Chester’s four star Blossoms hotel opens its doors to wider community

Jan 28 2010 Chester Chronicle

Chester’s four star Blossoms hotel opens its doors to wider community

A HOTELIER is welcoming the wider community into a four-star hotel to take advantage of its restaurant and bar.

Kate Halewood, general manager of the MacDonald New Blossoms hotel in St John Street, has just returned to run the business having unveiled the newly-revamped premises in 2007.

She wants to build on the popularity of the restaurant and basement bar after these ventures were taken back in-house when the outside operator went into administration.

Mrs Halewood, 35, said: “It’s about providing a service for local businesses, local residents and visitors and for me that’s the crux of everything.”

She added: “Hotels can be perceived as a bit stuffy but we are trying to create this more relaxed approach to dining because I think people want that now.”

The menu features British food at normal restaurant prices, with everything freshly made on the premises.

Mrs Halewood lives in Vicars Cross with husband Dave, her childhood sweetheart, who also works in the hospitality trade as a chef at Harker’s in Chester.

She loves the character of the Blossoms’ building, founded in 1650, which she describes as ‘a warren’ and ‘a little haven’, away from the bustling streets outside.