An “Odd”fellow place to stay…yes this is quirky, but very nice!

You know when you have found place to stay called Oddfellows [pictured right] that is going to be odd….in the nicest possible way of course and this place is odd, but in a superb, quirky, very British but extremely well designed manner. 

The originators, Lister Carter Associates say that Oddfellows is their brainchild or “brainclub”, because not only does Oddfellows offer superb accommodation, but top quality restaurants and bars all fitted out to continue the quirky theme with one section even devoted to Alice In Wonderland. [pictured below]

I met the very charming and highly professional, Izzy Grey, not odd at all……an interview with Izzy and some views of the property can be seen on TravelMole TV, by clicking on this link: http://www.travelmole.tv/watch_vdo.php?sid=75&id=14534 …. with Oddfellows described as Chester’s new open house members’ club, a place of eating, meeting, fine dining, champagne sipping, cocktail shaking, afternoon teaing, dancing and general enjoying, including staying!

She went on to say â€œâ€˜Open House’ means that all are welcomed in and no one’s looked at haughtily from down our noses for not being a member”, with the web site and promotional material saying,  “Everything is designed to make the usual unusual; the ordinary extraordinary.” 

“Décor veers from gracious sophistication to dramatic intensity.”  

[Pictured: yes there is a fully set table on the ceiling in the Alice in Wonderland room!]

“Nothing matches, but everything makes complete sense.” 

“Leave your willpower at the door.”  

“Resistance is futile.”  “Just accept that, here, there are no diets, no denials.”   

“For how could you restrain yourself in the face of such marvellous, nay, miraculous menus?” 

“Ooohhh, aaahhh, mmmmm…….for want of a better way to describe them.”

“Feast on Port of Lancaster smoked salmon and creamy scrambled eggs over breakfast.”

“Come for a hearty lunch, a snack or a lazy Sunday brunch.”

“Afternoon tea is a fabulous affair with gourmet sandwiches and squidgy cakes.”  

“Go civilised with tea, decadent with Champagne or cheeky with vodka martinis.”

“In the evening, the restaurant is just divine…..grown up, but not stuck up.”  

“Tempting you with crispy chilli squid salad, lemon and herb marinated swordfish, Cheshire beef, truffle and mushroom macaroni and other delicacies from around the country.”

“Prepared to exquisite recipes created by executive chef Mark Bennett; a rather talented chap pilfered from Mal Maison.”  

“He also thought it appropriate to devise a whole vegetarian menu.” “What a thoughtful boy.”

[pictured right: one of the bar areas in Oddfellows]

“Non-members can dine in the Tea Rooms, the Brasserie, the Champagne Bar and the Dining Rooms.”

“Members can head to the Members’ Lounge or Private Dine Room, and hotel guests can scoff to their tummy’s content from the room service menu.”

I am sure that you are beginning to get the picture, this is not a place for soemone on a diet or fussy about eating…if you are not resolute to enjoy the best that British food, wines and beers can offer, then do not go to Oddfellows….!

[Pictured: this mirror in one of the dining rooms is designed so that other diners cannot see you eat!]

If you do visit Odfellows then make sure that you not only eat, but also that you stay,…..!

Oh and one night is not enough as there is not only a massive selection on the menu at Oddfellows, but it is located right in the heart of the Roman walled city of Chester with oodles of things to see and do right on your doorstep, a short walk away as Oddfellows is right in the heart of the city….and also if you fancy, some excellent shopping!   

So how do you get there?

Chester is about 30 minutes or so from Manchester International Airport and the ideal first few nights’ stop after an Emirate flight from Australia with everything Chester has to offer, the charming villages of Chester nearby and the Welsh borderlands a few miles away.

For more information on Oddfellows visit www.oddfellows.biz or email Izzy at [email protected] or telephone  +44 (0)1244 400001.

The address is Oddfellows Chester, 20 Lower Bridge Street, Chester, CH1 1RS, UK.

An on location from Europe report by the Mole