Chester Racecourse revamps dining offer

CHESTER Racecourse has refurbished its on-course restaurant , with a £500,000 investment.

The Chester Race Company, which owns and operates the course and also the track at Bangor, North Wales, has also recruited a number of new senior staff for its high-end Restaurant 1539, including a Claridge’s-trained head chef.

The new-look interior take its theme from a gentleman’s club with deep button booths and log burning fire within a new bar and library area.

A new menu has been designed by head chef, Ian Penn. Mr Penn joins Restaurant 1539 with more than 25 years’ fine dining experience at venues including Mayfair’s 5-star Claridge’s Hotel, the Park Lane Hilton, London and the Royal Automobile Club.  

He has been joined by new general manager, André Sievers, who joins from the gastro-pub Bells of Peover following senior roles at venues across Cheshire, which include the Chester Grosvenor.  

Richard Thomas, chief executive of Chester Race Company, said: “The North West is a hotbed for quality eateries and competition is high across the leisure sector in Cheshire.

“Restaurant 1539 has been trading for six years and it’s really exciting that this venue is entering a new stage; we’re confident that the new-look 1539 will provide something new to the Cheshire leisure scene and we are really looking forward to showcasing many weeks of hard work to customers, old and new.”