Paddington Bear Makes a Marmalade-y Splash in Chester! #Blog

Victoria Hayes
8th October 2024

Get ready for some marmalade mayhem, Chester! Paddington Bear, the beloved duffle-coat-wearing icon, has arrived in your city as part of the nationwide Paddington Visits trail.

This exciting initiative celebrates the upcoming release of “Paddington in Peru,” hitting cinemas on November 8th. But before Paddington embarks on his big-screen adventure, he’s taking a well-deserved break in Chester!

A Statue Fit for a Bear (and Selfies!)

Fans of all ages can now visit a specially crafted Paddington statue at the far end of Foregate Street, near That Beer Place. This charming statue depicts Paddington in all his glory, complete with his signature red hat, blue duffle coat, and of course, a marmalade sandwich clutched in his paw.

The statue was unveiled by students from Grosvenor Park Academy, and the excitement was palpable! Children have already been dropping by for a chat with Paddington (or at least his statue) and passersby are snapping selfies with their favourite bear.

Paddington: A Nationwide Adventure

Chester is just one of 23 lucky locations across the UK and Ireland participating in the Paddington Visits trail. The trail encourages families to embark on a fun-filled adventure, seeking out Paddington statues in cities, towns, and even scenic beauty spots.

Locations range from the tippy-top of John O’Groats to the charming seaside town of Land’s End. You can even visit Paddington’s hometown of Newbury, where his creator, Michael Bond, first brought the bear to life.

To help intrepid explorers find Paddington in their area, STUDIOCANAL has partnered with Ordnance Survey. Head over to their website to map out your Paddington-spotting adventure!

A Warm Welcome for Paddington

“We’re thrilled to bring Paddington to Chester,” said Carl Critchlow, CEO of Chester BID. “Chester’s historic charm is the perfect backdrop for this beloved national icon. We encourage everyone participating in the trail to explore all that our wonderful city has to offer.”

STUDIOCANAL echoed this sentiment, expressing their hope that everyone will seek out their local Paddington. Whether you want to chat with the bear (statue) or simply enjoy the view with a marmalade sandwich (highly recommended!), Paddington is ready to welcome you with open paws.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your marmalade stash and get ready for a Paddington-filled adventure in Chester! Don’t forget to share your Paddington selfies using #PaddingtonVisits!

Paddington in Peru hits cinemas on November 8th. Get ready for a heartwarming adventure!