Chester welcomes romantics with a special Valentine’s Trail (plus glittering prize); romantic walks and love stories and a glittering array of independent jewellers
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, pressure is mounting to find a romantic place to celebrate this special day. The historic city of Chester has long claimed to be Britain’s ‘City of Love’ thanks to its romantic history, great architecture, beautiful walks and outstanding jewellers. To give romance a helping hand, from the beginning of February, CH1ChesterBID invites everyone – from couples to family and friends – to take a romantic Valentine’s trail around the city centre and the chance of winning a glittering prize. Simply take a cutesy photo somewhere on the trail and upload it to social media using #LoveinChester before midnight on Friday 14 February, 2020. To download the on-line Valentine’s trail, go to www.experiencechester.co.uk
The prize is an Edwardian Gold Heart Shaped Locket & Chain that was hallmarked in Birmingham in 1902, as well as a Sweetheart Mizpah Brooch that would have been given as a love token to a loved one when they were due to be away from each other for a lengthy amount time. The word Mizpah means ‘The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another’. This prize is courtesy of one of the oldest jewellery shops in the country – Lowe & Sons of Bridge Street Row, Chester. This year, Lowe & Sons*, which specialises in luxury antique jewellery and silverware, celebrates its 250th anniversary, since opening in 1770.
Chester is a city with a history of exceptional silver working (issuing its own silver hallmark until 1962). Even today, it boasts over 20 jewellers – making it the perfect place to buy ‘that ring’ or special piece of Valentine jewellery.
Carl Critchlow, CH1ChesterBID Manager, said: “Chester’s Valentine’s trail takes visitors and residents through romantic places, starting at the ‘Romeo and Juliet-style’ balcony at the entrance to Chester’s magnificent neo-Gothic Town Hall and ending at the City’s iconic and romantic Eastgate Clock. The trail takes in imaginative and stylish places to eat ranging from Mad Hatter’s Tea Shop on Bridge Street Row to places like Northgate Street’s Sweet Elements Patisserie – a great place to get ‘sweets for your sweet’. 
“Godstall Lane, a hidden Medieval gem, known as the Chester’s ‘Romantic Heart’ features on the tour, as well as some of Chester’s well-known independent jewellers. The Cathedral at Heights tour, offers visitors the chance to find ‘higher love’ looking at the magnificent view from the top of the tower that takes in five counties as well as offering visitors the chance of exploring hidden spaces and high galleries within the Cathedral. An art gallery and great places to find cocktails also feature in this special Valentine’s trail.”
Chester’s credentials for the title of ‘City of Love’ are based on a wealth of romantic history, stories and buildings, some of which are featured in the ‘Romantic Places to Stroll’ story on www.experiencechester.co.uk/love-in-chester. Walks around the city’s romantic hot spots, include the atmospheric River Dee, bandstand and suspension bridge and features places of love and high drama like the elopement at Pepper Gate; the Wishing Steps on the Walls (that could bring you the partner of your dreams) and Billy Hobby’s Well, located in the splendour of Chester’s Victorian Grosvenor Park.
During Valentine’s week, Chester’s Grosvenor Museum, located in Grosvenor Street will feature a small ‘Love’ display of antique rings and cards in its entrance hall. Lowe & Sons, specialists in antique fine jewellery and silverware based will also be displaying beautiful Edwardian Valentine’s Day cards from the Museum at its historic Grade II-listed Bridge Street premises. These cards will be displayed in the shop window and upstairs in their own museum.
Throughout Valentine’s week, the CH1ChesterBID City Hosts, Monica Roman and Luka Morrell will be on hand to help new-to-the-city visitors navigate their way round Britain’s ‘City of Love’.
Published 27th January 2020
The post CH1ChesterBID invites everyone to ‘Be my Valentine’ in Chester’s ‘City of Love’ appeared first on Experience Chester.
