Steam, Song & Spectacle

Good Morning Cheshire! 👋 

This week has something for everyone. The Great British Food Festival rolls into Arley Hall, the Castlewood 4×4 show takes over the Cheshire Showground, Chester Cathedral hosts an unmissable evening of Radiohead, and Chester Literature Festival kicks off a month-long programme of big names and brilliant events.

Let’s dive in!

Jump to:FriSatSunRest of Week

🎉 What’s On In Cheshire

🗓️ Fri · 8 May

🥾 Sunset Guided Hike – Shutlingsloe, Macclesfield Forest
Fri 8 May, evening, Tegg’s Nose Country Park Car Park, Macclesfield SK11 0AP
A magical 10K guided route from Tegg’s Nose up to Shutlingsloe – Cheshire’s Matterhorn – through Macclesfield Forest at sunset. Views across the Cheshire Plain and into the Peak District. Check the link for departure time and booking.
👉 Details

🎵 Hindley Street Country Club
Fri 8 May, 7pm, Pyramid & Parr Hall, Warrington
Australia’s global phenomenon and self-proclaimed world’s greatest cover band – 5 billion online views and counting, sold-out shows across three continents, and now one of just two UK dates in 2026. Expect an electrifying night of 70s and 80s classics performed with breathtaking musicianship.
👉 Details

🌸 Bolesworth Castle Rock Walk – NGS Open Garden
Fri 8 May, 10am-5pm, Bolesworth Castle, Tattenhall, CH3 9JJ
A half-mile woodland walk stretching high above Bolesworth Castle along the sandstone ridge – large-leaf rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias in full spring bloom, with views across the Welsh Hills and the skyline of Liverpool. Find the hidden Lion & Lamb Cave along the way. Coffee from The Lost Barn Roasters on site.
👉 Details

🎨 Rhododendron Wet Felting Workshop – Tatton Park
Fri 8 May, Tatton Park, Knutsford WA16 6SG
A hands-on felting workshop inspired by the spring rhododendrons in Tatton’s gardens – begins with a gentle walk through the grounds before getting creative. Check the link for times and booking.
👉 Details

🗓️ Sat · 9 May

🍔 Great British Food Festival (Day 1)
Sat 9 May, 10am-5:30pm, Arley Hall & Gardens, Northwich
One ticket covers the lot – street food from across the globe, live chef demos (including MasterChef semi-finalist Yemi Adelekan and former Bells of Peover head chef Adie Munt), live music all day, a cake-off, a live fire stage, kids’ cookery, foraging walks, a mini zoo and free entry to Arley’s award-winning gardens. Dog-friendly too.
👉 Details

🚙 Castlewood 4×4 & Overlander Show (Day 1)
Sat 9 May, 10am-5pm, Cheshire Showground, Knutsford WA16 0HJ
Thousands of 4x4s, overlanders and Land Rovers – classic to modern – with high-octane arena action, traders, club displays, live music, street food and camping packages. A full weekend show for off-road enthusiasts and curious families alike.
👉 Details

🚂 Steam at the Lift (Day 1)
Sat 9 May, 9:30am-4:30pm, Anderton Boat Lift, Lift Lane, Northwich CW9 6FW (FREE)
Over 30 historic steamboats, traction engines, tractors and steam rollers descend on the Anderton Boat Lift for one of Cheshire’s best free family festivals. The Art Deco steamship The Danny hosts an onboard craft beer festival, there’s live music, face painting and behind-the-scenes Walking the Lift tours.
👉 Details

⚙️ Murgatroyd’s Brine Pumps Open Days (Day 1)
Sat 9 May, 12pm-4pm (last entry 3:30pm), Brooks Lane, Middlewich CW10 0JG (FREE)
The Victorian pumping station that once supplied 150,000 litres of brine an hour to Middlewich’s chemical works opens its doors for the weekend. Guided tours every 30 minutes, salt making demonstrations and the chance to see the giant historic machinery up close. Genuinely fascinating and completely free.
👉 Details

🎶 An Evening of Radiohead – Chester Cathedral (Second Night)
Sat 9 May, 7:30pm, Chester Cathedral, Chester
Second and final night of the Chester Cathedral run – same stunning lineup, same ethereal venue. If Friday sells out, Saturday is your chance.
👉 Details

🚂 Kelsall Steam & Vintage Rally 2026 – 25th Anniversary (Day 1)
Sat 20, 9:30am, Churches View Farm, Kelsall Road, Ashton, Nr Chester CH3 8BH
A quarter century of steam, smoke and nostalgia – and this year’s the biggest one yet. Traction engines, classic cars, motorcycles, shire horses, the largest truck display in the country, plus tractor pulling, lawnmower racing, falconry and Punch & Judy. The annual ERF & Foden gathering too. Gates open 9:30am both days.
👉 Details

🌸 Rode Hall Blossom Walk
Sat 9 May (runs until Mon 11 May), 10am-4pm, Rode Hall, Scholar Green, near Congleton
The bluebells may be fading but the azaleas, rhododendrons and late spring blossom are now at their peak in Rode’s Old Wood. The Courtyard Kitchen is open for homemade lunches and cakes throughout.
👉 Details

🌱 Hoole Allotments Charity Plant Sale
Sat 9 May, 9:30am-12pm, Hoole Allotments, Panton Road, Chester (FREE)
Running every Saturday through to May – fresh plants and veg grown on the Hoole Allotments community plot, all in aid of charity.
👉 Details

🗓️ Sun · 10 May

🍔 Great British Food Festival (Day 2)
Sun 10 May, 10am-5pm, Arley Hall & Gardens, Northwich
Day two of the festival – same great set-up with gardens, street food, chef demos, live music and family fun. Slightly shorter day than Saturday so worth arriving early.
👉 Details

🚙 Castlewood 4×4 & Overlander Show (Day 2)
Sun 10 May, 10am-5pm, Cheshire Showground, Knutsford
The show rolls on for Sunday with more arena action, trading and club displays. Camping guests get exclusive evening entertainment the night before.
👉 Details

🧺 Goostrey Village Picnic
Sun 10 May, 12pm-2pm, Goostrey Playing Fields, Booth Bed Lane, Goostrey (FREE)
The Goostrey Park Project brings the village together for a relaxed afternoon in the park – activities for children, tombola, The Old Coffee Trailer and Bidlea Ice Cream. Bring your own picnic, blanket and chairs.
👉 Details

🚂 Kelsall Steam & Vintage Rally 2026 – 25th Anniversary (Day 2)
Sun 21 Jun, 9:30am, Churches View Farm, Kelsall Road, Ashton, Chester CH3 8BH
A quarter century of steam, smoke and nostalgia – and this year’s the biggest one yet. Traction engines, classic cars, motorcycles, shire horses, the largest truck display in the country, plus tractor pulling, lawnmower racing, falconry and Punch & Judy. The annual ERF & Foden gathering too.
👉 Details

⚙️ Murgatroyd’s Brine Pumps Open Days (Day 2)
Sat 9-Sun 10 May, 12pm-4pm (last entry 3:30pm), Brooks Lane, Middlewich CW10 0JG (FREE)
The Victorian pumping station that once supplied 150,000 litres of brine an hour to Middlewich’s chemical works opens its doors for the weekend. Guided tours every 30 minutes, salt-making demonstrations and the chance to see the giant historic machinery up close. Genuinely fascinating and completely free.
👉 Details

🎵 Kelsborrow Choir: Show Songs & Solos
Sun 10 May, 2:30pm-4pm, Norley Methodist Church, Maddocks Hill, Norley
A lovely, low-key Sunday afternoon concert from the Kelsborrow Choir – show songs, solos and uplifting music in a beautiful rural chapel setting between Frodsham and Knutsford. Free entry.
👉 Details

🗓️ REST OF THE WEEK

🏰 Eddi’s Hillfort – New Play Area at Delamere Forest
Open now, Delamere Forest, Northwich (FREE to enter forest)
Delamere Forest has just opened a brand new adventure play area – Eddi’s Hillfort – and it looks brilliant. A proper castle-themed wooden fortress with climbing frames, slides and exploration zones for kids. Pair it with a walk in the forest and a stop at The Goshawk pub on the way home.
👉 Details

👗 Knutsford Fashion Week (Flash Fashion)
Mon 11-Sat 16 May, Knutsford town centre
Flash Fashion expands into a full week for 2026 – one-to-one styling appointments, colour analysis, sustainable style showcases and exclusive in-store experiences across Knutsford’s independent boutiques. The week culminates in the catwalk at The Lost and Found on Sat, 16 May at 11am.
👉 Details

📚 Chester Literature Festival – Opens
Tue 12 May (runs to Sun 14 Jun), Storyhouse, Chester
One of the country’s longest-running literature festivals launches this week. Opening night (Tue 12 May) features Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on his new book High Fibre Heroes, followed by Corinne Bailey Rae in conversation about her debut children’s book (Wed 13 May).
👉 Details

🍫 Chocolate Making & Tasting Workshop
Wed 13 May, Bents Garden and Home, Warrington, Cheshire
A hands-on chocolate making and tasting session – learn the craft, make your own creations and eat the evidence. Check the link for venue, times and booking.
👉 Details

🎬 Moonlight Flicks at Rooftop Social Club
Thu 14 May (then every Thursday throughout spring/summer), Rooftop Social Club, Pepper Street Car Park, Chester
Storyhouse’s beloved open-air cinema series gets a new Thursday night home at Chester’s Rooftop Social Club. Cult classics and crowd pleasers on screen, with street food, cocktails and that skyline view
👉 Details

🎵 Nantwich Roots Festival
Thu 14-Sun 17 May, various venues, Nantwich
A week-long celebration of folk, roots and Americana in the heart of Cheshire. Headline acts include The Unthanks at Nantwich Civic Hall (Fri 15 May), Newton Faulkner closing the festival (Sun 17 May), and blues prodigy Toby Lee at Nantwich Town FC (Thu 14 May).
👉 Details

🧺 LOCAL CRAFT MARKETS

• Northwich Artisan Market – Sat 9 May | 👉 Details

• Sandbach Makers Market – Sat 9 May | 👉 Details

• Stockport Makers Market – Sat 9 May | 👉 Details

• Warrington Makers Market – Sun 10 May | 👉 Details

🗓️ DATES FOR THE DIARY

• Warrington Food & Drink Festival – Sat 16-Sun 17 May | 👉 Details

• Chester Folk Festival (50th Anniversary!) – Fri 22-Mon 25 May | 👉 Details

• Neighbourhood Weekender – Sat 23-Sun 24 May | 👉 Details

• Royal Cheshire County Show – Tue 16-Wed 17 Jun | 👉 Details

• Bridgemere Show Gardens Food Festival – Sat 27-Sun 28 Jun | 👉 Details

• Live in the Park 2026 (Arley Hall, Cheshire) – 11 July | 👉 Details

💎 Hidden Gem: Norton Priory, Runcorn

It says something about how overlooked West Cheshire is that the most excavated monastic site in Europe sits quietly in Runcorn and most people in the county have never visited, or even heard of it. Norton Priory deserves better.

Founded in 1115 and dissolved by Henry VIII in 1536, the priory was largely demolished and a manor house built over it. For centuries, the ruins lay buried. Then, from 1971 onwards, archaeologists began one of the most significant monastic excavations ever undertaken in Britain – and what they found was remarkable.

The museum built on the site houses the results, including the star of the show: a seven-foot medieval sandstone statue of St Christopher, carved around 1300, which is one of the finest pieces of medieval sculpture in the North West.

But the real reason to go is the undercroft, the only substantial surviving section of the original priory building. You walk down into it and the noise of the world disappears. Vaulted sandstone arches, cool air, filtered light and 900 years of history pressing in from all sides. It takes about five minutes and most people come out quieter than they went in.

Image: Norton Priory

Beyond the museum, the 38-acre grounds are beautiful in May – the walled garden alone is worth the trip, with its heritage fruit trees, herbaceous borders and kitchen garden all coming into their own in spring. Woodland paths connect the gardens to the ruins and the wider estate, where dogs are welcome on leads throughout.

Practical bits:

• Location: Norton Priory Museum & Gardens, Tudor Road, Manor Park, Runcorn WA7 1SX

• Getting there: 10 minutes from J11 of the M56. Runcorn train station is about 20 minutes’ walk (Merseyrail/Northern services from Chester and Liverpool).

• Opening hours: Daily, 10am-5pm (gardens); museum hours vary — check the website before visiting.

• Admission: Grounds free. Museum and walled garden: adults £9, concessions £7.50, children £5, family £25.

• Dogs: Welcome in the grounds and walled garden on a lead. Not permitted inside the museum.

🔗 Norton Priory

That’s it for this week.

Thanks for reading The Cheshire Buzz! See you next Thursday – same time, same inbox.