A Polish afternoon is taking place at the Town Hall this Saturday May 14th. Visitors will get the chance to learn about Polish culture and heritage in Britain, and will include exhibits about the Polish air force, Polish symbols and stands from local Polish businesses. The event will include a display of Polish folk dance and a medley of Chopin pieces as well as the chance to sample Polish cakes and donuts. Town Hall visitors can also view the plaque donated by the Polish Air Force to the City in July 1944. Blacon Cemetery contains the graves of over 100 Polish war graves. The event runs from 2.30 – 6pm
Storyhouse’s Moonlight Flicks returns this summer with 50 screenings of movie magic. The 2022 programme opens Friday 1 July and will take place at four venues across the region. Open-air cinema is back in the stunning setting of Chester Cathedral’s Dean’s Field for a third year. There are also screenings every Friday in July and August at Claremont Farm in Wirral. The popular Snugburys Ice Cream at Park Farm near Nantwich is once again joining the Moonlight Flicks film family. It will host cinematic favourites on Saturday evenings in July and August. And brand new for 2022 The Lambing Shed in Knutsford joins the bill. Almost 50 separate screenings are taking place between July and September with more dates and titles set to be added in coming weeks. Films start as the sun sets. Moonlight Flicks opens with a weekend of popular favourites. On Friday 1 July the season launches at Claremont Farm with the Elton John biopic Rocketman, then on Saturday 2 July Dean’s Field will host Mamma Mia! and Snugbury’s Dirty Dancing New titles this year include Spielberg’s Oscar and BAFTA award winning West Side Story, Lady Gaga fashion-world epic House of Gucci, Disney’s origin story Cruella andMarvel blockbuster Spiderman No Way Home. Other big screen treats planned over the summer months include family, cult, comedy and musical film favourites. Films for all the family include Encanto, and Jurassic Park The Lost World which marks its 25th anniversary. Sister Act will also be celebrating a 30-year anniversary and the classic Singin’ In The Rain reaches 70 years, both films can be seen at the Dean’s Field. Cult and retro choices include Pulp Fiction, Stand By Me, and 10 Things I Hate About You. Plus, 80s favourites Pretty Woman and When Harry Met Sally. Each location will have refreshments on offer including pre-ordered pizzas available at Dean’s Field. Nicky Beaumont, Film and Digital Programme Manager at Storyhouse, said:“Every year Moonlight Flicks just seems to get bigger, we have more film choices than ever before this summer. It’s such a fun way to catch a classic or revisit a favourite with friends, colleagues, or family, watching films together and sharing a memorable experience. And it’s also fantastic to be partnering with new organisations like The Lambing Shed near Knutsford, enabling film fans across the whole region to enjoy the magical experience of late-night cinema under the stars.” Tickets are on sale now at moonlightflicks.co.uk
Happy birthday to the Library
Ellesmere Port Library has celebrated its big 60th birthday in style with an event at the Library that attracted over 100 people on Thursday 5 May 2022. The Library invited people to share their memories and take a look at displays on the history of the library and life in the 1960s, as well as a celebratory coffee morning. Council Leader Councillor Louise Gittins, read a story to a class of children in Year 3 from William Stockton Primary School and answered questions from the pupils. Councillor Gittins said: “On 5 May 1962, our fabulous Ellesmere Port Library was officially opened. It was wonderful to see so many people at today’s event to celebrate this milestone. The fabulous selection of photos and press cuttings were so interesting to see and I’m sure brought back many memories for people. Libraries are at the heart of our communities and are here to satisfy our thirst for knowledge, our desire to be entertained and our need for social interaction through the many events and activities on offer. I’m sure the valuable role-played by Ellesmere Port Library to its communities will continue for many, many years to come.” The Mayor of Ellesmere Port, Councillor Lisa Denson, cut a very special birthday cake, complete with books made from icing, during the event. The Library had gained permission from the North West Film Archive to show rare footage of the building being opened back in 1962. Displays showed films, music and headlines of the day; vintage fashion, library paraphernalia and books from the 1960s. A memory book has been placed in the library for people to write in their memories of the library. If anyone missed the event, these will be on display until the end of the month. The Library is free to join and open Mon- Sat. As well as a wide range of books, there are public access computers to use, Wi-Fi, printing facilities, activities, and a café.
Chester Operatic Society are set to return to Storyhouse with a production of the popular West End musical “Me and My Girl”. The show which will be directed for the Society by Rob Stevens with musical direction by Wendy Dickinson, will run at the theatre Wednesday 8th – Saturday 11th of June at 7.30pm with a matinee performance on Saturday 11th of June at 2.30pm “Me and My Girl” marks Chester Operatic Society’s return to staging full scale productions post Covid and follows on from its critically acclaimed sell out production of “Singing In The Rain” at Storyhouse in 2018. The production will form part of the Society’s Centenary celebrations with a number of special events taking place throughout 2022. Set in the 1930s, “Me and My Girl” tells the story of apologetically unrefined Cockney Costermonger Bill Snibson, who learns that he is the 14th heir to the Earl of Hareford. His newly discovered aristocratic relations are horrified and bringing him to Hareford Hall, they attempt to educate Bill into the ways of the gentry and to separate him from his cockney girlfriend Sally. The result is chaos of the most comical kind! The show features a host of hilarious characters, witty one-liners and toe-tapping uplifting, well known songs including “The Lambeth Walk”, “The Sun Has Got His Hat On” and “Leaning on a Lamp post”, the song which was made famous by legendary singer and wartime film star George Formby. Speaking about the production, the show’s Director Rob Stevens said “We are delighted to be returning to Storyhouse, it’s a fantastic venue and our cast and crew are really looking forward to bringing this brilliant, feel-good show to the stage, it will certainly be one not to be missed.” Full details of Me and My Girl can be found at www.storyhouse.com where tickets can be booked online.
Following the Civil War weekend earlier this year, the latest opening of Chester Castle will see King George’s Redcoats taking over the Castle on the 14th and 15th May. Organised by English Heritage, the Castle will be open 10 til 3 and admission is free. The next planned event is Medieval themed and will take place in June.
St Martins Way and the new Northgate car park
The Council’s Northgate development contractors will be carrying out a series of highways works around the site during May and June to provide access for pedestrians, public transport and vehicles, as construction nears completion. The works have been scheduled to minimise their impact on through traffic and to avoid forthcoming city centre events, race meetings and the Jubilee bank holidays. Hunter Street – 13 May 2022: daytime closure of Hunter Street between 9:00 and 16:00 for crane access to Market roof. During the closure, Northgate Street will operate as a two-way traffic flow with exit via Canal Street and the Fountains Roundabout only. Restrictions will apply as per June closures. St. Martins Way – 16 to 21 May 2022 : Overnight only closures between Fountains Roundabout and Watergate Street from 8pm to 6am as follows:16 May – full closure in both directions for surface planing works, 17 & 18 May – southbound closure for resurfacing, 19 & 20 May – northbound closure for resurfacing, completion of central reservation and road marking, 21 May – southbound closure for completion of central reservation and road marking. Hunter Street will also be closed 6 to 15 June 2022 (excluding 11 & 12 June) Daytime closures of Hunter Street to through traffic between 8:00 and 16:30 for resurfacing and paving works. During the closures, Northgate Street will operate as a two-way traffic flow with exit via Canal Street and the Fountains Roundabout only. A traffic marshal will be positioned at the northern end of Northgate Street (at the junction with George Street and Canal Street), between 10:30 and 16:30 Monday – Friday, to ensure access-only traffic is allowed. In addition, to ensure that two-way traffic can use Northgate Street and obstructions can be minimised, loading will be prohibited on Northgate Street between George Street and Hunter Street, Monday – Friday between 10:30 and 16:30 other than in the lay-by outside Chez Jules, where the current restrictions will remain in place. During the closures, the free Shopper Hopper bus service from the Chester Bus Interchange will stop and pick-up on St. Werburgh Street outside Barclays Bank, instead of Hunter Street, and run every half-hour.
The Chester blog 