Pre-Awards
Chester town hall

Our reception drinks will be held at Chester Town Hall, a 30 second walk from the Cathedral.

The Town Hall is located on Northgate Street in the centre of the city of Chester and was designed by the architect Williams Henry Lynn of Belfast. The build took over 4 years to complete and the grey and red sandstone, gothic style building, with a tower rising to 160 feet was finally completed in 1869. The Town Hall was officially opened on 15 October 1869 by HRH The Prince of Wales, Earl of Chester, later King Edward VII.

The Town Hall remains the centre of activity for the Lord Mayor and Sheriff of Chester and many civic events are hosted here throughout the year such as Annual Mayor Making ceremony and the historic Pentice Court. The Town Hall has also been the backdrop for many royal visits and ceremonial occasions. It continues to be a landmark building and is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

Awards
CHESTER CATHEDRAL

Our 21st event will take place in the incredible setting of Chester Cathedral. This goliath of a building has a history of construction dating back to the 10th Century and stands at the heart of the Roman city, which was was founded as a fort known as Deva, by the Romans in AD 79.

We are beyond thrilled to have been granted the privilege of hosting the 21st Northern Design Awards in this phenomenal space; but also we are delighted to be returning to the city of Chester where the Northern Design Awards were originally founded.

This year will see us marking this important milestone; but also we will bring our Judges, finalists, sponsors and special guests the key to this spectacular and unique city, with a myriad of additional benefits, events and activities as part of the celebrations.

POST-AWARDS
POPCORN BAR CHESTER

Join us to continue the party into the night at the stunning Popcorn Bar, opposite the historic Roman Amphitheatre.

Popcorn is Chester’s most popular new bar, serving quirky cocktails, great music and informal yet excellent, attentive customer service.

Popcorn overlooks an extraordinary historic site. Located in the heart of the city centre, the Roman amphitheatre at Chester was the largest in Britain. There have been two stone-built amphitheatres on the site, which have been used for entertainment and military training.

Chester was an important site in the Roman empire which is underlined in the way the two buildings differed from each other and from all other British amphitheatres. The first included access to the upper tiers of seats via stairs on the rear wall, as at Pompeii, and had a small shrine next to its north entrance. The second provided seat access via vaulted stairways.