Barlounge, one of Chester’s most-loved bars, has marked its 25th anniversary with a year-long programme of charitable giving that saw the team complete 25 Acts of Kindness.

Since opening its doors in Chester in 2000, Barlounge has remained deeply rooted in the local community, and the anniversary initiative has raised more than £25,000 for good causes and supporting organisations across Chester, Flintshire and the wider region.

Throughout the year, the Barlounge team were warmly welcomed by organisations including the Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester Street Angels, Hospice of the Good Shepherd, Flintshire Foodbank, Cash4Kids and Amy & Friends. The team took on a whole range of challenges, from abseiling down Anfield to walking hundreds of miles, racing ducks, planting flowers and volunteering countless hours.

In May, Floor Manager Chloe led the 50K in May initiative in support of the MS Society, with the team collectively tracking their daily steps to reach a 50,000-step target, ultimately reaching an impressive 72,000 steps. The campaign managed to more than doubled their initial target and involved the every member of Barlounge team.

In August, four team members – Shaun, Ollie, Becca and Nick – took on a gruelling Backyard Ultra-style marathon challenge, running 2km every half hour for six hours (totalling 26km) to raise help raise essential funds for Chapter, a mental health charity in Ellesmere Port.

The team also reached new heights – quite literally – with ‘Sausages at the Summit’, spearheaded by Alex Jones, which saw the group climb Snowdon to cook baby sausages at the peak, raising much needed funds for SPACE, a grassroots charity supporting parent-carers of children with additional needs.

Meanwhile, their ongoing support of Soul Kitchen has included chefs preparing and serving meals at the charity’s weekly Saturday Supper, donating catering equipment towards the installation of its new permanent kitchen, and supporting fundraising events with supplies, glassware and hands-on help.

A range of well-attended charity lunches, the now annual ‘Sausage Fest’ fundraiser and a whole range of individual initiatives have all added to the overall total too, and the team finally smashed their £25,000 target as they concluded their year-long birthday celebrations earlier this month.

Founder Neil McDonnell says the 25 Acts of Kindness project reflects everything Barlounge has stood for, for more than two decades. “From day one, Barlounge has always been about our guests – the relationships we have forged with the community, and the city that helped shape us. Hospitality has always been at the heart of Barlounge, where we extend kindness and generosity to our guests, volunteer our time, and help in whatever small way we can. Therefore, the 25 Acts initiative and ‘giving something back’ seemed like a fitting way to mark our anniversary year.
“Chester has supported us for a quarter of a century, and we will be continuing our efforts to raise even more for local causes and remain at the heart of the local community for as long as we are able.”

General Manager Craig MacGregor said the initiative was a powerful reminder of Barlounge’s place within the fabric of the city. “Working with neighbouring charities, schools, and community groups has been an incredible experience – their cooperation and kindness helped us reach our goals, and we can’t thank them enough. Our team were incredible too. Whether raising money, giving time or championing a local cause, everyone wanted to be part of it. Barlounge has always been a locals bar, and this year has reminded us just how strong that connection to the community really is.”
Barlounge has recently reopened following a large-scale refurbishment: https://thechesterblog.com/2026/02/07/reimagined-barlounge-now-open/

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