This year, BarLounge in Chester’s city centre is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
To mark this important milestone, its owners contacted local blogger and Lego builder, Richard Trotter, to make a perfect replica of the landmark location in bricks.
The Lego expert built the model using more than 800 pieces and presented it to BarLounge before it was added to the largescale display at the new Chester Market. Dubbed “Chester in Lego”, the iconic project was painstakingly created by Trotter over a decade and features key sites like the Roman Walls, Baths, and Amphitheatre, Chester Racecourse, Storyhouse and the Eastgate Clock.
BarLounge opened in 2000 with owner Neil McDonnell later joined by Jason Bligh as partner. It was one of Chester’s first cocktail bars, and soon became one of the city’s busiest venues. Originally home to The Axe Tavern, the building on Watergate Street was selected due to its proximity to the oldest running racing venue in the world, Chester Racecourse and the burgeoning independent business trade in the area.
Complementing the venue, Taste Cheshire’s Tori Hayes commented:
“BarLounge is an icon in Chester and the bar by whom everyone else is judged.”
In 2002, a sister venue to BarLounge was established called Upstairs at The Grill, followed by American barbeque restaurant Hickory’s Smokehouse at the Groves. Over a quarter of a decade, BarLounge has earned an enviable image, presenting its guests with drinking and dining experiences that exceed their expectations due to its skilled chefs and friendly front of house teams.
