ABode Chester launches in spectacular style
Chester, May 13th, 2010 ABode Chester, the spectacular modern flagship of the ABode group, launched officially with a gala, red carpet Champagne reception for invited guests. The launch marked the culmination of more than three years work as the circular HQ building, located opposite the famous Chester racecourse, was newly constructed on the site of the former Cheshire Constabulary. The building is fabulous architecturally, with its 360-degree outlook taking advantage of its position overlooking city and country alike, with stunning views across the racecourse to the rolling Welsh hills beyond.
While previous hotels within the ABode group have combined history, tradition and modern style, ABode Chester breaks the mould with a vibrant and quirky design that is utterly contemporary. Bold colours and patterns, creative use of curved space, modern furnishings and lighting, and striking photography by Brian Aris combine to create a bright, exciting and youthful ambience that sits well within a town with such a rich and multi-layered history, dating down the centuries from the Industrial Revolution to medieval and Roman days.
ABode Chester may be strikingly modern yet it combines all the best, traditional British values that lie at the heart of the ABode group. The bedrooms, at whatever level, offer comfort with style, with trademark Vi-Spring beds, in-room entertainment centres, imaginative wet rooms and more. Michael Caines dining, as in all ABodes, is at the heart of ABode Chester, with a truly fabulous 5th floor Champagne Bar and Michael Caines Restaurant as the centrepiece of the hotel. Here modern contemporary design complements perfectly Michael's highly acclaimed modern European cuisine based on classic techniques honed at Gidleigh Park, utilising the finest produce from the North West. This clearly is an unbeatable recipe for success. Equally important is the professional yet not overly formal ‘service with style' that is a hallmark of all of Michael's restaurants. Meanwhile, downstairs, the light, casual MC Café Bar & Grill offers informal dining throughout the day and evening, with outdoor tables located on the central HQ piazza, while ABarMC is a late night lounge bar serving cutting edge cocktails, wine, champagne and more.
At the launch, Nick Halliday, ABode Managing Director, paid tribute to Andrew Brownsword and Michael Caines for their vision and productive energy and investment which has led to the creation of five ABodes in just six years. He thanked all of those involved in the creation of ABode Chester, from the construction workers and interior design team of Plumtreemee, to all of the ABode employees who have worked so hard to get ABode Chester up and running already so smoothly.
Andrew Brownsword related the story of how a chance lunch in the Michael Caines Restaurant in the Royal Clarence Hotel, Exeter led to a meeting of minds and a remarkable shared vision of hospitality that resulted in the creation of the ABode group. While other properties are in historic and traditional buildings, he was thrilled at the opportunity to create something entirely from scratch, and said that Chester would be the start of bigger and better things for the ABode group.
Michael Caines said that the defining moment of his career was when Andrew Brownsword came to lunch in his Exeter restaurant in 2003. The two entrepreneurs immediately hit it off and they have not looked back. "I'm hugely excited about the future," said the two-star Michelin chef. "ABode Chester demonstrates what can be achieved with creativity, vision and hard work. My thanks to all the team and to everyone who helped us to achieve this."
There are now ABodes in Exeter, Glasgow, Canterbury, Manchester and Chester. ABode Salisbury will be the next ABode to open its doors in 2012. As Andrew Brownsword said, "ABode is moving onwards and upwards."
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