A Summer to savour – Open Air Theatre in Grosvenor Park 2026
Every year I look forward to the Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre in Chester. It’s been an institution since 2010 when the Chester Performs Theatre Company first put on Much A Do About Nothing in the Grade 2 Green Listed Grosvenor Park. In 2017 Storyhouse opened in the old Odeon Cinema and the players became the Storyhouse Theatre Company.
I always try and get to both adult open air productions because it’s one of the best things to do in Chester with friends, family, or as a couple. Now and again I’ve caught the fabulous plays being performed for a younger audience, dragging friend’s kids with me!
The Grosvenor Park theatre is in the round and has deckchairs at the front, wooden step type seats (a bit how Chester’s Amphitheatre might have been!) with some cover for the top few rows of seats. Cannot tell you how many times I’ve been caught in a downpour watching a production of Pride and Prejudice or West End Story, but it’s always great fun. There’s always different events happening in Chester and this is one of the best.
Food at the Chester Open Air Theatre
I don’t like to worry about where my next meal’s coming from so as well as bringing a massive amount of picnic food to Grosvener open air theatre and usually a bottle of wine (it’s summer) I preorder pizza when I book the tickets with Storyhouse. It’s never a mistake! The food available and the drinks are even better this year. I know what I like so I’m taking my own picnic still, but you can order one ready made up.
What’s premiering at Chester’s Grosvenor park open air theatre this year?
I shall tell you:-
Outlaws: A Robin Hood Story (Friday 3rd July until Sunday 23rd August)
Let The Sun Shine! (Friday 10th July until Sunday 23rd of August)
Peter Pan will also be performed, who doesn’t love a journey to Neverland?
All promise to deliver the usual exceptional performances. It is such an uplifting experience being together and so close to the audience and actors. The atmospheric, intimate theatre in the round adds to the usual buzz of theatre going excitement!
As well as the teepee bar, The Storyhouse in the Park Festival will also boast an array of street food which is bigger and better in 2026. You’ll be able to pick up craft beers and frozen cocktails.
When does the Grosvenor park open air theatre start?
The open-air season kicks off from June the 27th running until September the 6th.
Chester Street Food Weekend at Grosvenor Park
I probably won’t be able to due to running Chester Food Tours but I’d love to be there for what sounds like being a brilliant, vibrant Street Food Weekend at the park on 27th and 28th of June. This is free entry and will kick the season off nicely with live music playing and everyone having a good sample of what kind of street food Chester has to offer.
The rest of the best at Grosvenor park this summer
The Storyhouse in the Park festival site is also hosting comedy nights, Murder Mystery events, plus yoga in the park. Most excitingly Moonlight Flicks, an open-air cinema experience missing from Chester for a couple of years is back. Other family friendly sessions will also be going on.
How exciting to have something like this happening in our city! I have everything crossed for good weather this year. We can manage a bit of rain but how muich better to have a sunny weekend and a dry deckchair whilst watching a film or play?! Chester has so much to offer entertainment wise over the summer months and means more opportunity to bring the community together.
Details of the Storyhouse in the Park Festival site
If you can get down for any of the events at Grosvenor Park, it’s well worth it. Take a look at the link below for the full round up and to find tickets. What could be better than watching a play under the stars after a food & history tour of Chester with me on my Chester on a Plate food tour?!
Storyhouse Grosvenor Open Air Theatre click here for further information