Josh Price

The new indie musical How Soon is Now? will have a two-night run at Chester's Storyhouse on October 6 and 7, 2026, as part of its world premiere UK tour. Written by Siân Owen and presented by Manchester-based Box of Tricks, the production is set in a Manchester nightclub on New Year's Eve 1997 and follows three young women exploring friendship, identity and hope through a live soundtrack of 1990s indie music. Adam Quayle directs and stars including Bethan McLean, Kaitlyn Akinpelumi and Laura Robinson are joined by a supporting actor-musician cast. Tickets start at £16.50 for concessions and £21.30 for Storyhouse Members.

Storyhouse in Chester will host the Rip It Up film season from August 19 to September 13, curated by young programmers aged 16 to 18. The six-film programme explores youth culture, fashion, rebellion, identity and self-expression through titles including Billy Elliot, Bend It Like Beckham, Young Soul Rebels, Cruella, Rye Lane and Wild Child. It is supported by Film Hub North and the Film Audience Network as part of a wider national project, and includes creative workshops linked to selected screenings. Tickets operate on a pay-what-you-can basis, starting at £4.

The University of Chester’s four-day Chester Festival of Ideas has won a Silver 2026 Circle of Excellence Award from CASE for its contribution to educational advancement. The festival, now in its third year, offers more than 100 free events, including talks, workshops, demonstrations and family activities, and was praised for its collaboration with community stakeholders, use of off-campus venues and inclusive programming. It was selected among 493 winners from 4,185 entries submitted by institutions in 33 countries.

WS Audiology celebrated its 100th anniversary with a week of events at its UK and Ireland headquarters in Chester, including a town hall, staff activities and the unveiling of a mural by local artist Nikki Pinder. The company, which operates in 130 markets and employs more than 12,500 people, also launched a “100 Hours for 100 Years” volunteering initiative supporting hearing-loss charities. Its Chester headquarters now brings the UK team together for collaboration, training and engagement with audiologists, hearing-care professionals and customers.

Ramitha Nittore Ramnath, an Indian psychology graduate from the University of Chester, has been named UKCISA International Student of the Year 2025 for her contributions to inclusion, wellbeing, and cross-cultural engagement. As the university's first Assistant Hindu Chaplain and former president of its Indian Society, she led award-winning initiatives, completed more than 250 hours of volunteering, and received several academic and service honors. University staff praised her scholarship, leadership, creativity, and support for student communities. She plans to pursue a master's degree in occupational psychology.

Horrible Histories will bring the family productions Terrible Tudors and Awful Egyptians to Chester's Storyhouse from October 22 to 25, 2026. The shows use comedy, historical facts and 3D effects to explore Tudor England and ancient Egypt, and are recommended for audiences aged five to 105. Written by Terry Deary, Neal Foster and JP Cherrington and produced by the Birmingham Stage Company, the productions offer standard and family ticket options, discounts for Storyhouse members and a further discount for booking both shows.

Upton Dene Residential and Nursing Home in Chester has launched a free monthly Veterans’ Breakfast Club for veterans from across the community. Held on the last Wednesday of each month, the club provides breakfast, refreshments and an opportunity for conversation and camaraderie, with no booking required. The care home’s Veteran Friendly Framework accreditation supports its wider programme for veteran residents, with staff and residents contributing personal military experience and veteran-focused activities.

The Countess of Chester Hospital’s £110 million Women and Children’s Building has been shortlisted for the Towards Net Zero Award at the 2026 HSJ Awards. The fully electric, gas-free facility is England’s first NHS building completed to the NHS Net Zero Building Standard, has a BREEAM Excellent rating, generates clean energy and combines maternity, neonatal, paediatric and women’s outpatient services. Hospital chief executive Jane Tomkinson praised its sustainability and community-led design, while HSJ editor Alastair McLellan highlighted its contribution to NHS innovation. The winner will be announced in London on 19 November 2026.

Pooches of Pride, a dog-friendly event organized by PupCulture, will take place at Exchange Square in Chester from 10am to 3pm on the same day as Chester Pride. The event will include a dog show, market stalls, activities and food samples, bringing together dog owners, the LGBTQ+ community and the wider public. Dogs can compete in categories including best trick, golden oldie, cutest pup and best dressed, with prizes from Denzel’s, Dog & Bond and KONG. Half of all dog show ticket sales will support Manchester and Cheshire Dogs Home, and attendees are encouraged to continue to the Chester Pride parade afterward.

Emma Lennon, a 37-year-old mother of four from Aston in Deeside, has earned a first-class degree in Adult Nursing from the University of Chester and will graduate later this year. She credited the university, her lecturers and her husband Paul with helping her balance family responsibilities and demanding clinical training. Lennon plans to develop her clinical expertise, potentially pursue palliative care or cardiology, and mentor future nursing students.

Overnight maintenance works on the westbound A55 between Cheshire West and Chester and the Welsh border will require temporary speed limits from 7pm to 6am between September 2 and September 8, 2026. A 50mph limit will apply near the Posthouse Roundabout Western Bridge, followed by a 40mph limit toward the English-Welsh border. National Highways said the restrictions are intended to enable the work to be carried out safely and may be extended or rescheduled if necessary.

A £180 million Knauf Insulation facility planned for the former Tata Steel site in Flintshire has received approval for enabling and remediation works. The 200,000-square-foot plant is expected to create 137 direct jobs and hundreds more in the supply chain, with more than £14 million in support from the North Wales Growth Deal. Chester-based Tier Consult Group will provide structural, civil and environmental engineering services. The company is also expanding by appointing a five-member board made up of internally promoted directors as it grows its UK construction and infrastructure work.

Natanya Ratnaraj, who completed her first year studying psychology at the University of Chester, says the Clearing process helped her make a confident university choice after reconsidering her initial options. She compared course modules, examination styles, location and extracurricular activities before selecting Chester, and praised the university's supportive staff, friendly atmosphere and academic tutoring. The article also provides details of the University of Chester's Clearing hotline and opening hours.

Chester student Libby Nielson has been praised by the University of Chester for her outstanding academic performance, student leadership and psychology research. After developing an interest in forensic psychology through her fascination with true crime, she researched the lived experience of people with long COVID and conducted a first-class study on music’s impact on cognitive performance. Nielson has begun a data-analyst internship at a local care home and plans to complete a Master of Research before pursuing a PhD on music therapy for people living with dementia.

Cavendish’s Chester branch has won a gold award for its lettings service at the British Property Awards, completing gold wins for all three of the company’s offices after earlier awards for its Flintshire and Denbighshire branches. The company, founded in 1993, employs more than 30 people, supports over 600 home moves annually and manages about 650 properties. The Chester team, led by Daniel Owen and Chloe Button, will advance to the national stage later in the year.

Two University of Chester initiatives have been shortlisted for the 2026 Green Gown Awards. The Build Back Together – Reaching the Last Mile project, developed with the Aston Ingham community in Herefordshire, used flood mapping, fieldwork and wireless sensors to support a community-led warning system and secure council backing. The university’s campus catering initiative reduced food waste by 25% while working with Student Race Advocates to improve inclusion and student wellbeing. Winners will be announced on November 16, 2026.

Jorvik Tricycles is offering a free adult tricycle worth up to £1,000 to a charitable organisation or social enterprise in the Chester area. The giveaway is part of an initiative covering areas near the company’s showrooms in Chester, York and Southampton, with one winner selected in each area. Founded by James Walker, Jorvik says it has helped tens of thousands of people access cycling through stable, inclusive three-wheeled designs. Chester nominations must include an organisation overview and an explanation of why the applicant should win, with entries submitted by email or social media during the stated August application period.

Base Architects, which has offices in Shrewsbury, Chester and Conwy, reported a strong year marked by growth, recruitment and nationwide project success. The 23-year-old practice secured instructions for 237 new projects, achieved a 90% planning approval rate and delivered 24 schemes through construction. It expanded its team, promoted Jack Harris to associate director, and advanced Dan Gibbons and Harry Braid to associate level after they qualified as architects. The firm is particularly known for Paragraph 84 homes, which can be approved in open countryside because of exceptional design quality, while also maintaining commercial architecture and listed-building restoration work.

Tip Top Productions will revive its musical theatre spectacular The Show Must Go On at The Hammond in Chester from August 13 to 15. The two-hour production, described as a love letter to the West End and Broadway, will feature songs and dance numbers from musicals including Paddington, Shrek, Oliver!, Six, Legally Blonde, West Side Story and The Greatest Showman, performed by the company’s youth and adult members. The creative team is led by co-directors Robert Lyon, Luke Disley and Rhian Lyon, with musical direction and choreography from several local artists.

Two Redrow homes at Ledsham Garden Village near Little Sutton are available for purchase at £460,000 and £687,000. The three-bedroom Leamington Lifestyle and four-bedroom Richmond properties include upgraded kitchens, flooring and other extras worth more than £35,000 and £40,000 respectively. The wider development is planned to include around 2,000 homes, a Tesco Express, community facilities, allotments, parkland and an orchard.

Care UK care homes in Chester—Pinetum and Deewater Grange—will host food festivals as part of the nationwide “A Taste of Home” initiative. Pinetum will offer an international cuisine event featuring Mexican, Spanish and Italian-inspired dishes, while Deewater Grange will hold a garden party. The events will include residents’ recipes, locally sourced seasonal food, sustainable activities and opportunities for local residents to connect with care-home communities.

Emma Bloor, a 22-year-old from Cheshire East, graduated with a first-class Spanish degree from the University of Chester and plans to return in September for a PGCE in secondary modern foreign languages. Her study placements in Albacete, Spain, strengthened her language skills and cultural understanding, while overcoming health challenges demonstrated her resilience. She hopes to inspire future language learners, and university staff praised her academic achievements, successful school placement and support for fellow students, including her receipt of the Emma Galton Memorial Prize.

Storyhouse Cinema in Chester will screen the Welsh drama On the Sea from August 9 to 13, with a director Q&A on August 9 attended by writer-director Helen Walsh and actor Celyn Jones and hosted by Empire’s Jordan King. Filmed in North Wales and Anglesey, the film follows a mussel-bed hand raker whose relationships are disrupted when a deckhand confesses his feelings for him. Tickets for the Q&A screening start at £8.90 for Storyhouse members.

The Swan at Marbury will host a four-day beer and cider festival in its paddock from August 6 to 9, featuring cask ales, craft beers, ciders, wines, food, live music and a marquee for weather protection. Entry costs £3 and includes a branded pint glass, while the pub’s regular menu will also be available.

The Deaf & Sensory Roadshow, run by the Deaf and Sensory Network during its 50th anniversary year, is bringing hearing-loss support to rural communities across Cheshire and Wrexham. The outreach provides advice, referrals to audiology and support groups, and access to assistive equipment such as flashing doorbells and TV amplifiers. It has generated dozens of referrals and strengthened links with local health and wellbeing organizations, particularly benefiting older adults, carers, and residents with limited transport options.

A charity quiz hosted by Chester blogger Richard Trotter at Chester Market raised £1,450, which increased to £4,450 after £3,000 in double match funding from URENCO. The money will support Clatterbridge Cancer Charity’s appeal to refurbish and upgrade its treatment unit in Halton. The event included live entertainment, dancing, an auction, a medieval medicine demonstration and donated raffle prizes, and was described as Trotter’s most successful quiz to date.