Report - Cheshire Workshop, Chester - April 2023

[GRONK]

April 2023​

Located in the picturesque Cheshire countryside, the Cheshire Workshop described themselves as “a place the whole family can enjoy”, having welcomed customers for over 50 years with an array of crafts and candle-making related activities for all to enjoy. I did this one as a solo visit one sunny day, having been on my radar for a few months following their closure being announced on social media late last year. The attraction is/was only a 20 minute drive from my hometown and I’ve got fond memories of visiting this place every year with my family for their Breakfast with Santa events. In fact, getting together for a meal with the family at the “Candle Factory” was the first real sign that Christmas was getting close for a young GRONK. Wondering between each of the rooms as an adult was a surreal experience with many childhood memories flooding back. In those days, attractions would always be packed with patrons enjoying the restaurant and participating in a wide range of attractions. Children were able to make candles, badges and spend hours in the vintage penny arcade whilst parents browsed the wide range of locally made candles and hand made gifts.

Unfortunately, in more recent years, the business seems to have headed in the wrong direction, removing a lot of the family-friendly attractions, replacing them with retail space selling overpriced homeware that you can pick up from any retailer on the high street for a fraction of the cost. Sadly, on the 21st October 2022, the Cheshire Workshop announced that they intended to close the attraction and would start to liquidate stock. The company then went through a period of selling off fixtures and fittings until closing their doors for the last time on 26th March 2023. Following the closure, I made several visits to the site hoping to find a way in, not because it is anything particularly special but because the building has a certain sentimental connection. Eventually, I saw my opportunity and went for it, spending an hour walking around the complex. It is clear that maintenance has been neglected in recent years with black mould starting to take over the upper floor, which was a real shame to see. I’m not really sure what the future holds for the site but I imagine it will likely see demolition in the not too distant future.

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Cheers for looking
Canon EOS 70D, 10-18mm EFS​

 

[raisinwing]

Not surprised this has closed, as you mentioned they clearly went off on some daft tangent that took away from what was the main reason most people visited.

Still, a shame to see that it has closed down. Used to enjoy going there and making candles as a child!

 

[Bikin Glynn]

That's interesting if a little clean for my liking

 

[Calamity Jane]

Something different. Sad it went the retail way. Takes the uniqueness away and families were probably what kept it afloat. Disappointed no selfie with the camel lol.

 

[jST]

I would have yoinked all that Tory fanta.

 

[GRONK]

Not surprised this has closed, as you mentioned they clearly went off on some daft tangent that took away from what was the main reason most people visited.

Still, a shame to see that it has closed down. Used to enjoy going there and making candles as a child!

Same here, I think mum still has a few of the ones I made in her loft!

 

[Exploring with Andy]

The camel would get the hump if he was in public

 

[GRONK]

Hey man, if there's that much Pellegrino going begging you need to keep it in here

I don’t know, given the prices in TESCO these days that could be quite a lucrative heist