Chester retains Purple Flag accreditation for fifth year

Chester has retained the prestigious Purple Flag accreditation for its evening and night-time economy for the fifth consecutive year. The city first achieved Purple Flag status in 2018. The award recognises areas providing a vibrant and diverse mix of dining, entertainment and culture while promoting the safety and wellbeing of visitors and residents.

Highlights from Chester’s submission included the varied range of events, providing something for everyone, the positive impact of increased pedestrianisation areas and the stunning ‘Once a Desert’ installation at Chester Cathedral.

Councillor Karen Shore, Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways & Strategic Transport, said: "Chester continues to attract attention across the country, the latest survey has placed Chester among the top 10 most fashion-forward cities in the UK. Footfall in Chester showed an 18.5% increase in 2022, with over 16 million visitors recorded. Whilst footfall across the whole country still hasn’t recovered from the pandemic, the counters at Northgate showed a 7% increase in footfall in December compared with 2019 figures, thanks to Storyhouse, the new Chester Market and the Christmas Market.”

Carl Crichlow, Chester BID, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Chester’s night-time economy continues to go from strength to strength, with new bars and restaurants opening and expanding. Therefore it’s important that the city is safe and wellmanaged, to ensure a positive customer experience. To secure Purple Flag status for a fifth year is a huge achievement and testament to the hard work of all the partners involved.”

Wrexham-based, family-run café wins Best of Welsh Business

Toast Café and Deli, a family-run café in Wrexham, has been awarded a prestigious prize just nine months after opening its doors.

Claire and Paul Wright scooped the Best Café prize at a ceremony in March. The popular eatery has now been named best café at the Best of Welsh Business Awards 2023.

RESPECTED name in the Welsh meat industry carving successful career

Matt Edwards, from Wrexham, is Coleg Cambria’s top Workbased Learning Practitioner for Butchery. A WorldSkills UK gold medallist, Matt began his career at 14 at a local butchers’ before moving on to become an apprentice at award-winning outlets, such as Swans Farm Shop, Treuddyn, Jones’s Butchers in Llangollen, and with Steve Vaughan in Penyffordd. Now on the opposite side of the counter, he is supporting the sector’s new blood, including Adam Jones, who followed in his footsteps by being named Welsh Butcher of the Year while a Cambria apprentice and working at Swans.

Matt is also an Inspiring Skills Excellence in Wales ambassador and wants to promote the trade, through competitions and by visiting schools, to demonstrate the benefits of joining a profession where there is increasing demand for skilled candidates.

“I go out to see the learners in the workplace, carry out observations and assessments and guide them towards an eventual career in butchery,” said Matt. “We have more than 100 food manufacturing learners across North Wales and the numbers are growing, but there is room for more, the demand is there in this region and beyond –we are always getting asked for more apprentices and that has been the case for some time now.

New Chester city centre shop aims to showcase work of local artists

Partly, an independent art, craft and gift shop, has opened on St Werburgh Street, Chester. The shop aims to showcase artisan gifts and homeware made in Cheshire, North Wales and further afield.

It has been set up by businessman Harvey Simmons, who said it was always a dream of his to move from his home city of Winchester to Chester.

The shop stocks a range of artisan gifts, crafts, hand-thrown pottery, jewellery and art. Harvey, who comes from Winchester originally, said the two cities had a lot in common and he was excited to now be living and working in Chester. Harvey, who has previously worked in the hospitality industry, described the shop’s ethos as offering a range of ‘discerning handmade arts and crafts’. The shop stocks products including sculptures, ceramics and jewellery.

Wrexham named as one of Tree Cities of the World 2022

Urban forests help define a sense of place and wellbeing where people live, work, play and learn.

The Tree Cities of the World programme is an international effort to recognise cities and towns committed to ensuring that their urban forests and trees are properly maintained, sustainably managed and duly celebrated.

To be recognised as a Tree City, a community must meet five core standards that illustrate a commitment to caring for its trees and forest.