Hotel Review: Hotel Indigo, Chester, England

Hotel Review: Hotel Indigo, Chester, England

Hotel Indigo is a charming contemporary boutique hotel in the heart of the beautiful and historic city of Chester. Newly built in 2019, it has opened its doors to reveal an interior that reflects the architecture of this Roman town and its famous racecourse, which is worth celebrating if only to recognize that Chester Racecourse is the oldest racecourse in the UK, having played its first game in 1539.

There are horse and rose artwork and other horse themed decorations all over the place.

Hotel Indigo is within walking distance of the shopping area and the 2,000-year-old city walls, the most complete circuit of Roman and medieval walls in Britain.

To who?

Hotel Indigo is perfect for guests who value comfort and easy access to most of what the city has to offer. With its beautiful romantic suites and first-class restaurant, it is perhaps best for couples and foodies.

Accommodation

The 75 themed rooms are divided into Standard, Deluxe, Premium and King rooms. All rooms are air-conditioned and equipped with a 40-inch TV that can be controlled by a mobile phone, air conditioning, tea and coffee making facilities and comfortable Hypnos beds.

The en suite bathrooms are spa-inspired with rain showers and Molten Brown toiletries.

Services

The hotel has 24-hour room service and high-speed WiFi throughout.

Food and drink

The Forge restaurant is the hotel’s showpiece. Chef and restaurateur Mike Robinson opened his new 70-seat restaurant, cocktail bar and private dining room last year and has built a solid reputation among the city’s foodies for excellent casual dining based on local ingredients and customs, ethically and sustainable. The open kitchen cooks with wood and coal, with fantastic game and locally raised meats, all cured on site.

Though hungry for most of the day in anticipation of the impending feast, I avoided the contents of the impressive meat cooler on display in the dining room. (Dry-aged steaks are served in 650-250g portions.) It was worth the sacrifice to make room for my succulent slow-cooked pork belly, followed by amaretto pannacotta.

You’ll need to book in advance as The Forge is regularly full and seems to be a mecca for local connoisseurs. Dining at The Forge is a fantastic experience and a highlight of our visit.

How much?

Room rates start from £119 per night.

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What’s nearby?

Chester’s 11th century cathedral is a popular tourist attraction and a great way to quickly visit some of the top attractions.

Beyond the walls you can see Chester Racecourse, also known as The Roodee, Britain’s oldest functioning racecourse, located in a former Roman harbour. They say the term ‘gee-gees’ was first coined here after Sir Henry Gee first allowed racing here in the 16th century.

It’s a shopper’s paradise with The Rows, the city’s unique medieval network of open ground-floor galleries along the main streets of the centre. Or, like we did, head to McArthurGlen’s Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet just outside of town near Ellesmere Harbour. The UK’s first design store opened in 1995 and is still the largest.

Other highlights include the Grosvenor Museum, with its fascinating collection of Roman tombstones and gladiator stories in pictures and text; Chester Zoo – one of the most popular paid attractions in Britain; Grosvenor Park and its outdoor theatre; to Chester Basin or walk along the River Dee.

Hotel Indigo l is located in the city center and has good transport links, including a direct train service to London in less than two hours. The hotel offers easy access to Manchester and Liverpool airports and is right next to the M53 motorway.

Note: There is no on-site parking and finding a home for your car can be tricky. The hotel offers a discount of £20.00 for 24 hours to £12.00 from Pepper Street car park.

Hotel Indigo offers the best of both worlds with its modern look and retro style. Elegant, smart, yet cozy and comfortable and in keeping with the horse racing and equestrian walls and decorative attention to detail and inviting scent in the hall.