The ‘Build Your Own food tour’ phenomenon.
I didn’t expect people to approach me and ask to design their own private food & drink tour. Initially, I thought it would just be a case of couples, families, friends, going to the website, seeing what’s available and booking onto a group. Many have, but it has very much not been the whole story! Now, guests are emailing and suggesting their own foodie experiences. They throw out days and times that suits them and their mates, loved ones, or their colleagues. At first it scared me, full on bunny in the headlights syndrome. But as time’s rolled on and I’ve avoided becoming roadkill, I am firmly stuck into the challenge. My goal was, ‘have food tours running daily in Chester’, I didn’t really think much further than that at the beginning, but, Chester is still what you’d call a small city. With my regular stops closed on Mondays and Tuesdays I began foraging and exploring all over again and, never in doubt, found equally as delicious hidden gems. A surprising amount of eateries do open their doors midweek. In every way it’s been a bonus, gaining me a bevy of independent partners.
Designing private tours for anyone and everyone.
I can run a great local food tasting experience 7 days a week and that is exciting. I am giddy as a kipper even though it is very early days for me! Two months from today fully in business to be exact. Since starting Chester on a Plate Tours I’ve taken food tours for couples; unique culinary tours and history walking tours for groups. There has been Chester gourmet food and wine tour experiences, evening beer and cheese corporate tours. I planned 2 hour long tours for businesses, and hour long tours for business lunch relaxers. This on top of the main multi-stop food and drink tour. It’s been a learning curve! The tour I designed I love, but I do appreciate that weekends aren’t for everyone, or early mornings or daytime, full stop.
Historical, guided walking tours in a mash up with food and drink.
Researching the local food in Chester has not been a chore, it’s been bloody brilliant. Delving into its culture and history has been mind blowing! This isn’t a history tour of Chester, but nobody really knows their own city (apart from my dad who has a minor Chester obsession). I wanted to tell historical stories about Chester in a fun way that elevated the food tour. To make a city tour surprising for locals as well as tourists, that was the aim, and it is! At one of the regular tour stops I can waft in only to be accosted by an enthusiastic regular sitting at the bar with more facts to share! (I do due diligence…). It’s how I know where John Lennon’s gran was born. All the tours I’ve run, private or public, involve Chester’s history.
Chester Christmas markets in a mash up with Food tours.
Christmas is coming and again I have tried to adapt my Chester food and drink tour into a festive street food and local cuisine tour. The Chester Christmas Markets honestly do get better every year. The markets start on November the 16th until the 22nd of December, and I want to incorporate them into the growing caboodle of food tour experiences! The Chester on a Plate food and drink tours 2024 will be tasty, but I cannot wait to see what develops in 2025! I am focused on being known for providing top-rate food tours in Chester for everyone. The food lover and artisan food tour enthusiast, vegetarians, vegans, the dog friendly tour goer! Anyone with allergies (top priority on any food tour) or with access issues, I want them to feel confident that my main, public food tour is also for them.
I hope you fancy trying out one of the tours, or putting one together yourself. I’m currently on high food tour alert 24/7!