THE Chester Hunger Games have begun!

More than 30 independent Chester dining destinations have signed up to take part in the city centre scheme, which aims to see food-lovers try something new while supporting local businesses.

To play, people simply visit the chesterhunger.games website and spin the wheel, and in return they will receive a special offer tailored to one of the restaurants taking part, along with details of the venue including location and opening hours.

The special offers can be redeemed at the chosen restaurant as many times as participants like from today (Friday, February 15) to the end of the two-week trial on Thursday, February 28.

Among those showing support for the initiative is City of Chester MP Chris Matheson.

He said: "The Hunger Games is perhaps one of the best examples of a community in Chester coming together to solve a problem. When I was first approached by local restaurant owners about encouraging people to take a chance and try an independent restaurant that they may not have tried before, I could never have imagined that we would end up launching a totally unique, two-week food festival in our city.

"The Hunger Games are a fabulous opportunity to sample the best of eating in independent Chester.

"I am grateful to the Good For Nothing group that nurtured the idea, the Stride Agency for building the web application, and CH1 Chester BID, Marketing Cheshire, the council, and local councillors Richard Beacham, Martyn Delaney and Gill Watson for funding it.

"All that's left to do now is for us all to work together and get out there and explore our city in food. Happy hunting folks."

The idea for the Chester Hunger Games grew at thanks to community-based Good For Nothing holding a collaborative hack last year at Storyhouse. During the hack, Chester-based branding agency Stride proposed using simple online games to encourage local people to try restaurants they either had not been to or might not have even heard of.

Good For Nothing Chester is a 300-strong team of talented, creative professionals from Chester and West Cheshire who meet and pool professional skills to solve issues and business problems and accelerate positive change for the communities in Chester.

As a result of the hack, the Chester Hunger Games website was created thanks to additional support from Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC), Amble, CH1ChesterBID and Marketing Cheshire.

Restaurants taking part:

  • Steins
  • Peak Sandwiches
  • NiceBites
  • Stile Napoletano
  • Crustum
  • Thai By Thai
  • Towers Tearooms
  • Moules a go-go
  • The Yard
  • Alexander’s Live
  • The Moorings
  • Bluebell
  • Ristorante Sergio
  • Falafel Express
  • Burger Shed 41
  • Urbano 32
  • Bollicini
  • The Coach House Inn
  • Chez Jules
  • Atina Kitchen
  • The Barista's
  • Docket No.64
  • Chalk
  • The Flower Cup
  • Pied Bull
  • Panini Press
  • Meltdown
  • Baytea
  • 9 Elephants
  • Hanky Panky Pancakes
  • Da Noi
  • Bean and Cole
  • Storyhouse