre or pick up something from the wide range of take away options available.

The Kitchen serves freshly made, inspiring food from the Eastern Mediterranean. It’s open from 8am for breakfast, to 8pm Monday – Saturday, 9.30am – 8pm on Sundays. The Kitchen Bar is open until 11pm each night, and the Garret Bar is open for selected events. Find out more about the Kitchen at Storyhouse here.

Swan at Tarporley (Pub of the Year Award Winner)

The Swan at Tarporley offers a variety of freshly cooked and tasty dishes using the highest quality and most local ingredients available. From pub classics to regularly changing seasonal specialities, there is something for everyone to enjoy. From beautifully kept Cheshire cask ales to fabulously prepared artisan gins, from crisp sauvignons to bold merlots, from fruit juices to warming coffees, there is something for everyone at the Swan. The wine list is carefully chosen with the expert guidance of the award winning Jon Campbell from Define Wines just a few miles from the Swan in Sandiway. Find out more about the Swan at Tarporley here.

All businesses included in this blog were winners or Highly Commended at the Marketing Cheshire Tourism Awards 2023.

Find more award winning places to visit and stay in Cheshire here.