A Birthday treat in Chester.

[Taffy, Wales]

Yesterday we had the pleasure of celebrating a friends Birthday with a novel lunch?
http://www.millhotel.com/lunch-dinner-cruises

I must say a most enjoyable 3 hours ,you arrive and decide your first to two courses and they are served as you go slowly along the canal,they come back to the Hotel to load the main meal which is served ASAP as it come from the kitchen.
Food and passengers enter by this door.


First course for me was Soup and for our friends Duck.




Followed by the nicest sorbet (Blackcurrant ) I have ever had.


Main meal was Chicken stuffed with Cheese and Apricot .

My Sweet was a Blackcurrant cheese cake followed by a very tasty Coffee.


You navigate through 2 locks .

Which were quite deep.
A nice treat in nice company, I was one of 2 men on the barge the other 48 were Ladies who do lunches ,Mainly from different groups from around Cheshire ,nice company and not a phone in site.
If you fancy something different well worth booking at £18-50pp drinks extra,food hot and tasty service first class..Taffy

Edit realized I had 2 soups and no Duck???

[Guy, Ormskirk]

Now that is a treat! 48 women, I bet you had a good laugh.

Looks as though you had a lovely day, and something a bit different to do...Carol

[jan lowden, sunderland (2)]

Looks lovely Taffy,Mmmm..blackcurrant cheesecake my favourite,yum yum. Jan.

[Hampshire Thorn, Fareham]

Sounds good Taffy and looks good too. As you said,something different.

I had a little chuckle at your words "and for our friends duck", which were just below the sign saying "Please Mind your Head". .......................HT

[Taffy, Wales]

Now that is a treat! 48 women, I bet you had a good laugh.

Looks as though you had a lovely day, and something a bit different to do...Carol

A lovely day Carol and the Ladies near us were very nice.
These groups book the Barge year on year ,Women s guild etc nice company to share time with...Taffy

[Taffy, Wales]

Sounds good Taffy and looks good too. As you said,something different.

I had a little chuckle at your words "and for our friends duck", which were just below the sign saying "Please Mind your Head". .......................HT

Hi HT.
Both me and my friend are short under 5-6 and both felt good when they said "mind your head sir" not often we hear that...Taffy

[Wilba]

Food looks good Taffy and sensibly priced too............Wilba

[mags, cardiff]

I saw 'Chester' so had to open up. Was there jsut over a week ago for a special event. Used to live there many moons ago. Have seen this barge but not used. During our weekend we also had some great meals, it seems to have improved lately. The canal used to be a rundown area but now has opened up, the path is a short cut (we used it) and there are eateries alongside. To keep to the cruise theme, OH went to Liverpool that day when I was busy to see QM2. We did the 3 Queens on her in May, now she was going TA to celebrate 175 yrs since beginning the route. He said it was excellent on shore with entertainment, and the Red Arrows came over too.

[Moonraker, Royal Wootton Bassett]

A useful heads up, Taffy. I lived there for 12 years in the 60s and 70s as did my parents until 2003. It's a city I know very well. As mags says the section of canal going into the city was pretty run down at one time and I remember what is now the
Mill Hotel as an empty warehouse. We are due a visit up there in August. If we get time we'll look up the barge.

[jc, liverpool]

Hi Taffy
There's also one not far away on the River Weaver,,,,,unfortunately not with the delightful sights of Chester.
It goes up and down the Weaver past the great Anderton Lift,,and the delight of the ex ICI site at Weston Point,,,where i made my fortune!!!!!
I did a dinner trip a few years ago,courtesy of the local Conservative Club.,It was a 'freebie'.

ps,My daughter went to Chester races last Saturday,had a good day out with 4 winners.
She backed a horse called Anonymous John for me,,,,came 2nd.
Same horse running today at Bath,,,,she put a bet on again...came 4th.
Never mind Union Rose came last.
JC

[Taffy, Wales]

Hi Moonraker .
If you wish to dine on the Barge then try to book it now very full this time of the year we booked it two months ago and got the last table.
Car parking is free and the hotel is good according to my daughter who has stayed there...Taffy

[Taffy, Wales]

Reply with Quote not working .
So JC .
Haydock Park better for OAP's Half price
I fancy trying the Canal cruise up from Liverpool to Salford or the reverse trip have you any info on it?
Some more Pictures as Mags says much improved area plenty of places on the Canal to eat and drink.




At the Chemistry Lock you can have a walk about.

[Moonraker, Royal Wootton Bassett]

Hi Moonraker .
If you wish to dine on the Barge then try to book it now very full this time of the year we booked it two months ago and got the last table.
Car parking is free and the hotel is good according to my daughter who has stayed there...Taffy

Thanks Taffy. Most of our time up there is spoken for and we were hoping to play it by ear. It will have to wait for another time.

[jc, liverpool]

Hi Taffy.
Yes,i have done the Manchester Ship Canal cruise on the Mersey Ferry,,,,it was a while ago with mates from work,,,its an enjoyable few hours,and the bar is open!!!
Whichever way you go Liverpool--Salford Quays or the other way around,a coach brings you back to your starting point.
It also gives a 2.5hr visit either end to look around,,,,,,The Lowry is well worth a visit at Salford Quays,or the German U boat in the 'U-boat Story' at Woodside ferry terminal.

Manchester Ship Canal Cruises - Mersey Ferries

Haydock Park.
My youngest daughter went,with her hubbie and friends for a night out last month.........
It was a Night meeting,,,,with a live Kylie Minogue concert after the racing finished,,,,she wasn't impressed with the concert,,,too far away from the stage.
On July 3rd it was Racing plus Madness concert...........on August 7th its Racing plus Kaiser Chiefs concert.
All £30 for racing and concert.
Now,if it was The Rolling Stones!!!!!
JC