Ivy Has Arrived in Chester

On Thursday night, we got to head to the opening night of The Ivy Chester Brasserie, and what a fantastic night it was.

There has been a lot of talk around this opening, and after seeing it properly for ourselves, it is easy to understand why. The building has been completely transformed from its previous All Bar One days into something that feels elegant, polished and full of personality.

We arrived to a rolled out green carpet with a photographer to take every guest’s picture upon entrance. From the moment you walk in, you are met with that classic Ivy style the brand is known for, with a space that feels glamorous without being stuffy, and stylish without losing that warm, welcoming feel. The new Chester site is on Newgate Street, and The Chester Ivy officially opens to the public on 28 April 2026 as the 46th addition to The Ivy Collection.

What really stood out on the night though was not just the interiors, but the hospitality. The team were fantastic. My prosecco flute was never empty, the staff were chatty and professional, helping us take pictures and talk about the new venue. The Canapes were delicious, from their classic arancini, to fish cakes, and steaks on a skewer. It was gorgeous.

The location is also a huge part of why this opening feels like such a good fit. Pepper Street and the surrounding area are already packed with some of Chester’s most popular restaurants, and The Ivy now joins that mix in a very natural way. Sitting among well-known names like Piccolinos and Artezzan and in one of the city’s busiest hospitality spots, it feels like it belongs there.

Yes, it adds another strong name into the mix, and of course that brings competition, but the good thing is these venues all bring something different to the table. They are not all trying to be the same thing, and that is exactly what makes a restaurant scene stronger.

In a lot of ways, Pepper Street is starting to feel like Chester’s answer to Castle Street in Liverpool. It is becoming one of those areas where people know they can head for a proper day or night out, with quality food, drinks and atmosphere all within walking distance of each other. The Ivy’s arrival only adds to that energy.

The Chester restaurant is also a major opening in practical terms, not just in name. The site will have 163 covers, including a terrace, also providing one hundred jobs too.

For Chester, this feels like another sign of confidence in the city center and where its hospitality scene is heading. The Ivy does not open just anywhere, and when a brand with more than a century of history behind it chooses your home city, it says something. The original Ivy began in London in 1917, and the wider Ivy Collection has since grown into a major national brand.

Chester has gained another big-name restaurant, and I do believe it fits in really well with our Chester crowd. But for me, the best thing about The Ivy arriving is what it says about Chester as a hospitality city. Big names are choosing to invest here, independents are still giving the city its personality, and together they are creating a food scene that feels exciting, varied and worth shouting about.

Competition should not scare us. When it is done well, it raises standards, brings more people in, and gives Chester another reason to be proud of what it offers. The Ivy has arrived, and Chester’s hospitality scene feels all the better for it.