Share some sparkle with our Launch Soiree Story

Poet Gill McEvoy, Author Allie Holland with Patrick Duffy
MD and Founder of Beatons Tearooms Ltd

Pictures tell the story best... it was sparkle, jazz and the most lovely way of getting to know those who make things happen in Chester - especially those in the arts, media and from Chester University.

But how about you? Well, at least you can enjoy the first airing of Beatons Chester Poem, which Chris Barltrop (aka 'Mr Darcy' in the Tea world) and I - as House Poet - recited, thanks to the technology of the video.


It was an evening of thank yous, too - but can we also add a few extras here? Thanks to everyone who attended, everyone who contributed to making the event happen - especially Jazz Alchemy Duo, Wild Floral Design Chester and of course the very hard working (and new) team just installed at Beatons Chester.

We were also delighted to see so many Cheshire authors and poets present, including Gill McEvoy, Allie Holland, Simon McBride, Jake Campbell, Roger Price and Roger Atkinson OBE whose book will grace our shelves as soon as the publishers let him have it!

From left: Nick Brown, Marketing Cheshire, wife Keriy Taylor-Brown
and Colin Potts, Lecturer in Tourism, Chester Business School

Steve Roberts, Beatons Chester with fiancee Elaine centre
surrounded by very proud family and friends including mum,foreground!

Presentations were made to David Adams from Chester Cathedral Bell Ringers for coming on board so enthusiastically for our charity Open House event - and even going so far as creating a piece of 'bell music' (a method) in honour of tea. He couldn't have done it without permission from Christopher Roberts, Master of the Cathedral Bells so we also gave him a little thank you present too.

But of course, the most important presentation was to Steve, taking ownership and celebrating the opening of his new business, Beatons Chester. We decided to give this understated and quiet man who has dared to make a long held dream to run a tearooms a reality - something to remind him that he is 'Master of Beatons Chester'... and an inscribed brass bell now takes pride of place on top of the shelves behind the counter!

We hope you'll see plenty more pictures in the Press and we'll be uploading some more videos of the launch activities on our YouTube Channel over the next few days.

Beatons Chester is Open First Pictures!

Ann and Vera - our first two customers! 

Here are a few pictures but we'd much rather see you for real! Just pop in and have a good look round.

Steve and his team are delighted to welcome you. The Villeroy and Boch china is sparkling, the cakes home made, the tea loose-leaf and service comes to your table.

After the Launch Soiree
From left - Kayleigh,  cook and Hannah and Megan, Front of  House

Beatons House Poet learning the
Beatons Chester Poem!

Coffee's waiting, and Italian style
rich hot chocolate... 

Dong Ding! A world first to which you're invited...

The poster only tells you part of the story (and the picture!) Something extraordinary has happened...
Our neighbours The Chester Cathedral Bellringers have been sipping some of our Dong Ding tea, compliments of Jenier Teas, and they got inspired.

So inspired that they've created a 'method' (a sequence of bells being rung) in its honour!

It's the first ever 'method' about tea itself.

Come and hear 'The Dong Ding Surprise Method' being rung for the first time at 10.30, Saturday 18th April and you'll be witnessing a little bit of bellringing and tea history... and please come and ring one of our slightly smaller bells for a donation to two local charities and enjoy a sample of our signature carrot cake and dong ding tea for free as a thank you!

See you at Bell Tower House, 10 to 12 this Saturday, 18th April.

Beatons Chester: Ringing Bells for Gracious Hospitality

Here at Beatons Chester we ring the bells of service every day 364 days a year - as indeed every Beatons does. We're Steve and Elaine and as Tearooms Owners it's our pleasure to welcome you to this online glimpse of what we're all about: to me summed up by 'gracious hospitality'.

To find us, head for the Cathedral Bell Tower in Bell Tower Walk. Celebrate the wonderful City of Chester with a pot of our house blend, the deliberately chosen 'Dong Ding' loose leaf tea and a large slice of our signature carrot cake from our bell shaped domes. In fact, if you'd like to hear the Cathedral bells on a Sunday afternoon we're the perfect place!

Full contact and location details here.

We always like to give potential visitors a snap-shot of interesting places about the community we find ourselves in. Chester is quite a City. First and foremost, Chester Cathedral are our kind and long established neighbours.  Chester's also home to a zoo, boasts the only circular racecourse in the world, the only strange phenomenon of the black and white 'Rows' and has the only female beadle to keep order! It's also the only Beatons to be located in a City...

Many people across Cheshire and as far afield as Manchester and Birmingham come to Chester for a special day out. Our three tiers of deliciousness in the shape of our Quintessential Afternoon Tea makes it really memorable. And gives you time to rest 'shoppers' feet'!

Why not make a date with your tastebuds and book Afternoon Tea with us so you can really enjoy everything Chester has to offer and know you've factored in a restorative break?

Steve and Elaine Roberts

Franchise Business Owners

#beatonstearooms: Beaton pops up everywhere!

On a rare day off from 'thinking Beatons' yesterday, Chris and I headed off to a National Trust property, Benthall Hall in Broseley in Shropshire... But it seems Cecil Beaton's ghost had other ideas!

Benthall is one of those lovely small 'lived in' houses - reminding us slightly of Croft Castle (a favourite). Noticing some books in the library marked Old Vic, and with my 'Mr Darcy' being an actor, we asked about them and discovered that Michael Benthall (then deemed black sheep of the family on account of being gay) was Director of the Old Vic (53 - 62) and had been presented with the three volumes about the productions during his period of office when he retired.

Thanks to the very helpful volunteer who offered to let us see inside one of the volumes.

Imagine our delight and surprise, when the page he turned to had that unmistakable signature and unmistakable touch of hand: Beaton! 

And it turns out Michael Benthall was Director when Cecil Beaton designed the costumes for Love's Labours Lost!  We were allowed to take this picture and just wanted to share it. 

This would be good day trip out from Beatons Chester! 

#Blandford : 'Mischief Making' Fay Weldon In Conversation!

Photo Credit I Bella West

I must be one of Fay Weldon's newest (if not youngest) fans.

And I may become one of her noisiest as we are both singing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to the pleasure holding books in your hands and the conflict of the e-book! But first, things first - let us invite you to meet her.

One of the perks of being House Poet for Beatons is getting occasional review copies - and stealing from the blurb from Fay's publishers, Head of Zeus, about her latest book - 'Mischief'... they say, 'Now, here is Fay Weldon in her own words.'

'Of course, they're talking about reading her words, but if you come to Beatons Blandford Forum one Sunday in mid-March you can HEAR Fay, indeed meet her - thanks to some superb organisation by Helen Cooper - at an event in aid of the Corn Exchange Challenge to raise funds for Blandford's Regeneration Project

What:      Fay Weldon in Conversation

                 ... and of course reading and signing copes of her new book, Mischief

When:    Sunday 22nd March 2015, 4.30 to 6 pm

Cost:       £6.99 per person (limited numbers)

               This also entitles you to £2 off the cover price of Mischief!

                (note: tea and cake NOT included in ticket price!)

Tickets:  From Beatons Blandford, Blandford TIC, the Council Offices

               or by e-mailing:  helen@heraga.co.uk.

Jacket Design by Charlotte Jade

Mini-Review Number 1: Before I spread some Mischief, can I just mention that I'm fingering the hardback edition and that I want to SCREAM very loudly that it has THE most stunningly beautiful jacket by illustrator, 'Charlotte Jade' as you can see (in what I think is tea-spill-free material). For the vibrant matching turquoise end papers and greyscale title pages and introduction the designers at Head of Zeus Publishing have to be applauded.  See Fay's quote at the end about the aesthetics of paper - it really is a book to treasure.

So, to the contents of Mischief!

It includes a new novella - 'The Ted Dreams' which has me fighting off my own as I try to read just one more page before going to bed... and four decades' worth of short stories. Of these, I've indulged in  'A Gentle Tonic Effect' so far (very occupied with Beatons Chester launch preparations at the mo). So glad that's where my fingers landed. It's wicked, brilliantly crafted - eight un-put-downable pages multi-layered with uneasy truths about the human psyche. And a must for all therapists and counsellors to read!

I'm enjoying the book enough to have earmarked it for a full review in our Summer Reads feature in July.

Oh, and I am green with envy for all you lucky Dorset and Wiltshire fans who are snapping up tickets. I can't make the event - and nor will you unless you get your tickets quick!  But who knows, may be my path will cross with Fay's and we can share a pot of Beatons Brew together.

In the meantime, I leave you with a snippet of 'Fay Weldon in her own words':

 'And then the e-book came along, the naked text without the frills of publisher's advocacy, jacket, blurb, writer's photo: Look at me! Read this book! ... 'Good' writing is so much to do with an aesthetic, with a resonance of language which is more apparent on paper than on a screen.'  

Ironically, 'The Ted Dreams' was published as an e-book before going into this volume - and it's so plot-rich that it no doubt sings from the screen in its nakedness. However, give me a physical book to contemplate upon, feel, finger and slowly relish undressing every time... 

#Blandford: Open House Launch Review

© Jodie Whyte Photography   David Bamber Winner

It was the morning when many were nursing post-works-Christmas-Party-hangovers (including our team!)  and the rest were off Christmas shopping so our numbers were few - but we made up for it in Quality...

... not least in the shape of Anna Birch, Dorset's most famous vet, who was signing copies of her book 'Call the Vet' and guest - and also local author - Jennie Rake. Jennie won a signed copy of 'Distinguished Leaves: poems for tea-lovers' by yours truly for being the closest to remembering what time the Great Fire of Blandford in 1731 re-ignited, prompted by David Bamber's winning poem from our Poetry Competition about the fire.

David read an extremely pertinent poem entitled 'Tea for Two' - hot off the press - but I'm sure he would agree with me that he co-starred with the carrot cake which everyone assembled wolfed down.

Photographer Jodie Whyte took some great photographs for Arkadia Magazine - and kindly gave us

© Jodie Whyte Photography   Beatons Blandford

these to share.

We look forward to stocking Jennie Rake's books, and seeing more book-lovers and writers at our next event.

Our signature carrot cake? You can enjoy that every day!

Liz Darcy Jones