New Openings and venues to try in 2023 #Blog

Victoria Hayes
3rd January 2023

January is often a month filled with doom and gloom and with abstinence rather than indulgence being the watch word of the month. However, we at Taste Cheshire think January is fantastic!! With most venues offering amazing discounts and deals, January is the ideal time to try somewhere new. Give that restaurant a try for a half price lunch, pop out to that pub for a quiz and a half price burger because its a pocket friendly way to support an industry which struggles post Christmas. You want it to still be there in the summer? Use it now.

Even if you are going Vegan for a month, or swapping those cocktails for mocktails, there are offers everywhere so choices can be healthy as well as financially sensible.

January also gives us a chance to look ahead at a fresh new year and we are happy to be expecting new venues, new ownerships and new foodie fun for 2023.

What’s up and coming?

Already up and running is  The Gator Pit, opened in the last month after previously starting live in the former Chester Market. On Watergate Street, not too far from other market leavers Death By Tacos and Stile Napoletano.

Now they are attracting customers old and new to enjoy what owner Tony says is an authentic taste of Louisiana and Cajun cuisine, ranging from gumbo and jambalaya to barbecue pulled pork and rice.

Just around the corner in the City Centre we have been long awaiting the new X by Harry Guy.

Harry Guy will launch ‘X’ at the much-anticipated £5m boutique hotel Wildes which will also open its doors at the same time. The celebrated chef will embark on his first solo venture having previously worked in kitchens  including L’enclume, Roganic, Aulis, Gordon Ramsay’s Savoy Grill, Le Carré Gourmand and Mallory Court Hotel.

Harry gave foodies a taste of what he will be serving at the restaurant with the special pop-up events at the Parade trackside venue at the racecourse in 2022.

Also on the way to Chester City Centre we are expecting Brewski, which is the self-proclaimed “home of North American comfort food.  They have taken over 12 Eastgate Row, which was the former premises of The Edinburgh Woollen Mill.

Joining the New Northgate Development in Chester alongside the New Market and Zizzis, Caribbean restaurant and bar Turtle Bay will open their first venue in Cheshire  in March 2023. Followers of ours will also know that we are expecting the new Northlight bar and restaurant from the New World Trading company in the same development shortly.

Finally in Chester City Centre, the arrival of Boheme in the former Cafe Rouge site.

Boheme’s plans for the vacant property include a new bar, banquet seating and window repair works. Ina report recommending approval, council case officer Robert Lester said: “The works would preserve the special architectural and historic interest of the Grade II Listed building”. However as yet the new owners have been very tight lipped about the project, and other exciting venture they are working on in the city centre. Don’t worry though, we’ll bring you all the news and  updates as soon as we have them.

Elsewhere the busy bees at Cheshire Pub Co have been at it again! Just before Christmas they opened the Space Invader at Goostrey but they are not content, indeed they have not one but TWO more projects in the pipeline.

The Cock O’ Budworth and The Rascal and Radical, Tarporley are on the way this year and we cannot wait to see what they do. They really love transforming old venues into cosy, comfortable and much loved Cheshire pubs. The Rascal is going in to the old fire station in Tarporley and is set to open in the spring but work is already underway at the Cock O’ Budworth and they are looking at a mid Feb opening!!

Find out more about both of these at cheshirepubco.com