About Chester BID

Welcome to Chester BID

The Business Improvement District for Chester.

Chester BID covers a defined area of the city centre representing 464 businesses to create an enticing overall visitor experience and ensure continued investment in the city centre.

Our aim is to make Chester a retail, business and leisure destination of choice where people are proud to live, work and visit.

Chester BID Remit city Centre Map

Chester BID is a business-led initiative that was voted for by the businesses of Chester in September 2014 and July 2019.

Each term of the BID runs for five years and means that over each term approximately £2.5m will be generated and reinvested back into the city centre, focusing on events, business savings, marketing, The Chester Welcome and working together as one city with one voice.

There are currently over 400 businesses, with a rateable value of more than £18,000, situated within the BID designated city area.

Each of these BID members businesses contribute a levy equal to 1% of their premises rateable value every year to fund a wide range of improvements identified by the businesses themselves and set out in the Chester BID business plan.

Every item of expenditure has contributed towards achieving our goals of promoting of the city, creating a warm city welcome and ultimately working together to make things happen.

Testimonials

“The support I get from Chester BID is outstanding. They are an excellent organisation and have helped me more than I could imagine. Aside from all of the valuable initiatives they undertake, they are also accessible to talk to and give me practical advice and signposting to different things I need. BID is doing an outstanding job for our city.”
TonyNorthgates
“I think The BID are an amazing resource for all businesses in Chester. (Especially the independents) They have an amazing presence in our city and are always at the end of the phone! (Even for those silly questions) I wouldn’t want to be without their current team. Every one of them is amazing!”
DawnChester Boutique
“I always feel incredibly supported by the BID, the biggest thing that has improved our business is the deep clean that the BID provides. We are a very prestigious brand so keeping our storefront clean is important to us”.
AndrewPenhaligon’s
“Using the BID Flower service has really enhanced the alfresco area of our business. BID helped us make savings by funding 50% of these displays. Having direct access to BID made the process and organisation seamless and a pleasure”.
StevePopcorn
“Doing good things is one of our key pillars at Seasalt. We're very proud to use our volunteering time to assist Chester BID with opportunities to improve the visual environment and the team love spending time on projects which provide such a worthwhile benefit for everyone visiting the city"
AlisonSeasalt
“It is always a pleasure to work alongside and with Chester BID, they provide a great personal service, they deliver on promises, and have certainly made sure the relationship between themselves and the stakeholders exists as well as thrive. We love getting involved in the city initiatives when we get the opportunity...Thank you Chester BID”.
SteveTravelbag
“We were asked to be involved in the Chester Bid promotional video for the Christmas 2023 campaign. It was extremely well organised and professionally done on the day. The video was a great way to showcase Chester at Christmas and we were delighted be involved.”
EileenThe Coach House
“Here at Hotel Chocolat, we find the support we receive from Chester BID invaluable. We always receive feedback from customers who have seen our products/campaigns on BID's Instagram and Facebook, which is fantastic for us in helping us achieve our store budgets. Nothing is ever too much trouble and we hope we have their support for a long time”
LizHotel Chocolat
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Meet your BID Team

Chester BID Team 2024
Carl Critchlow Chester BID

Carl Critchlow

Chief Executive
 
Luka Morrell Chester BID

Luka Morrell

Business Engagement Manager

luka@chesterbid.co.uk

Monica Roman Chester BID

Monica Roman

Ian Macdonald Chester BID

Ian Macdonald

Digital Channel Manager

ian@chesterbid.co.uk

Tom & Lloyd

BID Maintenance Operatives

 

Chester BID maintenance Operatives Tom and Lloyd

What We Do

Mission Statement: We make things happen. Through a programme of business-focused initiatives, we promote, support and represent our members, working to enhance the Chester experience for both businesses and consumers.

Vision Statement: Our vision is to drive Chester forward and create a city centre fit for the future.

Chester BID Board: March 2023 saw a new Chair for Chester BID, Neil Hardy. Neil says  “I fell in love with Chester as soon as I visited all those years ago, it’s history and buildings are just breathtaking. But having lived and worked here for the best part of my life, and becoming an adopted cestrian, I know it’s so much more than that”. Read his full press release here.

Meet the BID Board

Carl Critchlow Chester BID

Carl Critchlow

Chester BID

Neil Hardy Chester BID

Neil Hardy

Chair

Ian Gordon

Ian Gordon

IKO Hospitality (Liquor & Co, The Cabinet Club and Craft & Co)

John Welsh Chester BID

John Welsh

Hickory’s / Barlounge

Paul Wildes

Paul Wildes

The Wildes Group

Nigel Driver

Nigel Driver

Grosvenor Estate

Gemma Davies Chester BID

Gemma Davies

Cheshire West & Chester Council

Kate Mcevoy Chester BID

Kate Mcevoy

Jigsaw

Rebecca Bradbury

Rebecca Bradbury 

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will powell

Will Powell

Powells Jewellers

Emma McGlinchey

Emma McGlinchey

Co. Secretary / Aaron & Partners

John Farrell

John Farrell

Ellis & Co

Steph Peters pastry pedaleur

Stephanie Peters

Pastry Pédaleur

Andy Farrall

Andy Farrall

Andy Farrall limited

Tim Stratford

Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford

Chester Cathedral

Helen OSullivan

Helen O’Sullivan

University of Chester