Storyhouse
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Chester
What it’s like
A theatre, cinema and library rolled into one, with family shows, films and free craft sessions most weeks.
This is Chester's big theatre and cinema building, and it's doing a lot more than putting on plays. There's family-friendly theatre, cinema screenings, and free kids' crafts activities that turn up regularly, plus youth theatre for ages 5 to 17 if you've got one who fancies treading the boards themselves. Parent & Baby screenings mean you don't have to leave the little one behind for a daytime film, and babies under 12 months can sit on your lap for age-appropriate shows without needing a ticket at all.
Getting in the door costs nothing, it's the shows and films you pay for, and the building itself is open from 8am right up to 11pm most days. That's a proper long window, which makes it easy to fit round nap times or a full day out. The Kitchen café runs from 8am to 8pm daily, so there's somewhere to grab food before or after whatever you're seeing.
One thing worth knowing: there are no refunds on tickets, and if you need to swap dates you have to do it more than 48 hours before the show, plus pay any price difference. Booking by phone also adds a £2.50 charge, so booking online is the cheaper route if you can manage it. None of that's a dealbreaker, but it's the sort of small print you want to know before you commit to a Saturday matinee.
In summer they move things outdoors with open air theatre and cinema at Grosvenor Park, which is a nice change of pace if the kids have had enough of sitting still indoors. Parking's a short walk away rather than on site, and the Park & Ride does a decent deal with under 16s going free alongside a paying adult.
Facilities
Need to know
- Booking
- Online booking available anytime
- Parking
- Nearest car parks are New Market Parking (CH1 2AR) and Delamere Street Car Park (CH1 2AY)
- Food
- The Kitchen café serves simple food from 8am to 8pm daily on a refreshed menu
- Getting there by bus or train
- Six minute walk from Chester Bus Interchange
- Worth knowing
- Storyhouse Members get 10% discount on theatre and cinema tickets (up to two per event), no booking fees ever
- Phone bookings cost £2.50 extra, book online to skip the charge
- No refunds once you've bought tickets, so double check the date first
- Members get 10% off tickets and no booking fees for £6 a month
- In summer, theatre and cinema move outdoors to Grosvenor Park
- Free kids' crafts activities pop up regularly, worth keeping an eye on
Plan your visit
How much does it cost to get in?
Getting into the building is free. You only pay for whatever show, film or activity you're going to.
Do we need to book ahead?
You can book online any time, and there's no waiting list, so if a show's sold out it stays sold out unless tickets get released back.
Is there parking nearby?
There's no car park on site. New Market Parking and Delamere Street Car Park are the nearest options, both a short walk away.
Is it any good for a baby?
Babies under 12 months can sit on your lap for age-appropriate shows and films without needing their own ticket, and there are dedicated Parent & Baby cinema screenings too.
What's there to eat?
The Kitchen café serves simple food from 8am to 8pm every day, so you can eat before or after your show.
What if I need to change my tickets?
Exchanges need to be requested more than 48 hours before the show, and you'll pay any difference in price. There are no refunds.
Can we get there without driving?
It's a six minute walk from Chester Bus Interchange, and the Park & Ride runs every 12 minutes with free parking and £2 return tickets for adults, under 16s go free.
Is it open every day?
Yes, right through the year apart from Christmas Day, which is the only day the building closes.
Do they do birthday parties?
Birthday parties and party rooms are listed among their facilities, alongside group bookings for bigger get-togethers.
Is there anything for older kids to actually do there, not just watch?
The youth theatre programme takes kids aged 5 to 17, so it's not purely a watch-from-your-seat sort of place.
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