Cheshire

‘Britain’s poshest wedding’ will take place in Chester today with free ice cream handed out to locals

Chester is looking blooming lovely.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 7th June 2024

The most glamorous society event of the year is taking place in the North West today, as the Duke of Westminster prepares to marry Olivia Henson.

The Duke, otherwise known as Hugh Grosvenor, is the richest man in Britain under 40, with a fortune of £10.42 billion.

The 33-year-old recently moved to Cheshire, where he will wed his long-term girlfriend today at Chester Cathedral, officially ending his title as ‘Britain’s most eligible bachelor’.

Grosvenor is also godfather to Prince George, and it’s reported that Prince William will serve as an usher today.

Wedding fever has gripped Chester in earnest ahead of what’s being described as ‘Britain’s poshest wedding’, and the happy couple have been getting involved in turning their big day into a city-wide celebration.

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The Duke and Olivia have paid for everyone to have free ice cream from three local businesses all day long today, Friday 7 June.

The Duke, who inherited his title and a huge land and property portfolio at the age of just 25, also sponsored the Summer Flowers project this year.

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It’s seen more than 100,000 flowers planted across the city and Chester is bursting with colour as a result.

It’s likely there’ll be no expense spared for the lavish celebration and it may be the most elaborate wedding the country will see for several years to come.

It’s had the entire city in an excited tizzy and Chester, already one of the most picturesque cities in the country, is looking better than ever for the big day.

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Enormous floral arrangements now adorn the historic Chester Cathedral entrance, everything in town is sparkling, and local shops have created special displays in honour of the happy couple.

The Eastgate Clock on the City Walls was lit up in red white and blue last night ahead of what is, essentially, the north west’s royal wedding.

Chester BID shared yesterday: “As part of local celebrations for their wedding, The Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson are delighted to support three fantastic independent businesses by subsidising free ice cream, gelato or sorbet for those who visit the city centre this Friday 7th June.

“@krumgelato will be opening at 10am and scoop on the day until stock lasts! Offering a single scoop of a range of gelato flavours as well as lemon sorbet (the theme of the couple’s wedding cake) using very special Italian lemons to be served exclusively on Friday.

“@cheshirefarm_icecream based in @newchestermarket is also offering a range of Cheshire Farm single-scoop ice-creams or slices of a new lemon-sponge flavoured arctic roll.

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“AND Diddy Donuts underneath the Eastgate Clock is offering a single scoop of ice-cream, a small portion of their donuts or water, tea and coffee. Who wants ice cream?”

Featured image: Unsplash, Rachel Hannah

Cheshire

First vendors confirmed Glossop Market Hall, including two indie Manc traders

Danny Jones Danny Jones First Glossop Market Hall traders confirmed

The first vendors for the upcoming Glossop Market Hall have been announced, and the lineup includes two beloved Greater Manchester independent businesses.

Better still, the third is another noteworthy name from the North West.

Glossop Market Hall is scheduled to launch later this year, setting up shop in the historic town hall complex, where the High Peak Borough Council, a retail shopping arcade and various other municipal buildings have stood in various different iterations for nearly well over a century.

With the Derbyshire town set to celebrate the opening of the newly revamped market hall, those behind the new Glossop attraction have now revealed the first three names set to take up residence there.

As you can see, the biggest names already signed on to cook from one of the six kitchens is a Manchester favourite food hall in its own right: Hello Oriental.

The Pan-Asian paradise not only has a subterranean space below Circle Square, but also at The Trafford Centre, as well as a dessert spin-off in Freight Island.

Indie trader number two comes in the form of B&V Trading, who are based at Stanley Square in Sale and specialise in eco-friendly, UK-made treats, toys and essentials for four-legged friends.

After proving a hit with the locals, their small stall at nearby Altrincham Market has grown to see them open up not just a second site in the leafy Cheshire suburbs of Knutsford back in 2022, but now boast a third location in neighbouring Macclesfield.

Speaking of Macc, local gin and whisky makers, Forest Distillery – based up at the famous Cat and Fiddle Inn pub towards the Peaks – they round out the first wave of regional businesses set to pop up in Glossop Market Hall (GMH) when it finally arrives this winter.

Credit: B&V Trading/Forest Distillery (via IG)/The Manc Eats

And once again, as the update on social media reads: “This is just the beginning”.

Natives, day-trippers and tourists from all over are bound to visit this place when it opens sometime in November (exact date still TBC), and with space not only for a dedicated bar, dining space and a coffee shop, but a total of 17 retail spaces, we can’t wait to see what comes next.

GMH becomes just the latest among a growing trend of food and drink halls popping up all over our part of the country, with virtually every Greater Manchester borough now boasting at least one of their own – or, in the city centre’s case, what feels like a dozen now.

Exhibit number… not sure, we’ve lost track at this point.

Plans lodged to turn Ducie Street Warehouse into huge food hall

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Featured Images — High Peak Borough Council

Cheshire

Dazzling Christmas light trail to return to Chester Zoo with new installations this winter

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Chester Zoo has announced that it’s dazzling Christmas light trail will be returning this winter with some new installations.

Still think it’s a bit too early to mention the ‘C’ word? Well you’ll have to start getting used to it soon, because Chester Zoo‘s massively-popular Christmas lights trail is set to return very soon and organisers are promising this year’s trail will be its ‘brightest ever’ – with a whole raft of new additions.

The zoo has, once again, teamed up with entertainment giants Sony Music to deliver this year’s Lanterns and Light spectacle.

Over the past couple of years, Lanterns and Light has proved to be such a success that it’s developed into one of the North West’s biggest and longest-running festive light trails, and all profits from the event support the zoo’s charitable mission to prevent wildlife extinction.

A dazzling Christmas light trail will be returning to Chester Zoo with new installations this winter / Credit: Chester Zoo

All profits from the event, which will run on selected nights from 14 November 2025 until 3 January 2026, will support the zoo’s charitable mission to prevent wildlife extinction.

This year’s trail will see the zoo transform into a spectacular winter wonderland with colour-changing forests, glowing animals, show-stopping puppets and, brand-new for this year, a host of new immersive installations.

Among the exciting new highlights for 2025 is The Airquarium, which is a dreamlike world filled with floating, glowing sea creatures, and the Bubble Walk which will bring a joyful explosion of light and colour.

All profits support the zoo’s charitable mission to prevent wildlife extinction / Credit: Chester Zoo

Also debuting this year is Submergence – an awe-inspiring walk-through tunnel of light that fully immerses guests in a dazzling, interactive display.

Dozens of life-sized animal puppets, animated by expert performers, will also line the trail.

Alongside all these new additions will be a bunch of returning favourite attractions like giant festive baubles, neon-lit walkways, marshmallow toasting stations, fairground rides, and an enchanting fire garden, as well as a chance to catch a glimpse of Father Christmas hard at work in his toy workshop with his busy team of elves.

“We’re bringing something new and spectacular to Lanterns and Light in 2025, and it’s planned to be our brightest Christmas trail ever,” commented Gemma Wright, who is the Head of Guest Experience at Chester Zoo.

“What makes Lanterns and Light so special is that it’s not only an unforgettable festive experience, but also one with real purpose behind it.

“Every ticket purchased helps to fund Chester Zoo’s vital conservation work right here at the zoo, where we care for and breed some of the world’s most threatened species, and in more than 20 countries globally where we’re working with partners to prevent extinction.

“By joining us for this magical evening, visitors are also helping to secure a brighter future for wildlife globally.”

Read more:

Lanterns and Light will return to Chester Zoo from Friday 14 November 2025 and will run on selected evenings right through to 3 January 2026 – with tickets now on sale, priced at £19 for adults, £12 for children, £2.50 for toddlers, and free for babies.

You can get your hands on tickets here.

Featured Image – Chester Zoo

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