IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) has announced the opening of its sixteenth Hotel Indigo® in the UK, in the heart of the notable city of Chester. Within walking distance to one of the oldest racecourses in Britain and numerous historical attractions, Hotel Indigo® Chester is the perfect choice for a weekend getaway.
Only a short drive from some the UK’s most vibrant cities, Manchester and Liverpool, Chester has become a popular destination for guests to enjoy a short break. Steeped in history, the city is home to sites that hold great historical significance, including the best surviving Roman Fortress Wall in Northern Europe, Britain’s largest Roman Amphitheatre, the oldest racecourse in Britain and a one-thousand-year-old cathedral with some of Europe's finest examples of medieval carvings.
Featuring 75 rooms, the much-awaited boutique Hotel Indigo Chester, combines elements from the city’s local character and charm, with vibrant colours and textures to give the hotel a residential look and feel. Just as no two places are alike, no two Hotel Indigo® properties are the same. The hotel’s design reflects the surrounding neighbourhood by drawing inspiration from three key elements of the city – the material layers of its architecture, the iconic 1897 Eastgate Clock and the world-famous Chester Racecourse.
True to the brand’s unique design credentials, Hotel Indigo Chester offers guests a selection of three individually designed room types that differ by floor. Each room type has its own narrative helping to tell the neighbourhood story:
- The Racecourse Roomnods to the Chester Racecourse (also known as Roodee) with cleverly hidden horse racing motifs dotted around the room to capture the essence of the racecourse and the traditional tack room and stable. Original horse-riding equipment such as bits and stirrup leathers have been used in the design, together with the iconic red circle winning post featured in the bedroom mirror. Betting odds can also be found printed on the side tables giving the room a fun but sophisticated look.
- The Chester Rows Roomis themed around the iconic buildings seen all over the city, featuring black and white timber panels, and ornate architectural detailing. Bespoke painted gold stenciling adorns the painted paneling and is echoed in the gold mesh wardrobe detail.
- The Eastgate Clock Room is inspired by an iconic symbol of Chester, the Eastgate Clock. The design of the rooms plays with vibrant reds, soft jade and gold metals, while the geometry of the clock is simplified and imprinted in a subtle and interesting way throughout the room.
Bethan Johnston, General Manager, Hotel Indigo Chester, said: “At Hotel Indigo we believe in providing more than just a good night’s sleep, we want to create an experience as unique as the neighbourhood in which we are found. With our unique design and thoughtful touches inspired by the local history and surrounding influences, guests can get a flavour of 
the neighbourhood through our hotel before heading off to explore the city for themselves.”
Karan Khanna, Managing Director, UK&I, IHG, said:“Hotel Indigo® is now in more than 100 different and vibrant neighbourhoods globally. Chester, with its rich history and reputation as one of Europe’s prettiest cities is the perfect fit for our newest opening and we look forward to opening our arms to guests from around the world as well as our local neighbours.”
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the hotel’s new fine dining restaurant Wood Chester, from award winning 2015 MasterChef champion Simon Wood. The design of the 96 cover restaurant nods to Simon’s signature style. Set in a relaxed environment to enjoy his unintimidating fine dining, it is the perfect new outlet for locals and hotel guests. At the heart of the restaurant is the chef’s table and theatre kitchen providing the perfect vista for guests to watch Simon and his team as they work. Evening diners can also sample Simon’s famous seven or ten course blind tasting menu, created with fresh seasonal produce. The restaurant also features a private dining room that accommodates up to ten people for a meeting or dinner.
Breakfast at the hotel offers a variety of guests’ favourite dishes such as a full English, poached eggs and avocado on sourdough toast and pancakes with crispy bacon and maple syrup, all alongside an extensive continental buffet.
There are more than 103 Hotel Indigo properties open globally with more than 99 in the hotel pipeline, including Japan’s first Hotel Indigo, Hotel Indigo® Hakone Gora due to open later this year. In Europe alone, there more than 31 hotels open in key neighbourhoods with a further 18 due to open in the next 3-5 years*.