About Us
A Chester Food Tour journey
Chester on a Plate Food Tours Chester on a Plate Food Tours
What we support
Independent food businesses – restaurants, bars. market stalls, bakehouses and hole in the wall venues. As long as the food is unique, created with passion and tastes delicious, that’s where we want to be!
Kidney Research Northwest – A charity dedicated to supporting the research necessary to help people suffering from kidney disease.
I’m Steph, owner of Chester on a Plate Food Tours.
Definitely, my heart lies with food and travel, but I have a lot of love for rambly walks, history and all things creative. The About us is mostly about my food obsessed background and what led to the creation of Chester on a Plate Tours.
I have been lucky to always enjoy my work and have owned artisnal food businesses for over 25 years. In 2007, I launched a chilli sauce business (King Charles has tasted chilli jam made by my own fair hands!) that traded globally. A few years later I opened a wine deli awarded ‘Best New Business in the Northwest’ by the Princes Trust; a very proud moment and one that made me realise how important the support of others is to any kind of success. I ended up extending and ultimately making the move to cater for corporate events. Following what was my 3rd kidney transplant I opted to sell up and move abroad to work and travel for a few years. I extended my food knowledge in Vietnam, Cambodia and Spain, and there are no regrets there.
I returned to the UK following kidney failure and began working for talented entrepreneur, Rob Kelly of Scranchester Food Tours. I ran food tours for Rob for over three years. There’s nothing I don’t love about this job and I began booking onto food tours every chance I got, both in the UK and whenever I went abroad,
It is one of the best experiences, a great food tour! Eventually, in reaction to seeing a growing number of independent global and local food vendors emerging in Chester, I wanted to give it a crack in my own city.
Excited by the prospect and having seen local food and drink businesses fight back after the effects of Covid, I began Chester on a Plate Food Tours in September 2024. Put simply, there is nothing I’m more passionate about than developing my business in this city. Chester is where I’m from, I have genuine affection for the city and know why it’s been named the most beautiful city in the world, the most welcoming city in the UK. Once you explore it, you understand. quite simply, I love Chester; its foundations are solid history and pure elegance. People have always rocked up for breathtakingly beautiful scenery and historical significance, but Chester now boasts mouth-watering meals and locally produced drinks in award winning restaurants. They fill the streets if you know where to find them…learn more here!
– Steph
Food as an inspiration.
One of the reasons I am so attracted to working with food stems from health issues over the years. Renal failure at 19 years old meant that, in between kidney transplants (which I was lucky to receive), I spent 18 years on dialysis. Trust me, the renal diet is boring and meals can be unbelievably bland. As for drink, you’re restricted to 500mls a day. I’ve had my fourth kidney transplant for nearly 6 years now, and I’m even more of an aspiring gastronome. I make the most of every opportunity to taste and sample different cuisines.
People come on the Chester tours to discover delicious snacks, drink unique beverages, and basically have a chat and a laugh. Additionally, exploring Chester is a pure joy; food, drink and sightseeing is a perfect storm.
Food lovers, you will relish this very different day out. I hope to see you on a Food Tour of Chester soon!
Culture
Chester is a culturally rich city full of life! In Grosvenor Park, we boast the finest example of Victorian parks in the UK. From here wander down to enjoy the Groves Promenade alongside the historical River Dee.
The museums, the Roman Amphitheatre, award winning markets, and regular festivals exist alongside each other adding to Chester’s vibrant culture.
History
Chester sits on top of a Roman fort founded in AD68. Our city was last to fall to William the Conqueror and took 5 months to surrender after King Charles’s army were beaten during the Civil War.
A beautiful mish mash of Roman and Medieval, Norman and Saxon, Victorian and Tudor architecture greets tourists as the walls wind around the ancient Cathedral, not to mention the oldest racecourse in the UK.
Food and Drink
Chester’s food and drink scene is exciting and diverse. Fantastic independents are introducing diverse food cultures and superb eateries to the city, as well as local delicacies and artisan produce.
Increasingly, fantastic bars and specialist shops are showcasing the best Chester-made alcohol. What a time to be alive! (if you’re into food and drink).
