Eastgate, Chester, United Kingdom | (618) 248-8274
Historic, 19th-century property with classically elegant interiors
Excellent location right in the heart of Chester’s medieval center
Two-minute walk from Roman amphitheater and five from the cathedral
Sophisticated rooms have minibars, flat-screen TVs, and Bose stereo systems
Only Michelin-starred restaurant in Cheshire is at hotel
Spa with treatment rooms and hydrotherapy suite, plus small gym
French brasserie, plus a bar serving well-regarded afternoon tea
Meeting and event spaces on-site; popular for weddings
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Formal atmosphere may be a bit staid for some
Classic Rooms are on the small side
Hotel lacks a swimming pool
Steep charge for breakfast
Set in the medieval heart of Chester, next to the city’s famous Eastgate Clock, the luxury Chester Grosvenor is an opulently decorated affair reflecting its 19th-century origins. It's home to the only Michelin starred restaurant in Cheshire, as well as a less-formal brasserie. The 80 rooms and suites are all elegantly decorated, in shades of champagne and ivory, with luxe touches such as Bose stereos and bathrobes. An on-site spa has treatment rooms for massages and a hydrotherapy suite, and there's a small gym, but the hotel lacks a pool. Weddings are popular here. Some guests have found the Grosvenor too staid for their liking, so those looking for a more modern hotel might want to try the Abode Chester.
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Scene
Luxurious, historic hotel clad in shades of gold and ivory
Dating back to 1865, the Chester Grosvenor is a luxuriously appointed hotel clad in muted but tasteful shades of ivory, champagne, and gold. It has a sophisticated and traditional feel that some may feel is too stuffy, though it hints at the hotel's history. Grand columns and a doorman greet guests outdoors, while inside, an atrium with patterned marble floors leads to a grand central staircase, which has a great crystal chandelier descending several stories down its middle. The property's flagship Michelin starred restaurant, Simon Radley, is an intimate space with flowery champagne wallpaper and a vast Persian rug, on top of which sit little round tables and heavily padded seats. The hotel’s other restaurant, La Brasserie, is outfitted like a French restaurant, with deep black-leather banquettes, lengths of brass railing, mirrors on the walls, and a huge skylight decorated with hand-painted glass. The Grosvenor tends to attract visitors -- mostly couples -- to Chester looking for a relaxed but opulent city break.
Location
In the center of Chester, a stone’s throw from Eastgate Clock
It would be hard to beat the Chester Grosvenor’s location. The hotel is situated right in the middle of the city’s 18th-century Eastgate, a pretty cobbled street with a number of shops, bars, and restaurants, and a stone’s throw from the Eastgate Clock. From the hotel, it is a two-minute walk to the Chester Roman Amphitheater, the largest of its kind in Britain, and a five-minute walk from the ancient Cathedral. Chester Castle is a seven-minute walk away, over by the River Dee, while the racecourse is 10 minutes away on foot. Expect transfers to Liverpool John Lennon Airport to take 40 minutes, and it’s a similar journey to Manchester Airport.
Rooms
Elegant rooms with bathrobes, minibars, and flat-screen TVs
The hotel’s 80 rooms are individually decorated, but all are decked out in elegant furnishings and similar shades of ivory and champagne. Despite having a smaller bed than the other rooms -- queen-sized instead of kings -- Classic Rooms can feel pretty cramped. They're outfitted with a desk and chair, two armchairs and a side table, and a flat-screen TV on a stand. Deluxe Rooms are a bit larger, with a marble entrance hall leading off to a bedroom with a king-size bed, while Executive Rooms are larger still, with space for a sofa or chaise lounge at the foot of the bed. All rooms have air-conditioning, a flat-screen TV with DVD player, safe, minibar, and Bose stereo system, and tea- and coffee-making facilities are available upon request. Pretty marble bathrooms have a shower/tub combo, bidet, high-end toiletries, bathrobes, slippers, hairdryer, and trouser press. Suites have a variety of luxe touches, in some cases including separate showers and tubs, dressing rooms, and multiple bathrooms. The Presidential Suite is the largest of these.
Features
The only Michelin-starred restaurant in Cheshire
The Chester Grosvenor has a quality list of amenities to justify its luxury billing. The hotel is home to Simon Radley, the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Cheshire, which serves an eight-course tasting menu, as well as an a la carte menu for dinner. A less-formal French restaurant, La Brasserie serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, although breakfast comes at quite a steep cost. The Arkle Bar and Lounge serves drinks and cocktails, light meals, traditional afternoon tea, and “Gentleman’s” tea -- a heftier twist on the classic. Although a pool is absent here, a spa offers treatment rooms for massages and wellness therapies, a hydrotherapy circuit, and small gym. There are three plush meeting rooms, the largest of which can accommodate 350 people. Wedding services are available, and ceremonies are popular here. Free Wi-Fi is accessible throughout.
