From historic inns to derelict sites: Chester awards spotlight architectural highs and lows
The Chester Civic Trust has given its verdict on the best and worst examples of the city's development in its annual 'Good, Bad and Ugly' awards.
Now in its 19th year, it ranks Chester's buildings, places and projects in an alternative 'New Financial Year Honours list'.
There were 26 'good' proposals this year, along with 37 'ugly' nominations.
'Okells' in Hoole was the recipient of the chair's 'special award', highlighting the spot a good addition to Hoole's "vibrant" shopping quarter.
The Walker Street building formerly housed Co-op, before becoming a convenience store and Co-op Funeralcare.
The store closed in July 2017, ending 110 years of the Co-op on this site.
The empty building was becoming dilapidated and run down when Okells took it over.
The judges said: "It is great to see that Okells has refurbished the building to provide a new shop selling plants, homeware and gifts -together with a café."
15 – 23 Frodsham Street had been described as previously "another empty building desperately in need of refurbishment and a new use".
Now, the upper floors have been converted to residential apartments, with the whole of the ground floor being occupied by the kitchen retailer, Magnet.
Presenting the building as "a welcome improvement to Frodsham Street", the shop unit was recognised as providing an active frontage to the street.
The Pied Bull on Northgate Street is Chester's oldest coaching inn - dating back to 1155.
Since 2009 it has been trading as an independent business: as a pub, restaurant and 31-bedroom hotel.
The judges said: "During 2024, the owners completed a huge refurbishment covering both the exterior and interior of the pub and restaurant.
"It is good to see this sympathetic refurbishment which also includes work to reduce the environmental impact of the business."
Hough Green Local History Group was noted for its "hard work". Along with The Festival of Ideas, a programme of free, inclusive and accessible public events in and around Chester, co-created by the University of Chester - which was celebrated for "encouraging civic participation".
New housing on Commonhall Street was commended, stating the new residential development had been carefully designed to "fit in well with the street scene".
Several facade refurbishment projects on St Werburgh Street and Eastgate Street were also recognised.
These are the HSBC building (47 Eastgate Street) and the building occupied by Next (37 Eastgate Street), together with the Eastern Section of St Werburgh Street.
Hoole Hardware on Faulkner Street was described as having "a well-designed and beautifully presented display within its fine shopfront".
The "modern flavour to its traditional form", was seen to elevate the retail offer on the busy street.
The inclusion of 'The Bad and The Ugly Awards' were justified by panelists, "in the hope that it will prompt action".
They said: "Given the current stagnant economy and inadequate funding for local services, we are not anticipating that 2025 will bring many improvements.
"As usual we had many nominations for our 'Hardy Perennials' (those buildings which get mentioned year after year) including Dee House, the former Quicks Garage/St Olaves, Diocesan House, the collapsed wall in Liverpool Road, Delamere Street, the Southeast Angle Tower and the dilapidated buildings in Boughton.
"We remain concerned about all these areas but this year we decided to concentrate on new nominations and those which we have not mentioned for some time."
The City Walls were noted, for "both bad and good news".
The panel added: "The bad news is that there is no progress with repairs to the Recorders Steps or the steps on either side of St Martins Gate.
"The Walls should be a key priority for maintenance and presentation especially given their value as a tourist, leisure and educational asset.
"The good news is that preliminary works associated with the reconstruction of the collapsed section of wall behind the Wesleyan Chapel I St John Street are underway.
"Sadly, there is no agreed dates for work beyond the anticipated completion of site investigation works and scheduled monument consent in mid-2026.
"It is also good to see that the upper part of Off The Wall (a regular in the Bad/Ugly section of these awards) has been repaired."
Strong words were used to describe Kirton House and the Former GP Surgery on Hunter Street, describing their current state as "shockingly bad".
Whilst the Victorian red brick Kirton House "is amazingly high quality", judges labelled the 1950s doctors' surgery as a good example of "mid-century Modernism and post-war optimism in the early years of the NHS".
It was added: "The dilapidation of these buildings detracts from the new development of the Northgate Quarter and should be a priority for improvement.
"Too many empty buildings in Chester are left to deteriorate and become vandalised resulting in demolition and redevelopment when an earlier intervention could bring them back into beneficial use."
Pointing to the apartment building on Pierpoint Court, the trust remarked it as "the best example of a detached city centre warehouse in Chester", and being "of special interest for the remains of the Common Hall."
The development of the grade II listed building was commended, for its provision of residential accomodation.
Despite this, the repointing parts of the building were identified as "badly done", with the setting "marred by the wood/blockwork stores, graveled area and the adjacent 'builders' yard".
Commonhall Street was criticised for its "proliferation of wheelie bins and other items".
The judges emphasised that Commonhall Street is by no means an exception, with bins "everywhere" across the city providing a "detrimental" impact to the street scene, blocking roads and pavements.
They said: "Properly designed storage areas where these are shielded and contained would help to reduce the problem."
Public toilets were cited as a strong issue, given their "shocking" scarcity in the city centre and lost use of facilties in the Grosvenor Precinct and below the old market.
It was added: "The toilets in the market are badly signposted and already showing signs of wear whilst the badly maintained toilets in Frodsham Street are unappealing.
"These are an important amenity for visitors and residents alike and appropriate provision should be made."
Peter Hadfield, chairman of the judging panel, said: "These annual awards are based on nominations from our members.
"They aim to recognise the best changes to the Chester property scene in the past year. We hope they will encourage higher standards of design and maintenance in our public realm.
"As always, I would like to thank my fellow Judges for their time and commitment visiting and providing insightful comments on the nominations."
The Judges were Peter Hadfield (Chair), Chloe Sheward, Paul Fielding, Steve Wright, and Philip Harrison.
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