Hotel Indigo Chester is a contemporary boutique hotel in Chester city centre, designed to reflect the city’s unique character, from its iconic architecture to the historic Chester Racecourse, the oldest in the UK. Hotel Indigo Chester is just a short walk from Chester’s famous Rows, extensive shopping district, and the 2,000-year-old city walls. Having not been to Chester for quite some time, I was so excited to visit and stay at a great hotel brand that I have had many wonderful experiences with!
PLEASE NOTE: THIS WAS AN INVITE; however, my views are my own.
When searching for highly-rated hotels in Chester, it’s no surprise that Hotel Indigo ranks among the best. With its exceptional Forge restaurant, a cosy bar, and 75 uniquely styled air-conditioned king bedded rooms, the hotel is the perfect base for exploring the city, given its convenient central location. Arriving by car, the only downside of this hotel is the absence of dedicated parking. However, this wasn’t an issue at all as there are plenty of nearby car parks, and we opted for the Chester Browns Yard Car Park, just a five-minute walk away. The train station is also conveniently located just 10 minutes away.
Upon entering the hotel, we were warmly greeted by friendly faces. Check-in was seamless, and as we explored the hotel, we had a quick look at The Forge restaurant that we would be dining in later and the cosy lounge area.
We were booked into a King Deluxe room, and as we entered, we were greeted by a long corridor leading to a spacious and luxurious room. It was bright and inviting, making us feel instantly at home. The room, located at the front of the hotel, remained serene despite occasional pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Furnished with a huge King-sized bed, a work station, a Nespresso coffee machine, fresh towels, toiletries, and plush dressing gowns, the room left no detail overlooked! The stocked fridge offered a selection of soft and alcoholic drinks. I particularly appreciated the art deco cups and saucers, perfect for enjoying numerous cups of tea!
The bathroom was equally impressive, featuring a fantastic waterfall shower that my partner, being 6 ft 6, thoroughly enjoyed! With ample mirrors, easy-to-use air conditioning, and a Smart TV, the room exuded a beautifully decorated ambiance. Paying homage to the Chester Racecourse, the room’s décor added a charming touch of personality. We relaxed in the room before dinner, getting into our robes and listening to music on the TV before we started to get ready for our dinner downstairs.
FORGE RESTAURANT
The hotel shares its space with The Forge, run by Head Chef Dan Regan. Offering modern British cuisine at its finest, The Forge utilizes world-class ingredients to craft simply delicious dishes. The seasonal menu boasts a variety of options, complemented by an extensive wine, cocktail, and beer list. Highly recommended by locals when we sought Chester recommendations, The Forge did not disappoint.
The restaurant started off quiet, gradually filling up as the evening progressed. We started of with a bottle of Pyros Appellation Malbec, which we found irresistible, especially paired with our mains. Fresh bread was put down on the table followed by our starters: Cured North Sea salmon with buttermilk, radish, wasabi, and artichoke, alongside haggis scotch eggs. Both dishes were delicious, especially the salmon offering a particularly fresh and well-seasoned flavour and was just a stunning dish.
For our mains, we opted for steak, selecting our own 40–60 day dry-aged steaks from The Forge’s dry age fridges. We chose the 850g ribeye steak and added a touch of Truffle & Chive butter. When the generously portioned steak arrived, our mouths hit the table by its size and appearance, even James was starting to sweat a bit at the size of it! But, it was absolutely delightful! The meat melted in our mouths, and paired with the truffle butter, it was beautiful. Accompanied by sides of dirty mash and glazed chantenay carrots, it was so enjoyable and staff added to that enjoyment by the fantastic service they offered throughout our dining experience especially helping out with choice of drinks and what paired best with our dishes.
As the evening progressed, and the restaurant started to get more busy there was a great buzz through out the restaurant. We was then Invited to the bar for cocktails after our meal, I couldn’t resist ordering my favourite, an espresso martini, which was impeccably smooth and sweet! Upon my partner’s request for a coconut-infused dessert cocktail, the talented bartenders concocted a delightful coconut espresso martini, now I am not a fan of coconut but my god, that was some great cocktail! We also enjoyed a few negronis and spritz cocktails, the bartenders were great and told us that if there was any cocktail we wanted they could make it, so we gave them a few challenges and they passed with flying colours! After a great meal and a couple of drinks, we decided to head upstairs to bed.
We awoke at 9am, having enjoyed a restful night’s sleep. I felt rejuvenated, having slept like a baby, while my partner jokingly struggled to get up from the comfortable bed “The best night’s sleep hes had in a long time” despite my reluctance to leave, the rumblings of my stomach reminded me of our breakfast reservations.
Breakfast was bustling, offering a variety of locally sourced fresh produce, a continental buffet, and classic à-la-carte options cooked to order by skilled breakfast chefs. The continental section featured cereals, fresh fruit, and pastry options, while hot dishes such as English breakfasts and salmon on toast were available via table service. Though our breakfast was included in the room rate, I noted that it would cost £15 if booked in advance or £20 if booked on the day and served in The Forge. Breakfast prices for children under 4 were complimentary, while those under 12 were £10. Given our slightly sore heads from the previous night’s indulgence, we opted for the continental breakfast and scrambled eggs on toast, which proved to be a light and flavourful choice, nice and easy on the stomachs! Tea and coffee were available aswell as fresh fruit juice that we enjoyed.
As we packed our bags and reflected on our time in Chester, we had such a great time and we felt like Hotel Indigo was a great full package hotel that offers a lot to their guests. For those seeking great value for money in a prime location to explore the best of Chester, Hotel Indigo is the ideal choice. From outstanding customer service to spacious yet relaxing rooms and exquisite dining options, Hotel Indigo exceeded our expectations. James and I vowed to return to Chester and explore more, with Hotel Indigo being a definite must-book. With prices ranging from £130, the value for money is exceptional, making it an absolute steal.
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