Popping the cork for the Chester’s newest venue – POPCORN #Out and About
Victoria Hayes
23rd September 2019
I first met Ben Iles 23 years ago. He hasn’t changed much. 11 years ago he popped into Cruise Nightclub in the daytime to see me at work and told me he had an idea.
“I’m gonna take over the Malbororororough” Arms, he says. “It’ll be nothing like anything Chester has ever seen”. I laughed. But he wasn’t wrong.
Fast forward to now. and I’m super pleased and proud to tell you that he’s had yet another ‘idea’ and this one is a doozy.
Popcorn is a joint venture between the energiser bunny Ben Iles and the silver Fox Steve Davies, who used to run Commonhall Social. They have also surrounded themselves with some familiar faces from the best local venues. Smart cookies.
These guys are the kings of a relaxed atmosphere, no singing is too loud, dancing on the tables is encouraged, but so is popping in during the day, plugging in your laptop and getting some work done with a coffee and an incredible sandwich. 
Last week was the official launch, invite by Whatsapp, which perfectly sums these guys up. No need for expensive printed invitations, the sheer force of their personalities, their bar running credentials and their impressive hospitality skills pulls in an enviably large crowd on a Thursday night.
Pass me the fizz, I love a launch night. It’s the only time you can walk around a venue and study every detail without being mistaken for some kind of health inspector.
And what a venue to walk around. The attention to detail here is simply wonderful.
In broad strokes the venue is an Instagrammer’s dream, with lush foliage hanging from the ceiling.
Plantation chairs which make you feel like a queen whilst nibbling on pesto filled olives and breads with smoked butter, 
Free pool table and dart board and the courtyard outside is much larger that you would expect gorgeously heated by the large open fire pit in the centre.
The devil is in the details, the jar of doggy treats on the bar, the bird shaped handbag holders along the bar, even the etched in popcorn logos on the barrel tables, everything has been thought through. And apparently they are open to suggestions…or maybe just business.
The thing is, we were having far too much fun to take many photos….the atmosphere sucks you in, it’s hard to focus on much beyond fun and good times in this relaxed bar.
We actually had to come back the following day to get some daylight shots, and were pleasantly surprised to find the bar buzzing with people. Some had popped in whilst shopping for an break in the beautiful oasis. some were there for the food and many just curious about the new place. Whatever reason you have for popping by, we thoroughly recommend that you do and see for yourselves.
We look forward to trying more of their food, the menu promising an array on sandwiches, including chip butties and ice cream sandwiches and it seem like it will soon be *the* place to wind down after work.
