It is the first weekend in May, which means Chester is doing that thing where it pretends to be relaxed while quietly putting on far too much.
This weekend has a good mix: a makers market in Exchange Square, comedy at Storyhouse and Alexander’s Live, live music at The Cornerhouse and The Live Rooms, and bigger daytime parties at Carriage Shed. There are also a few options slightly further out if you are happy to cross the invisible border where Chester people start saying, “that’s not really Chester, is it?”
For a low-effort Saturday, start with The Makers Market, drift through Northgate and Exchange Square, then decide whether you are having a sensible lunch or accidentally making a day of it.
Quick picks
- Best free option: The Makers Market at Exchange Square
- Best Friday night option: Country Fest at The Live Rooms
- Best casual pub music: Echochamber at The Cornerhouse
- Best Saturday wander: The Makers Market, followed by a look around the market quarter
- Best big daytime event: Cafe Mambo Ibiza Classics at Carriage Shed
- Best further-out option: Gav Cross Storyteller: The War of the Worlds in Tarvin
- Best wet-weather fallback: Storyhouse, The Live Rooms, Alexander’s Live or The Cornerhouse
Friday 1 May
Matt Forde at Storyhouse
Matt Forde brings Defying Calamity to Storyhouse on Friday evening, which gives the weekend a proper comedy start rather than the usual slow drift into “shall we just have one?”
- Where: Storyhouse, Hunter Street
- When: Friday 1 May, 7.30pm
- Price: from £27, plus booking fees
- Good for: political comedy, date night, and people who like current affairs with fewer raised voices
- Check/book: Storyhouse tickets
Storyhouse — A handy city-centre anchor for theatre, comedy, cinema, coffee and wet-weather plans.
Country Fest at The Live Rooms
Country music has quietly become unavoidable, and The Live Rooms is leaning into it with a Friday night of country anthems. Expect big songs, boots, hats, and at least one person who has never been to Nashville but is emotionally committed to the bit.
- Where: The Live Rooms, Station Road
- When: Friday 1 May, from 7pm
- Price: around £18 in advance
- Good for: a lively Friday night, groups, and anyone currently in their country era
- Check/book: The Live Rooms event page
The Live Rooms — Chester's main independent live music venue, close to the station and useful for bigger gig nights.
Echochamber at The Cornerhouse
If you want something more casual, Echochamber are listed at The Cornerhouse from 9pm. Acoustic versions of familiar songs, a decent pub setting, and no need to make the night more complicated than it needs to be.
- Where: The Cornerhouse, City Road/Egerton Street area
- When: Friday 1 May, from 9pm
- Price: check with the venue
- Good for: a relaxed drink, live music, and easing into the weekend
- Check/book: The Cornerhouse events
The Cornerhouse — A relaxed pub and restaurant pick near the station side of town, with regular live music.
Friday Night Comedy at Alexander’s Live
Alexander’s Live has its regular Friday Night Comedy slot. It is one of those Chester nights that feels tucked away until you remember everyone else knows about it too.
- Where: Alexander’s Live, Rufus Court
- When: Friday 1 May, doors around 7pm, show around 8pm
- Price: check the ticket link
- Good for: comedy, a proper night out, and pretending Rufus Court is easy to find the first time
- Check/book: Friday Night Comedy tickets
Saturday 2 May
The Makers Market at Exchange Square
The Makers Market is back at Exchange Square on Saturday, bringing together independent makers, food, drink, gifts, and things you did not know you needed until you were standing in front of them with a coffee.
It is free to wander, central, and easy to pair with the market quarter, Northgate Street, Storyhouse or a slow loop around town.
- Where: Exchange Square, off Hunter Street
- When: Saturday 2 May, 10am-4pm
- Price: free entry
- Good for: families, visitors, browsing, food, gifts, and a low-pressure Saturday
- Check/book: The Makers Market Chester
Cafe Mambo Ibiza Classics at Carriage Shed
Carriage Shed has Cafe Mambo Ibiza Classics on Saturday afternoon. It starts at 2pm, which is either delightfully civilised or dangerously optimistic, depending on how seriously you take daytime events.
- Where: Carriage Shed, near Chester Station
- When: Saturday 2 May, 2pm-9.30pm
- Price: check current ticket availability
- Good for: daytime dancing, groups, and people who want the spirit of Ibiza with a realistic chance of needing a jacket
- Check/book: Cafe Mambo tickets
50th Anniversary of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers with Heartbreak
The Live Rooms has a Tom Petty tribute on Saturday evening. If you like a proper guitar night and a chorus you can lean into, this is the obvious pick.
- Where: The Live Rooms, Station Road
- When: Saturday 2 May, from 7pm
- Price: around £18.50
- Good for: classic rock fans, tribute nights, and people who know more Tom Petty songs than they first admit
- Check/book: The Live Rooms event page
The Red River Band at The Cornerhouse
The Cornerhouse has The Red River Band listed from 9pm on Saturday. It is a solid pub music option if you want something lively without committing to a full ticketed gig.
- Where: The Cornerhouse, City Road/Egerton Street area
- When: Saturday 2 May, from 9pm
- Price: check with the venue
- Good for: casual live music, drinks, and a proper Saturday evening pub stop
- Check/book: The Cornerhouse events
Crowded Scouse at Alexander’s Live
Crowded Scouse, a Crowded House tribute, are listed for Alexander’s Live on Saturday evening. The name is doing a lot of work and, to be fair, deserves some respect for that alone.
Listings vary between early doors and a 9pm headline time, so treat this as a Saturday evening option and check the ticket page before you build the night around it.
- Where: Alexander’s Live, Rufus Court
- When: Saturday 2 May, evening
- Price: around £14.20 including fees
- Good for: tribute fans, live music, and anyone who still has a soft spot for Weather With You
- Check/book: Crowded Scouse tickets
Sunday 3 May
Xander’s Big Tribute Festival 2026
Alexander’s Live rounds off the weekend with Xander’s Big Tribute Festival from midday on Sunday. It is an all-day tribute festival, so this is less “quick drink” and more “clear the diary and accept your fate.”
- Where: Alexander’s Live, Rufus Court
- When: Sunday 3 May, from 12pm
- Price: from around £34 for general release at the time of checking
- Good for: tribute bands, groups, and making the bank-holiday spirit do some work
- Check/book: Xander’s Big Tribute Festival tickets
Gok Wan at Carriage Shed
Gok Wan is at Carriage Shed on Sunday afternoon. It starts at 3pm, which gives you enough time to have brunch, reconsider your footwear, and decide that yes, you are still young enough for this sort of thing.
- Where: Carriage Shed, near Chester Station
- When: Sunday 3 May, 3pm-9pm
- Price: check current ticket availability
- Good for: daytime music, groups, and a lively Sunday that is not pretending to be wholesome
- Check/book: Gok Wan tickets
Oli Brown & The Dead Collective
For something more guitar-led, Oli Brown & The Dead Collective are listed for The Live Rooms on Sunday evening. A good option if you want to end the weekend with blues, rock, and a room that knows what it is doing.
- Where: The Live Rooms, Station Road
- When: Sunday 3 May, evening
- Price: check ticket link
- Good for: blues rock, live music fans, and a stronger finish to Sunday than ironing uniforms
- Check/book: Oli Brown & The Dead Collective tickets
A little further out
Ling Peng: Between The Two Strings
Ling Peng brings Between The Two Strings to The Five Villages Hall in Backford on Friday evening. It is a storytelling performance through the Erhu, which makes it one of the more distinctive options of the weekend.
- Where: The Five Villages Hall, Backford
- When: Friday 1 May, 7.30pm
- Price: around £12.50
- Good for: something different, arts and culture, and people happy to head just outside the city
- Check/book: The Five Villages Hall events
Gav Cross Storyteller: The War of the Worlds
Gav Cross brings The War of the Worlds to Tarvin Community Centre on Saturday evening. It is not city-centre Chester, but it is a strong nearby option if you want theatre without the city-centre shuffle.
- Where: Tarvin Community Centre
- When: Saturday 2 May, 7.30pm
- Price: around £12
- Good for: storytelling, theatre, and a quieter Saturday night out
- Check/book: War of the Worlds tickets
Good if it rains
This is Chester, so it is best to assume rain is at least in the meeting.
Good indoor options this weekend include Matt Forde at Storyhouse, Country Fest at The Live Rooms, Friday Night Comedy at Alexander’s Live, the Tom Petty tribute, Crowded Scouse, and The Red River Band at The Cornerhouse.
The Makers Market is the best daytime wander, but check the weather before you build your whole personality around being outdoors. For more indoor backup ideas, keep the Chester rainy day guide handy.
Free or cheap things to do
The Makers Market is the strongest free option this weekend. It is central, easy to visit, and gives you a decent excuse to drift around Northgate, Exchange Square and the surrounding streets.
For cheaper ticketed options, look at Ling Peng in Backford, Gav Cross in Tarvin, Crowded Scouse at Alexander’s Live, and the Tom Petty tribute at The Live Rooms.
Worth booking ahead
The bigger ticketed events are worth sorting sooner rather than later:
- Cafe Mambo Ibiza Classics at Carriage Shed
- Gok Wan at Carriage Shed
- Xander’s Big Tribute Festival at Alexander’s Live
- Matt Forde at Storyhouse
- Country Fest at The Live Rooms
Nobody enjoys the “shall we just see if there are tickets on the door?” conversation when there are, in fact, no tickets on the door.
Still deciding?
Have a look at our other Chester guides:
- Best pubs in Chester by purpose
- Best restaurants in Chester
- Things to do in Chester
- First time in Chester? Here is what to actually do
Whatever you do, check times before you go. Chester is lovely, but it will absolutely let you walk across town for something that finished yesterday.
