A new shop has opened on the corner of Walker Street in the old Chester Co-operative Society building. This is thanks to the family-managed Okells Garden Centre, which has been trading at its main site between Tarporley and Tarvin off the A51 Tarporley Road since 1982.
The building used to host a Co-operative Food shop, but it has been vacant for numerous years, so the new shop will breathe some new life into the area. While a garden centre shop might not seem an obvious destination for a student, you may want to pick up some houseplants to add some flora to your accommodation. The shop is also selling gifts and homewares and serving bakes and coffees, and a full menu from the kitchen is in the works. It will be open daily from 9am to 5pm.
Okells announced the opening on its Instagram page, saying that despite being an established business, it had been the most exciting yet nerve-wracking project it had undertaken in some time, adding:
“When we first came across this building—a closed down co-op with over 100 years of history—we felt it deserved a new chapter. We owe a huge thank you to everyone who has been involved in bringing this space back to life.”
Hoole is a popular and vibrant student area thanks to its proximity to both the Kingsway Creative Campus and Chester city centre. You can find bills-included shared student accommodation in Hoole from Bed Student Rentals, sometimes with no upfront fees to pay.
Written by Kate
