Stuart Forster reviews a stay in the Abode Hotel Chester.
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The Abode Hotel Chester is a smart, contemporary hotel located 10 minutes’ stroll from the half-timbered buildings of the city’s historic centre. The hotel overlooks England’s oldest active racecourse and distant hills in Wales.
Locals told me that the ground floor bar of this 4-star hotel with race-goers on race days. After all, one of the entrances to Chester Racecourse is just across the road from the hotel.
I stayed on a weekday evening so could enjoy a quiet drink while sitting in one of the bar’s leather armchairs. The bar has library-like decor but a loungey feel. It seemed as good a place as any to flick through a book while enjoying a glass of wine. Sitting alone up in the Champagne Bar, on the fifth floor, wouldn’t feel quite right while leafing through Jan Morris’s Wales, ahead of a trip over the border.
Luxury accommodation in Chester
I was allocated a spacious room on the fourth floor. A sliding door opened out onto a balcony overlooking the racecourse and courthouse.
Most hotel chains tend to classify their rooms using terms such as Standard or Superior. At the Abode Hotel Chester the categories of accommodation are termed Comfortable, Desirable, Enviable, Most Enviable and Fabulous. Lying on the bed, flicking through the channels of the flat-screen television, I mulled the creative opportunities provided by those evocative names.
The hotel impressed me as well-maintained. My room had a chic, contemporary look. It was comfortable too. It proved ideal as a pleasant base for a short city break before travelling on to Snowdonia in north Wales.
Cosy suites with freestanding bathtubs
The top rooms in this hotel are the three Fabulous suites up on the sixth floor. The suites have a cosy yet roomy feel. Their design is inspired by countryside cottages. They feature wooden floors and free-standing bathtubs.
They were designed by the Abode’s owner, Andrew Brownsword, and his wife. The suites prove popular. Be sure to book well in advance if you’re planning on visiting Chester for a romantic weekend break or a day at the races.
The Brasserie Abode, on the fifth floor of the hotel, serves international cuisine, from breakfast through high tea to dinner.
Location of the Abode Chester Hotel
The Abode Hotel Chester (tel. 01244 347 000) is at Grosvenor Road, Chester, CH1 2DJ. The map below illustrates the hotel’s proximity to Chester Racecourse and Chester city centre:
Search for accommodation in Chester via Booking.com:
Booking.com
Further information
See the Abode hotel website for further information regarding room prices and availability. Afternoon tea is served at the hotel and free onsite car parking is available at the Abode Hotel Chester.
The Visit Cheshire website has information about things to do and see in Chester and the surrounding region.
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A version of this review was first published on Go Eat Do on 8 May 2013.
