ABode Chester

About ABode Chester

ABode Chester sits on Grosvenor Road, immediately outside the city walls on the racecourse side, a five-minute walk from the central cross and about the same from the river. It is a modern building rather than a conversion, which gives it two advantages over most Chester hotels: consistent room sizes with proper soundproofing and air conditioning, and upper floors with genuine views across the Roodee to the Welsh hills.

Bedrooms are contemporary and individually designed, with large beds, walk-in showers and, in the better categories, floor-to-ceiling glass facing the course. Rooms on the racecourse side are the ones to ask for; those facing inwards are quieter but plainer. The hotel is part of the Andrew Brownsword group, and the standard of housekeeping and maintenance reflects that.

Brasserie ABode runs from breakfast through to dinner, and the fifth-floor bar is the real find – one of the few places in Chester where you can drink with a view over the city and the river rather than a street. Race days transform the hotel completely, with the terrace and upper floors overlooking the finish, and rates rise accordingly.

This is the most straightforward choice for travellers who want a reliable four-star with modern facilities and a central position, and it works well for business visitors and for couples on a first visit to the city. The station is a short taxi ride or a twenty-minute walk. There is no hotel car park, though parking is available nearby at the Little Roodee and Grosvenor car parks, and the hotel can advise on rates.