Monton House Hotel welcomed 2012 in style, with a successful New Year’s Eve evening held in the Monton Suite.
After the recent fun filled festivities it is easy to get the January Blues this month. Why not take a look at what’s on in Chester this month to lift your spirits and make a great start to the year.
Until 8 January
Treasured Possessions from Chester’s Past
Grosvenor Museum, Grosvenor Street, 10.30am -5pm (1 – 4pm Sunday) Free
9 January – 30 March
Lunatics, Lovers, Poets & More
Heritage Centre, Bridge Street Row, 10am – 4pm Monday – Friday, Free
14 January – 1 April
The Head That Wears the Crown: Decoding Royal Portraits in Chester
Grosvenor Museum, Grosvenor Street, 10.30am -5pm (Sunday 1 – 4pm) Free
28 January – 7 May
Colourful Impressions: The Joy of Modern Prints
Grosvenor Museum, Grosvenor Street, 10.30am -5pm (Sunday 1 – 4pm) Free
4 January
Scottish Country Dancing
Caldy Valley Centre, 7.45 – 10pm, £2
6 January
The Moo Cows
Telfords Warehouse, Free before 9pm (£4 thereafter)
7 January
The Suns
Telfords Warehouse, Free before 9pm (£4 thereafter)
8 January
Cheshire Jets v Guildford Heat
Northgate Arena, Victoria Road, 5.30pm, £10 to £14 (Concession £7 to £11, Child £5 to £9, Family ticket £28 to £40)
Baby Brave & the Lovebites
Telfords Warehouse, Free before 9pm (£4 thereafter)
10 January
Chester Federation of Arts: Lunchtime Concert
Wesley Methodist Church, St John Street, 12.45pm, £3 at the door
11 January
Celebrity Concert
StMary’s Centre, St Mary’s Hill, 7.30pm, £12
Scottish Country Dancing
Caldy Valley Centre, 7.45 – 10pm, £2
Nestor Bayona Pifarré (piano)
St Mary’s Centre, St Mary’s Hill, 7.30 pm, £12
Art and Cultures of the Mediterranean
Grosvenor Museum, Grosvenor Street, 1.30 – 3.30pm, £3
12 January
Paul Jones & Dave Kelly
Alexander’s, Rufus Court (Off Northgate Street), £16 (£15 in advance)
Anais Labelle
Telfords Warehouse, Free
13 January
Emanuel & The Fear (USA)
Telfords Warehouse, Free before 9pm (£4 thereafter)
15 January
Trevor Carlisle Quartet
Alexander’s, Rufus Court (Off Northgate Street), 2 – 5pm, Free
17 January
Chester Federation of Arts: Lunchtime Concert
Wesley Methodist Church, St John Street, 12.45pm, £3 at the door
18 January
Scottish Country Dancing
Caldy Valley Centre, 7.45 – 10pm, £2
20 January
World Upside Down
Alexander’s, Rufus Court (Off Northgate Street) £5
21 January
The Chester Chamber Orchestra
Wesley Methodist Church, St John’s Street, 7.30pm, £10, (Concession £8, U18s & students £5)
Dave Roberts Quartet
Alexander’s, Rufus Court (Off Northgate Street), 2 – 5pm, Free
The Reads
Telfords Warehouse, Free before 9pm (£4 thereafter)
Bill Powell’s ‘Borneo Adventure’ plus Climbing Kilamanjaro, Mike Round (Chester Globetrotters Travel Club)
Grosvenor Museum, Grosvenor Street, Doors open at 1pm, £3 (refreshments included)
22 January
Cheshire Jets v Essex Pirates
Northgate Arena, Victoria Road, 5.30pm, £10 to £14, (Concession £7 to £11, Child £5 to £9, Family ticket £28 to £40)
24 January
Chester Federation of Arts: Lunchtime Concert
Wesley Methodist Church, St John Street, 12.45pm, £3 at the door
People of Pakistan by Afzal Ansary
Grosvenor Museum, Grosvenor Street, 7.30 – 9.30 pm, £3 pay at the door
25 January
Chester Music Society Club
St Mary’s Centre, St Mary’s Hill, 7.30pm, £5
Scottish Country Dancing
Caldy Valley Centre, 7.45 – 10pm, £2
A Town Most Royal: Illustrating Chester’s Links with the Monarchy
Grosvenor Museum, Grosvenor Street, 1 – 2pm, £3 pay on the door
English Civil War: Battle of Rowton Moor & the Siege of Chester 1642-46
Grosvenor Museum, Grosvenor Street, 7.30pm, non-members £4, students £2
27 January
Victor Michael & His Orchestra
Methodist Church, Hamilton Street, 7.30pm, £10
28 January
Mersey Mania
Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, 7.30pm, £12 (Concession £10)
29 January
Cheshire Jets v Leicester Riders
Northgate Arena, Victoria Road, 5.30pm, £10 to £14, (Concession £7 to £11, Child £5 to £9, Family ticket £28 to £40)
30 January
Chester Society for Landscape History
Grosvenor Museum, Grosvenor Street, 7.30pm , Visitors welcome, £4
31 January
Impressions of the Landscape by Pierino Algieri
Grosvenor Museum, Grosvenor Street, 7.30 – 9.30pm, £3 pay at the door
Chester Federation of Arts Lunchtime Concert
Wesley Methodist Church, St John Street, 12.45pm, £3 pay at the door




Cycling has become one of the UK’s most popular weekend activities and the north west is home to some of the countries most exciting trails. The area has literally something for everyone with routes for people of all abilities. Routes in the region are also open all year round and make a great day out for families.
Packing is often met with a certain sense of dread as it seems so formulaic and dull in comparison to the excitement and anticipation of the trip that precedes it. In essence packing is boring but something we all have to do. In fact because the idea of packing is often painfully mind numbing many fail to pack the all important essentials. This is why at Venture Hotels we have put together a list of some of the things you should pack when going on a weekend break.
When taking a short weekend break away there’s nothing better than sitting back and relaxing with a few cocktails. But many often don’t know what cocktails to have so we have put together a list of the top 10 cocktails our customers like.