CHESTER'S dining destinations are preparing to showcase a feast of special offers and tasting experiences from Saturday, January 12, as part of the city's first ever CH1 Food and Drink Week.

CH1ChesterBID is planning to celebrate the city's dining revolution by hosting the week, which runs until Sunday, January 20.

And two of the city centre restaurants have been delighted with their successes since they arrived on the dining scene.

After three years of trading in the city, Olive Tree Brasserie on the Watergate Street Rows had a record number of covers at the beginning of December.

Dean Wilson, owner and director, who created the modern Greek/Mediterranean restaurant brand more than 11 years ago, said: “Over the past couple of years, Chester has really become a steadfast foodie hotspot.

"There have been a number of high calibre national awards won by both us and our peers, which has really shone a spotlight on the city as a place to dine."

Dean, who owns three other Olive Tree Brasserie restaurants throughout the North West, added: “When we opened such a large restaurant in a small city, of course, there was a risk but we have always stuck to what we are and believe in and I think slowly but surely, we have become part of the rich tapestry of the city’s brilliant culinary culture.

"It's been a record-breaking year and we can't wait for 2019!”

Citywide, Carl Critchlow, BID manager, said: "We are fortunate to have a wide variety of exceptional food and drink choices available in Chester city centre - from Italian to Greek to Arabian cuisine - we've got it all, and Olive Tree Brasserie is among an elite group of restaurants who have helped stake Chester's place on the UK's dining map!"

Elsewhere, the husband and wife team behind Chester’s newest Italian restaurant say they have been ‘overwhelmed’ with the support they’ve received from Cestrians since opening their doors back in August.

Da Noi, on Bridge Street, has been inspired by the tastes and culture of Northern Italy, where owners Fabrizio Gobbato and Valentina Aviotti lived before moving to the UK six years ago.

The eatery offers a range of authentic Italian dishes with a home-cooked theme, including handmade pasta and Valentina’s special lasagne recipe, which has been handed down through family generations.

Alongside the food, the couple is also committed to ensuring authenticity in their wine menu, with more than 80 per cent of their wines imported directly from North-Western Italy.

Fabrizio said: “We are thrilled to be open and running in Chester and we’ve been so pleased with how popular the restaurant has been with local people.

“When we moved to the UK six years ago, it was a city we admired and always loved visiting. So, to have our own restaurant here now is really exciting and we’ve been overwhelmed with the support we’ve had – from both customers and other traders in the city.

“We’ve had a brilliant few months since opening and can’t wait to see what 2019 brings for Da Noi in Chester. The independent business community that we have become involved in since opening is very unique to this city, and both Valentina and I really appreciate that support.”

The name ‘Da Noi’ actually translates as “At our home” in English and Fabrizio says that it was always the couple’s intention for their restaurant to reflect a traditional Italian kitchen.

Fabrizio and Valentina will open up the ‘Da Noi Club’, featuring 3 unique initiatives, in February 2019. These will include wine tasting nights, the ‘Giro d’Italia’ which will feature a unique regional menu and ‘Dine with Valentina’, where Valentina, the owner and chef, will demonstrate how to cook the dishes.

“We want everything to be genuinely Italian, so our customers can experience the real taste of Italy in our restaurant,” added Fabrizio.

“We love getting up each day and recreating the dishes from our hometown of Turin so we can offer the people of Chester a family-type experience when they visit us.

“Although we’ve had a great few months, we really want to continue that success into the next year and that’s why we’re putting on the Da Noi Club, to establish a real brand and keep people coming back.”

Judy Tagell, marketing manager at CH1ChesterBID, added: “It’s great to see another independent restaurant opening up on Bridge Street, further expanding the city centre’s restaurant offering.

“We’re lucky to have some fantastic Italian restaurants like Da Noi, which really complement the diverse range of food on available in Chester."

  • For more information about The Olive Tree Brasserie, visit olivetreebrasserie.co.uk, for details on Da Noi, visit www.danoichester.co.uk, and for more on CH1 Food and Drink Week, visit www.ch1chesterbid.co.uk.