About Us – Things to do in Chester
Chester on a Plate Food Tours Chester on a Plate Food Tours
About Us
⇒ What we support
Independent food businesses – restaurants, bars. market stalls, bakehouses, 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 needed to fight kidney disease.
Street Angels – An organisation working tirelessly to help the homeless
Things to do in Chester
⇒ What we offer
A walking tour of Chester plus a guided tour of Chester, not to mention a sightseeing tour of Chester.
Our half-day tour encompasses all of this but you also experience an exclusive foodie adventure! There are so many things to do in Chester. Our Chester on a Plate food tours should be top of your list!
I’m Steph, founder of Chester on a Plate Food Tours.
My heart definitely lies with food, travel, and reading but I have a lot of love for rambly walks, history, and all things creative. The About Us is about my food loving background and what led to the creation of Chester on a Plate Tours.
I’ve been lucky enough to always enjoy my work and have owned artisinal food businesses for over 25 years. In 2007, I launched a chilli sauce business (King Charles tasted our chilli jam!) that traded globally.
Our artisan products won numerous prestigious awards from around the world and although hardwork; I loved the food festivals and creating recipes.
A few years later I opened a wine deli near Chester awarded ‘Best New Business in the Northwest’ by the Princes Trust (a very proud moment) and catered for corporate events.
Following my third kidney transplant I opted to sell up, 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!
Food tours have become a bit of an obsession. After a tapas tour in Barcelona I started going on food tours whenever me and my partner went away, wondering if there was anything similar in the UK.
One thing led to another and I began working for Scranchester run by Rob Kelly, running food tours in Manchester
The Beginning
After witnessing a real surge of independent global and local food & drink venues in Chester, I felt inspired to give the food tours a go. In September 2024, I launched Chester on a Plate Food Tours so I could share Chester’s rejuvenated food scene with others.
Chester holds a special place in my heart. It’s my hometown, and I’m deeply passionate about supporting the businesses that are helping it thrive. I wanted to be part of Chester’s exciting food revival; Covid was a really challenging time for hospitality but so many independent business owners in Chester made it work for them.
People from all over the world are discovering why Chester has been named the most beautiful city in the world (true fact!) and the most welcoming city in the UK. For me, there’s no where like it. Chester is a blend of breathtaking culture and an evolving, mouth-watering culinary scene waiting to be explored.
There are lots of things to do in Chester and the food we have here is becoming a highlight. Award-winning restaurants, independent food vendors, and locally-produced drinks make Chester the perfect place for food lovers. I’m proud to help showcase the best of this city, and I’d love to share it with you.
Steph x
Food as an inspiration.
One of the reasons I am attracted to working with food stems from health issues over the years. Renal failure at 19 years old meant that, in between kidney transplants, I spent 18 years on and off dialysis.
Trust me, the renal diet is boring and meals can be unbelievably bland. As for drink, you’re restricted to 500 mls a day.
I’ve had my fourth kidney transplant for nearly 6 years now, and I’m even more of an aspiring gastronome. Any opportunity to taste and sample different cuisines, I take it
People who book on food tours do it to discover delicious snacks, drink unique beverages, and basically have a chat and a laugh. Additionally, with us you’re exploring Chester which is a pure joy. Food, drink and sightseeing – a perfect storm.
Food lovers, you will relish this very different day out. I hope to see you getting a Taste 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).
