BarLounge Celebrates 25 Years with a Brick-tastic Tribute! #Blog

Victoria Hayes
8th April 2025

Here at Taste Cheshire, we love celebrating the stalwarts of our local food and drink scene, and this year marks a very special milestone for one of Chester’s most iconic venues: BarLounge is celebrating its 25th Anniversary!

And in true BarLounge style, they’ve come up with a truly novel and charming way to mark this incredible achievement. They’ve commissioned the talented Lego builder and blogger, Richard Trotter, to create a bespoke Lego model of their much-loved Watergate Street venue.

Crafted with over 800 bricks, this miniature masterpiece was recently unveiled at BarLounge before taking its place amongst other iconic landmarks and local scenes in the fantastic Chester in Lego display at Chester Market. For those who don’t know, Chester in Lego, created by the brilliant Richard Trotter, has become a firm favourite with locals and tourists alike, showcasing everything from our famous Roman walls to local businesses and even raising thousands for local charities over the years. This year, donations are supporting three vital homeless charities: Soul Kitchen, SHARE, and Chester Aid to the Homeless.

Opened by Neil McDonnell in March 2000, with Jason Bligh later joining as Partner, BarLounge was a true pioneer, establishing itself as one of Chester’s first and most popular cocktail bars. Choosing the Grade II listed former Axe Tavern on Watergate Street, perfectly positioned near Chester Racecourse and amongst a growing hub of independent businesses, proved to be a winning formula. Sister venues Upstairs at The Grill and Hickory’s soon followed, further cementing their place in the city’s hospitality landscape.

Over the past quarter of a century, BarLounge has consistently raised the bar (pun intended!) for hospitality in Chester. Their skilled front-of-house team and talented chefs have built an enviable reputation for exceeding guest expectations, creating memorable experiences time and time again.

Speaking about this special anniversary and the Lego tribute, Richard Trotter shared his delight in creating the model, acknowledging BarLounge’s significant legacy in Chester’s hospitality history.

Our very own Tori Hayes at Taste Cheshire echoed this sentiment, having been a loyal patron since day one: “I’ve been attending BarLounge since the day it opened, and from that moment until today, I’ve been struck by how it raises the bar for hospitality in this City. Very few venues achieve this kind of longevity, and BarLounge’s success is no surprise. It’s a testament to phenomenal hard work and a dedicated, inspiring team constantly striving for excellence. They are always evolving, often subtly, and that’s what sets them apart. It’s absolutely fitting that their amazing journey, built brick by brick and drink by drink, is now immortalized in Lego. BarLounge is a true Chester icon, the bar by whom everyone else is judged.”

And that’s not all the exciting news! We’re thrilled to announce that BarLounge will also be joining us on the Chef Demo Stage at this year’s Taste Cheshire Food and Drink Festival, as we celebrate our own 25th Anniversary! It’s a fantastic opportunity to see their talented team in action and sample some of the magic they create.

So, here’s to 25 fantastic years of BarLounge, a true Chester institution built on dedication, passion, and countless unforgettable moments. Make sure to check out their Lego counterpart at Chester Market and join us in raising a glass (or maybe even a Lego brick!) to their continued success. We can’t wait to see what the next 25 years bring!

Pictured – The Lego model of BarLounge, created as part of the popular bar’s 25^th Anniversary celebrations.

Picture Credit – Mark Carline.