Already being described as “the ultimate African safari experience right here in the UK”, some of the lodges will be located at the side of a lake, while others will offer views of a private savannah-style habitat that are home to Northern giraffes.
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Bookings officially went live last Wednesday (29 January), and demand was “nothing short of phenomenal”, with the website crashing for a brief period and more than 550 bookings made so far.
But merely moments after this, people began hitting out at the prices for overnight stays.
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Those working on the “very special” project say a stay at The Reserve will help to fund Chester Zoo’s global conservation projects.
Chester Zoo has issued a statement after people slammed the ‘totally ridiculous’ prices for safari-style lodges / Credit: Supplied
In the off-season, prices for the lodges start from £375, while one-night stays in summer start from £672.50, and then in peak season, for the more luxurious lodges, prices can go all the way up to £2,486, but it’s worth nothing that this does include guided safari tours and going behind-the-scenes with the giraffes.
“As an international wildlife charity we wholly rely on public funding to carry out our species-saving work,” a Chester Zoo spokesperson said in defence of the pricing.
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“The Reserve is the latest way that people may wish to help to directly fund our global conservation projects and make a difference to the future of some amazing, but sadly endangered, species.
“A stay at The Reserve includes so much more than a room for the night.
“Packages include elements such as a range of exclusive behind-the-scenes and animal experiences, breakfast, dinner and out-of-hours access to the zoo, as well as two-day passes and the chance to view wildlife straight from your lodge balcony.”
Find out more and book your stay in the new lodges on the Chester Zoo website here.
Featured Image – Supplied
Cheshire
Harry Styles mural unveiled at Cheshire railway station to welcome fans to his hometown
Emily Sergeant
A mural of Harry Styles has been unveiled at a railway station in Cheshire to welcome fans to his hometown.
The pop megastar and former One Direction member, turned actor, grew up in the picturesque Cheshire village of Holmes Chapel, and in recent years – most notably around the time of the 2022 Manchester dates on his world tour, Love On Tour – the village has become a popular place for visiting fans keen to see where Styles spent his younger years.
The gates of his high school and the bakery where he used to work are just a couple of the locations that Harry Styles fans like to visit when they’re around his neck of the woods.
Holmes Chapel has very much lent into the novelty of being a tourist hotspot, and nothing proves that more than the fact the village’s railway station has now unveiled a brand-new mural featuring the singer-songwriter in all his glory.
Unveiling of the new @Harry_Styles mural at Holmes Chapel station this morning.
The sun was shining and it was a great turn out from the Holmes Chapel community and Harry fans.
The new artwork depicts the 31-year-old donning one of his many famous flamboyant outfits – a yellow tweed-style blazer, with a pink feather bower around his neck.
The stunning tribute was created by local artists Eamonn Murphy and Victoria Holland, and is one of several to be installed at the station that celebrate the village and the surrounding areas, with Styles featuring alongside local landmarks such as St Luke’s Church and Hermitage Bridge.
“Artwork that pays tribute to a local area, or in this case, a very famous former resident, is always a welcome addition to a station,” commented Craig Harrop, who is the regional director for Northern.
Image shows artwork at Holmes Chapel station / Credit: Northern
“This new artwork adds to the station’s personality and charm and will no doubt prove very popular with Harry Styles fans visiting the village.”
Peter Whiers, who is the chair of Holmes Chapel Partnership that led on the creation of the artwork, added: “Eamonn and Victoria are both incredibly talented local artists and we are delighted with how they have brought our vision for this mural to life.
“This new installation not only honours Harry Styles and the impact his global success has had on our community but also enhances the station and creates a colourful new welcome to the village.”
Featured Image – Northern
Cheshire
Murder of transgender teen Brianna Ghey to be explored in ’emotional’ new ITV documentary
Emily Sergeant
The murder of transgender teen Brianna Ghey is set to be explored in an ’emotional’ new ITV documentary.
The 16-year-old from Warrington was brutally stabbed to death in a Culcheth park in February 2023 by Scarlett Jenkinson, her so-called friend of just 10 weeks, and Eddie Ratcliffe, a boy she had never even met.
The shockingly horrific incident prompted widespread public condemnation, not just in the UK but across the world.
Since Brianna’s death, her mother Esther Ghey has become a campaigner for genuine change.
Now, in this powerful upcoming 75-minute documentary film – which currently has the working title of Brianna, and is set to have its air date announced in due course – Brianna’s mother speaks in depth for the first time about her “beautiful daughter” and how the devastating loss has driven her campaign work.
Esther Ghey, featuring in the upcoming ITV documentary Brianna / Credit: ITV
The programme will feature exclusive interviews with friends and family, plus murder detectives who will reveal for the first time how they quickly built up their case to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Cheshire Police has given ITV exclusive access to their investigation for the documentary, including evidence and custody suite interviews with the two killers.
The documentary isn’t just about her tragic death though, it’s also about her life.
Brianna’s upbringing in Warrington will be explored through interviews with her close friends, who have never spoken before, where they speak for the first time about the “wonderful” and “amazing” person Brianna was, as well as her trans journey.
Brianna Ghey was brutally murdered back in February 2023 / Credit: Cheshire Police
In more ‘deeply personal’ conversations, Esther also discusses her ongoing campaign to make the UK safer for children, including her calling for a public inquiry into peer-on-peer violence, why it’s on the rise, and what can be done to stop it from escalating further amid the growing mental health crisis among young people.
She also used the documentary to look at whether the impact of social media is making children harm themselves or others.
“I took part in this amazing documentary as a way to ensure that my family’s story was told truthfully, and people could get to know Brianna the way we did,” Esther commented ahead of the show’s release later this year.
Emily Sergeant -
5th February 2025 
