The very first images of a brand-new luxury wedding venue opening its doors at Chester Zoo have finally been released.
After the UK’s largest charity zoo announced back in July 2022 that it would be venturing into the events scene with the opening of one of the North West‘s most unique wedding venues this year, the jaw-dropping first images of the luxury 200-capacity space, known as The Square, have officially been revealed to the public.
The Square is set to open following a three-year project to restore a Grade II-listed stable block, which has stood at the heart of the zoo since it opened in 1931.
The original structures were once home to some of the zoo’s first animals including lions, bears and chimpanzees – but now, the historic building offers a unique setting for weddings, with couples able to tie the knot surrounded by 27,000 animals.
When wedding bells aren’t ringing though, the venue can also be booked exclusively for meetings and corporate events.
ADVERTISEMENT
Featuring a whole host of preserved original features that Chester Zoo says “tell the story of its remarkable history”, the building boasts an impressive gated entrance, a large private courtyard, exposed brick walls, vaulted rafters, and large windows overlooking newly created gardens, while many of the patterns and textures used throughout draw inspiration from some of the endangered species the zoo is working to protect.
Conservationists say income generated by every occasion held at the new venue will contribute to the zoo’s charitable efforts to prevent extinction.
ADVERTISEMENT
It’s also hoped the venue will go on to stage important global summits on wildlife conservation.
The Square is set to open in 2023 / Credit: Chester Zoo
“There’s nothing else quite like this stunning new venue anywhere in the UK,” admitted Chester Zoo’s CEO Jamie Christon.
“It’s an incredible building that’s stood at the heart of the zoo for approaching a century and, through careful restoration, it’s now been brought to life to create a one-of-a-kind space which not only embodies the zoo’s rich history and character, but offers modern luxuries and comforts.
ADVERTISEMENT
“And what’s more, who wouldn’t want to get married or have a company away day surrounded by 27,000 animals?
“Most importantly, each and every occasion that takes place at The Square will contribute to our charitable mission to prevent extinction, helping us to secure a brighter future for wildlife worldwide.
“That’s what makes our new venue incredibly special and we can’t wait to start welcoming people to it.”
The Grade II-listed space can accommodate up to 380 guests / Credit: Chester Zoo
The Square can accommodate 200 guests inside its main room, The Atrium, while three other reception and breakout rooms take the total capacity of the building to 380.
Each of the rooms can be used independently or in combination, giving the building the flexibility to be able to host any type of event, large or small.
Find out more and enquire about booking on the Chester Zoo website here.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
Trending
The player celebrations from Stockport County’s League Two trophy presentation are glorious
Danny Jones
If you’re a Stockport County fan, you’ve had a very good year as the Hatters have just been crowned League Two champions and will be back in the English third tier next season – safe to say they’ve been making most of the trophy celebrations.
Players and staff very much included.
Edgeley was filled with flares and even people climbing on rooftops when they officially secured promotion back to League One for the first time in 12 years – the second time they’ve managed to go up in three seasons – and there was a great attendance in Stockport town centre for the bus parade.
But it was last week’s trophy presentation back at the stadium that produced some of the most memorable scenes, with County topping off a season of impressive and often high-scoring performances on the pitch with plenty more pageantry. Cue the music.
— Stockport (C)ounty (@StockportCounty) May 3, 2024
No one ever takes those pitch invasion ‘warnings’ seriously – not even the players.
We still haven’t stopped laughing at Kyle Knoyle.
From bringing Isaac Olaofe’s ‘Tanto’s on fire!’ chant to life to hammering home puns on names like Fraser Horsfall, no matter how obvious, these are the kind of deeply unserious celebrations we expect from a trophy presentation.
County fan or not, you’ve got to admit it looks like a good party.
It’s moments like these that players, fans and staff work hard all season for; to prat around like muppets in front of their adoring supporters. They even got assistant coach, Clint Hill, in the mix and, as it turns out, he proved to be one of the biggest ring-leaders.
We sincerely hope the Hatters keep trickling out more of these party scenes as we know there’s plenty more that fans would love to watch back.
We’re still yet to see captain Paddy Madden, who won Player of the Month for April, and the gaffer himself, Dave Challinor, who has comfortably secured his legacy as one of the club’s all-time greats.
Challinor and the club have made no secret of seriously eyeing up the Championship and who knows what else at County’s momentum continues to build, especially with a huge stadium redevelopment kicking off soon.
What do you reckon, Hatters – do you reckon a third promotion could be on the cards?
Liam Gallagher says he’ll ‘gig in Lidl’ if Co-op Live still isn’t ready – and they sound pretty game for it
Danny Jones
Following the ongoing palaver with Co-op Live, Liam Gallagher has joked that he’d happily play his scheduled gigs in a Lidl if the arena still isn’t ready – at least we think he’s joking…
With Liam Gallagher having been named as one of the first acts booked to play Co-op Live last year, many are now wondering whether the venue will even by June, with the former Oasis frontman set to play four Definitely Maybe 30th-anniversary sets. That being said, he’s come up with a solution if not.
Turns out Liam Gallagher isn’t an Aldi man, he’s team Lidl.
Vintage LG, we’ll give him that.
Obviously a bit of a tongue-in-cheek quip at the venue being sponsored by a supermarket and convenience store chain, it could have been any other competitor that the ever-witty youngest Gallagher brother picked but it somehow made it extra funny that he chose a budget brand like Lidl.
However, with the 51-year-old already having fun with stunts like voicing the tannoys on the Metrolink last year, for instance, we wouldn’t put it past him to take this joke a little further.
Better still, not that we’re getting carried away or anything but Lidl themselves seem pretty keen on the idea too; they even spent the time to build an entire setlist for the fictional show. Fair play.
Liam Gallagher @ Lidl Arena – Setlist:
– Lidl by Lidl – Champagne Superoffer – Super(market) Sonic – The Importance of Being Lidl – Tiger Roll With It – Don’t Look Back in Hanger – Some Might Save
Can you imagine? Liam Gallagher swapping the occasional tambourine shake for beeps from a barcode scanner as he moves back and forth on the conveyor belt. We know it’s absolute nonsense and we definitely shouldn’t be even remotely considering it… BUT it’s the stuff of dreams and strange things have happened.
A lot of stranger things have happened this week alone. As for the latest with Co-op Live, the Chairman and CEO of key-backers Oak View Group, Tim Leiweke, issued a full statement sharing his “sincere apologies”and insisting that they understand “there is work to be done to rebuild your trust in us.”
With the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, Peter Kay, The Black Keys and more having their gigs pulled by the venue due to numerous issues, including an air conditioning unit falling from the ceiling, fans are understandably fearful that other upcoming events could face delays or general misfortune.
Much like the venue itself, we imagine we’ll be playing catch-up on this whole saga for the foreseeable, but here’s a recap of the story so far: