In a paragraph
The Kitchen is the open-plan cafe-restaurant inside Storyhouse on Hunter Street, useful for pre-show meals, coffee, brunch, hot chocolate, group tables and casual central meet-ups.
What it's like
The Kitchen makes most sense when you remember where you are: inside Storyhouse, between library shelves, cinema, theatre and people using the building as Chester's public living room. That is the charm, not an accident to apologise for.
Storyhouse food before the show
The newer menu has lifted the food story: pre-show dinners, brunch, hot drinks and simple seasonal plates now feel like a stronger reason to sit down, especially if you want one place that can handle a meal, a coffee and a meeting point.
Worth knowing
The Kitchen is better than a mere foyer cafe, but it is still an open Storyhouse space. Use it for pre-show meals, coffee, brunch, groups and family-friendly central usefulness. Skip it when the brief is hush, candlelight and nobody walking past with library books.
The essentialsVisit
Getting there
0.2 miles from The Cross. No venue parking. Use nearby city-centre car parks such as Market, Delamere Street or Princess Street depending on your route.
Hours
Storyhouse opens daily, with The Kitchen serving through the day. Current serving times can differ from building opening hours, so check direct if food timing matters.
Food & drink
Seasonal cafe-restaurant food, brunch, lunch, main meals, desserts and children's choices. Use it for coffee, brunch, a pre-show meal, a simple lunch, cake or something light before moving on.
Access
Storyhouse is built as an accessible public building, but still mention specific access needs when booking a table.
8.0 OpenStreetMap - Hours
- Storyhouse opens daily, with The Kitchen serving through the day. Current serving times can differ from building opening hours, so check direct if food timing matters.
- Address
- Hunter St, Chester CH1 2AR
- Booking
- Sensible before shows, for groups and for exact meal times. Less necessary for a coffee stop.
- Pay
- cards, contactless
- Dogs
- Dog policy is not clear enough to rely on for the restaurant area. Check direct before bringing one.
- Access
- Storyhouse is built as an accessible public building, but still mention specific access needs when booking a table.
- Getting there
- 0.2 miles from The Cross. No venue parking. Use nearby city-centre car parks such as Market, Delamere Street or Princess Street depending on your route.
Nearby plan
Nearby pubs and bars
Nearby food
Nearby attractions
FAQ
Is The Kitchen inside Storyhouse?
Yes. It is on the ground floor of Storyhouse on Hunter Street.
Is The Kitchen good before a show?
Yes, that is one of its most useful jobs. Book if the timing matters.
Is The Kitchen good for kids?
Yes. It is one of the easier central food stops for families, especially during the day.
Can you use The Kitchen just for coffee?
Yes. It works well as a coffee or meet-up spot as well as a meal stop.
Is The Kitchen quiet?
Not always. It shares the rhythm of Storyhouse, so shows, school holidays and busy daytime periods change the feel.
