Hotel Indigo Chester

Hotel Indigo Chester: A Comprehensive Review of a Michelin Key Selected Property

Hotel Indigo Chester, a Michelin Key selected property, consistently garners high praise for its stylish design, exceptional service, and prime location in the historic city of Chester. Opened in 2019, this boutique hotel successfully blends contemporary luxury with a nod to Chester's rich heritage, offering a memorable stay for both leisure and business travelers.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The overall sentiment for Hotel Indigo Chester is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently rating it as "superb." Review scores consistently show high marks across categories, including a 9.5 for location, 9.5 for cleanliness, 9.4 for comfort, and an impressive 9.5 for staff performance. Many guests enthusiastically "highly recommend" the hotel and express a desire to "definitely stay again." The hotel is often described as "beautiful," "inviting," and "friendly," providing an "amazing" experience.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of Hotel Indigo Chester:

• Design & Decor: The hotel's interior design is a significant draw, noted for its "tastefully presented" and "modern" aesthetic with "quirky twists" that reflect Chester's unique character, including its architecture, the Eastgate Clock, and the historic racecourse. The lobby, with its vivid blue and green armchairs and nature-inspired cushions, creates a bright and welcoming atmosphere.
• Service & Staff: The staff receives continuous accolades for being "polite," "friendly," "lovely," and "attentive." Many guests highlight the personalized and impeccable customer service, noting staff's willingness to help with activities and provide local tips.
• Location: Its central location is a major plus, making it "ideally located for all amenities" and "just around the corner from all the action." It's within walking distance of the train station, city walls, major attractions, and shopping areas.
• Comfort & Amenities: Guests frequently praise the comfortable Hypnos beds and excellent rainfall showers. Complimentary amenities such as snacks, drinks in the mini-fridge, Nespresso machines, and high-speed Wi-Fi are also highly appreciated.

3. Room Quality

The 75 guest rooms at Hotel Indigo Chester are described as "beautiful," "spacious," and "luxurious," designed to reflect local themes like the Eastgate Clock, the racecourse, and city architecture. Rooms feature comfortable Hypnos beds with luxury Egyptian cotton linen, ensuring a "wonderful night's sleep."

Highlights of the rooms include:

• Stylish Design: Decor incorporates elements such as leather saddle straps over headboards, wood-paneled walls, and artwork celebrating the Chester Racecourse, creating a "contemporary with a traditional twist" aesthetic. Quirky details like retro bedside phones are also noted.
• Modern Comforts: Each room is equipped with air conditioning, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, Smart TVs (some 46-inch with Chromecast), Nespresso coffee machines, kettles with a selection of teas, biscuits, and popcorn. Mini-fridges offer complimentary still and sparkling water, local milk, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages.
• Spa-Inspired Bathrooms: Bathrooms are elegantly designed with stylish chevron tiles, powerful rainfall showers, and refillable, environmentally friendly Zenology toiletries. Some deluxe rooms also feature a walk-in wardrobe and a speaker in the ceiling for music or TV audio.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel's award-winning restaurant, The Forge, holds two AA Rosettes and is considered one of Chester's top dining destinations, attracting both guests and locals.

• Dinner at The Forge: The restaurant specializes in "unfussy fine dining" with a "field-to-fork" ethos, focusing on high-welfare, deeply flavored dry-aged beef and wild venison, cooked over wood and charcoal in an open kitchen. The seasonal menu offers bold flavors and includes tempting vegetarian and vegan options. Guests have praised dishes like Scottish mackerel, Welsh lamb rump, dry-aged steaks, and creative desserts. The cocktail bar also receives positive mentions for its expertly crafted drinks.
• Breakfast: Served in The Forge, breakfast offers a "vast array of tempting" options. This typically includes a buffet-style selection of cereals, yogurt, fresh fruit, pastries, cured meats, and cheeses, alongside a hot menu where guests can order cooked-to-order dishes like full English, scrambled eggs with salmon, or eggs Benedict. Gluten-free options are also available.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Hotel Indigo Chester is consistently described as "outstanding" and a significant highlight of the guest experience. Staff members are "lovely and friendly," providing a warm welcome and being "attentive and knowledgeable." Reviewers often commend individual staff members for their helpfulness and positive demeanor. The personalized level of customer service contributes to the overall luxurious and relaxing feel of the hotel.

6. Location & Accessibility

Hotel Indigo Chester boasts an "excellent" and "superb" central location, "in the heart of the city," just outside the historic walls.

• Proximity to Attractions: Guests appreciate being within "a few minutes walk" of major attractions such as Chester Cathedral, the River Dee, the city walls, Chester Rows (for shopping), and the Storyhouse Theatre.
• Transport Links: The hotel is conveniently located a 10-minute walk from Chester railway station, making it ideal for those traveling by train. While there is no dedicated on-site parking, several nearby car parks are available, and the hotel may offer discounts for guests. Some guests advise taking the train due to parking considerations.

7. Value & Pricing

Hotel Indigo Chester is generally considered to offer "affordable luxury" and "exceptional value for money." Guests frequently comment that the quality of the rooms, service, and dining experience exceeds expectations for the price. While specific price ranges can vary, room rates can start from around £130 per night, which is seen as "an absolute steal" for the quality provided. Breakfast is typically available for an additional fee, with options for continental and hot plates.

8. Common Complaints

While reviews are largely positive, a few recurring issues are occasionally mentioned:

• Parking: The most common complaint is the lack of dedicated on-site parking, requiring guests to use nearby public car parks which can be a 5-15 minute walk away.
• Noise: A few guests have reported issues with noise in rooms, either from the street or internal hotel sounds, although others specifically mention quiet rooms and good soundproofing.
• Minor Room Issues: Isolated incidents have been reported, such as fiddly air conditioning, unusual lighting controls, or minor cleanliness oversights, but these appear to be exceptions rather than common occurrences.
• Staffing (Less Frequent): One review (from an employee perspective) suggested potential understaffing, leading to increased workload pressure. However, guest reviews overwhelmingly praise the staff.

Sources

1. wandersmiles.com
2. michelin.com
3. lovetravellingblog.com
4. uktravelplanning.com
5. booking.com
6. booking.com
7. boutiquehandbook.com
8. bababouttown.com
9. minitravellers.co.uk
10. roamingrequired.com
11. indeed.com