The Alchemist targets July for Chester opening

Bar and restaurant operator The Alchemist has secured a 21-year lease on a 4,700 sq ft venue in Chester city centre, which will become the tenth site for the Living Ventures subsidiary.

Having acquired the leasehold from Odysian, The Alchemist Chester will be situated in the former Gin Rickey’s and Luke’s Eating House on St John Street.

A £1.1m refurbishment will start this month, with the restaurant set to open in July.

Simon Potts, managing director of The Alchemist, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be opening our tenth site, just six years after the brand’s inception.

“When we launched in Spinningfields back in 2010, we looked to push the boundaries of the Manchester drinking and casual dining experience through theatrical cocktails, engaging service and interesting spaces. We’re now establishing ourselves as one of the most talked about bar and restaurant brands in the UK, and we are delighted to open in Chester and intend to bring something different to its food and drink scene.”