Recently, I spent a day with some work colleagues doing some voluntary work at Chester Zoo. Despite living fairly close to the zoo, I’d not been there for a good few years. I’ve taken my daughter when she was younger, but haven’t been since.
After a hot day in the fields cutting down and then stripping willow branches for them to be used as food for the animals, there was some free time at the end of the day to have a look round the zoo itself. The sun was burning down that day, but I decided to have a quick look round to see as many of my favourite animals as I could – a “Greatest Hits” tour, if you will.
So I raced around and saw some rhinos – always one of my favourites since I was a little kid. Magnificent, huge animals, they were busy sunbathing or chomping away on food (provided by some other voluntary group?). Giraffes were next: if you didn’t know these creatures were real, you’d swear they were the invention of a crazy mind.
Elephants are always a joy to see, and the Asian specimens at Chester Zoo always remind me of Disney’s The Jungle Book (which I love).
Then it was off to find the lions. I was unlucky here though, sadly – they were all hiding in the shade. Fair enough, really. I was much more fortunate with the jaguars. One of these beautiful big cats was contentedly wandering around their indoor pen and came up really close, providing a fantastic close up.
After quickly checking out the penguins and a Komodo dragon, it was time to split. There was time on the clock, but I really needed to get home for a shower after such a hot day!
As a result, I missed out on some of my other most admired animals, such as the tigers, chimpanzees and the amazing bats in their night zone. But having had such a good time, I decided it won’t be long till my next visit to see what I missed.
Thanks to Chester Zoo for a fun and educational day.
Following a blinder of an evening’s entertainment for Day the First of North West Doom Fest, I was rested and ready to go for Saturday. Beginning at an earlier time in the afternoon, I unfortunately missed the first band of the bill, Hand of Omega, who played while I was still travelling into town. Sincere apolgies for this to all, I must catch them again sometime.
Arriving at the Saddle, the festivities were well and truly underway already. A decent sized crowd were in attendance in the rear courtyard, cradling beers and nursing themselves back to full health. There was no downer atmos that I could discern at all however, everyone seemed amped for the music ahead.
Moss Valley were the first band of the day that I actually got to see, and they were pretty damn good. This three piece straddled a retro seventies vibe with added desert rock Kyuss stylings. Great riffs and warm female vocals adding to the melodies, Moss Valley really made a huge impression. It’s tough to pick favourites at an event like this, but MV were definitely contenders.
Up next we had a visit from the Pagan lords of the north, Sabbat Wolf. This Leeds based band featured exemplary musicianship, again with a commanding female vocalist. What I enjoyed here were the Sabbath worshipping riffs augmented by beautifully tuneful, mellow passages that reminded me of Pink Floyd. Sabbat Wolf really stood out with these psychedelic flourishes and their unashamed occult theme – their song ‘Pagan Bloody Pagan’ tells you all you need to know!
Warpstormer had travelled up from Londonium to the ancient, walled city of Chester. These guys mix full throttle Metal with their Doom, think Orange Goblin rocking out at their trippiest. It’s a Stoner Metal attack that could have been related somewhere to Entombed or Motorhead, but had enough power and groove to fit in perfectly at this gig. Warpstomer were real crowd pleasers and also really nice guys.
Get your flat caps on and forget your fear of heights, it’s time for Shred Dibnah! The world’s premier Steeple Jack Rock band graced the stage of NW Doom Fest, amid clouds of smoke and a pummelling performance. With a portable chimney on stage belching out clouds, Shred Dibnah demolished the audience with roaming riffs and contrasting mellow sections that added to the hypnotic drill.
Borehead were the next band of the day, and again a different take on the Doom template. In contrast to other bands, these Londoners were largely instrumental – except for some weird and wonderful samples – with slow, fuzzy riffs more spaced out than Buck Rogers on a Venusian hookah pipe. Cerebral stuff that you’d assume would be better appreciated on headphones with some refreshment, but it went over very well.
I was already familiar with the mighty Deathfiend – I caught them live a while back, and was happily smashed to pieces with their ferocious onslaught. With elements of Death Metal and even Hardcore Punk in the Deathfiend sound, I wasn’t sure if they’d be too damn nasty for this festival, but they slotted right in neatly. Outrageously heavy Doom riffs delivered with a fiery intensity, this band are a force to be reckoned with.
You know how sometimes you see a band that looks so cool, you want to join up? Kill The Witch were that band at NW Doom Fest. These guys meld together the Sludgiest of Stoner and Doom Metal, traversing varying tempos and styles but always remaining true to The Riff. Roaring vocals top off a faster, more furious Sabbath sound that’s not without its clever invention and serpent-like surprises, throwing in some brutal hardcore along the way.
Finishing off NW Doom Fest 2025 were the mighty Amon Acid. Another Yorkshire based band, their distorted Doom Metal was part Electric Wizard style occult Metal, with hypnotic, psychedelic passages added for kicks. Yet again a different take on Doom with Hawkwind Space Rock and amazing Middle Eastern sounding passages seeping through the acid drenched fuzzy guitar, Amon Acid were a thoroughly entertaining musical experience, finishing the event in style.
And that, kids, was your lot. Everything was wrapped up in a timely fashion so that the punters could make buses and trains home, all of us with beaming, happy faces – gorged on the joy of The Riff. North West Doom Fest was a resounding success and I have to say I enjoyed every band I saw. All of them had their own unique identities, whichever winding track they took from the original concept of Doom. Cool venue, too. Now I feel really stupid for not going last year.
The Saddle is the number one – and surely only – Rock based pub in the City of Chester. A town more famed for drunken shenanigans and expensive outfits for the Races, this is the playground of the Cheshire Set and the wannabes. A home of Metal it is not. Not usually, anyway – except for the welcoming haven of The Saddle.
And for one weekend in April, the tiny G21 venue at the back of the pub hosted the second North West Doom Fest: two days of the heaviest, doomiest metal in the land. Absolutely fan-fucking-tabulous!
The evening began with Druid’s Cross, from not far away at all Liverpool. I’ve seen this band before, and knew they would be ideal to commence the festivities. Harsh vocals lead relentless, dynamic riffs with a traditional metal feel as well as a slow, doomy pace. There’s a dark, gothic edge to the music as well, resulting in a compelling sound that grabbed everyone’s attention from the start..
Festival organisers Lorraine and Mark were up next, with their amazing three-piece band, Warlockhunt. I’d also seen this band before, and I’m always amazed by the complexity of their dual bass and tribal drums sound. The other worldly female vocals have led to this band being described as Doom Pop (I coined that phrase, actually, thank you very much) and it’s easy to see why. Always different and always captivating.
Grim skeletal figures flanking the stage, inverted crosses and a duo wearing dark cloaks: Tumanduumband aren’t exactly shy of revelling in their ominous personas. What they are, is a West Midlands based Satanic Doom band, and their music is both atmospheric and heavy as hell itself. Fuzzed out, crushing riffs mean that the visuals aren’t inappropriate – this band is growing a cult based on their own dark riff-tuals.
Headlining tonight, and admittedly one of my favourite bands out there these days, the mighty Son of Boar rightfully took their place at the top of the bill. I became a big fan after seeing them play Pentre Fest some years ago. Bass wrangler Gaz is also an Ever Metal scribe, not that I’m biased at all, honest! Son of Boar played a set that was tight and forceful, with ear-worm riffs and thundering rhythms. Tusks up! The boys brought the HEH-VEEE, then slept the night on the floor of the venue, ‘cos they rock that hard.
There nearly wasn’t a Comic Con in Chester at all this year. Then suddenly, Monopoly Events swooped in and saved the day, in true caped crusader style. In the new guise of “Comic Con Mania” – which appears to be a series of smaller conventions across the country – the plans were back on.
With only a handful of celebrity guests and smaller space for merch stalls than some of the bigger cons, Chester was a refined affair. But I felt there was a good atmosphere, a sense of a local event that defied the odds and was determined to put on a good time.
Daughtertron and I decided to venture to Chester Racecourse and check things out. It had been two whole years since we last visited a convention in Chester – with this event happening right on our doorstep, it was a safe bet for an afternoon’s entertainment.
There were guests from Star Wars and Red Dwarf in attendance (and I really should’ve got an autograph from Mike Quinn, aka Nien Nunb in Return of the Jedi). But Daughtertron and I were happy exploring the stalls and finding some bargains to take home. I got a load of Marvel comic books. Now you’d think finding comics at a comic convention would be an easy task, but surprisingly I draw a blank at many cons.
Of course there were some fantastic costumes being worn by talented people, wandering all round the place. The Cosplay on view was really impressive as hopefully you can see from my photos here. Thanks to all of those who allowed me to take their photo, you’re very kind. I hope these pics do some justice to the time you’ve spent creating these outfits.
Comic Con Mania Chester was on a smaller scale than some of the bigger cons we’ve visited recently. Not surprising really, with another event happening not too far away in Aintree the next day – this may have impacted numbers and traders attending.
In my personal view, I had a fun few hours at Chester, it seemed well organised and it was a warm, friendly event. I’m looking forward to more in the future.
The indoor market in Chester has had a confident resurgence in recent times. Still the home of many familiar local traders and stalls, the market has now grown to accommodate a whole new and vibrant concept.
A number of excellent eateries have sprung up, offering food of a wide variety of styles. To compliment this, That Beer Place has also established itself as a central attraction for beer lovers.
I wanted to write a brief appreciation of That Beer Place – and spread the word if possible – for a fantastic enterprise that deserves success.
There’s a huge selection of beer to choose from, both on tap and in bottles or cans. Whether traditional or unusual, local or from a far flung locale, there’s so much variety that there’s sure to be a drink to suit all tastes.
Staff are helpful and able to advise, if the magnitude of choice threatens to confound. There are vegan, gluten free and more options; plus cider, gin, wine and non-alcoholic beverages too. It’s easy and fun to experiment and discover a new favourite. I’ve been doing it for a while…
Whilst never raucous, there’s definitely a buzz about That Beer Place that makes it a great place to visit. It’s friendly and welcoming, with a cool vibe that makes it a crucial part of the revamped market.
Good luck to That Beer Place and Chester Market too (not forgetting another favourite, Death by Tacos!) – make sure you pay them a visit next time you’re in town.
It’s been a long time since I wrote a food blog. However, I’ve dragged myself out of self imposed food critic retirement, to plug a new local eaterie that I’ve become a huge fan of. That establishment is Death by Tacos, in Chester market.
Anyone who knows me, or has read previous blogs, will know I’m a big fan of Mexican food. So it’s no surprise that I love DBT.
On offer is authentic Mexican fare: freshly made, soft corn tortillas filled with a choice of various fillings and mouth watering dressings. So far I’ve tried the chicken and the chorizo, and I’m working my way through the menu. Both dishes were fabuloso!
There are also some amazing sounding sides available, like brisket loaded tortilla chips, that I want to try. Plus with some groovy cocktails and beers, this is Mexican food heaven.
Sitting in Death by Tacos, I was right at home: a couple of skateboards on the walls and classic tunes (Black Sabbath and Smashing Pumpkins were on the playlist on my last visit!). Plus the staff are friendly and helpful, making the whole experience a real joy. Oh, I got a sticker and a badge too, wahey!
My chicken tacos
My chorizo tacos
Decks
Sticker and badge
Chester market has been revamped over recent months, and now features various places to eat and drink that are worth investigating. On Friday evenings they’re open till 9pm, and there’s a real relaxed and fun vibe that I can recommend.
Death by Tacos is worth your time to experience, trust me. Great food, cool surroundings, what more could you want?
PS: this review ain’t going on Trip Advisor, ‘cos everyone knows Trip Advisor is for FOOLS.
OK – so remember when I wrote my blog post about Chester Comic Con a while ago? I ran out of memory space on my WordPress site and couldn’t post all of the photos I had taken. Almost all made it, but not quite.
Then came Halloween Horror Fest, and although the space issue was solved I didn’t get chance to complete the images taken from Chester.
Until now.
Here, in true George Lucas style, I have re-visited the event and present for your enjoyment, the missing shots taken on that day.
Awesome outfits
Joker and Harley
Boldly shopping…
Bunch of Jokers…
Belle
Most of the these bonus pics simply weren’t used due to lack of space; some here are alternative versions of shots used.
Either way, I hope you enjoy.
As well as fantastic Cosplay costumes and various stalls selling all manner of wonders, there were also a few vehicles on display…
Jurassic
KITT
Hoverboard
BTTF
As I mentioned in the previous Chester Comic Con blog, I saw a great Q&A session with Martine Beswicke, Caroline Munro and Madeline Smith. Best thing of the day!
Hammer ladies
Stay Puft
Marvel
Well done everyone at Chester Comic Con – it was a fab day! Looking forward to next year.
My buddy Dan acquired some tickets and I was off to my first Chester Comic Con. Amazingly, it was held at that den of drunken depravity, Chester Racecourse. So for once, that almighty dignity vacuum would feature some actual culture.
To be fair, the racecourse was a pretty good venue. There was plenty of space, with the indoor stalls surrounding a courtyard where numerous cosplayers, fans and geeks of all types could gather. As it was decent weather, this outdoor section was a handy addition as it got fairly crowded indoors.
The stalls were many and varied; it was good to see a large number of merchandise stalls selling all manner of collectable paraphernalia. There was plenty to drool over and spend hard earned cash on.
I picked up some comic books and Lego figures for presents, incredibly managing to resist adding more Funko Pops to my collection (there were lots). As always with these events, however, there was tons I regretted not picking up later!
The cosplayers at the Con were superb. There was all manner of fabulous creations on show, as seen here. You’ve go to admire the dedication, hard work and creativity that goes into making these costumes. I also think they’re also very brave, it takes some guts to proudly display your geek pride.
Well done to all the cosplayers – costumed heroes, every single one! And thanks for letting me take your photo for this blog.
A highlight of the day were the Q&A sessions. I caught a very interesting talk with Christopher Fairbank, who discussed his roles in film and TV from Auf Wiedersehen, Pet to Guardians of the Galaxy – and tons of other stuff. His recollections provided loads of fascinating insights behind some of the many projects he’s been a part of.
Later on, there was another Q&A with Martine Beswick, Caroline Munro and Madeline Smith. I’ve met these wonderful ladies before, but it was great to hear them talk about their experiences with Bond, Hammer and beyond. The session was light hearted and lots of fun, with some genuinely interesting stories. All three came across very well; they were warm and friendly and really happy to be part of the event. Superb, my favourite bit of the whole day.
All in all, Chester Comic Con was a total success. It was a great day out and I’ll definitely be repeating the experience next year. Let’s hope that 2018’s Con is expanded to two days!
Well folks, there you have it – for now. I have a few more photos from the event to share, however I appear to have reached my limit for images with WordPress. So for now, this is it.
In fact, this may be the end of Platinum Al’s Virtual Hot Tub.
Not that type of hanky panky, you bunch of deviants. I’m talking about a great new pancake emporium in the city of Chester. It’s a laid back, homely place with literally tons of tasty grub – all featuring pancakes in some form or other.
The Platinum family visited Hanky Panky pancakes recently whilst on a day trip to Chester. If you know the town centre at all, you’ll know Commonhall Street. For the uninitiated, it’s tucked away off Upper Bridge Street, but very easy to find.
We popped in for a mid afternoon break, and were happy to find a novel and delicious base for a spot of nourishment.
Rocky Road
Fentimans Cola
Basically, at Hanky Panky anything you can think of related to pancakes will be found. Different types of pancakes, served either savoury or sweet – your choice.
On this visit, it was mid afternoon so I opted for something sweet: the amazing Rocky Road. This consisted of pancakes adorned with chocolate chips, marshmallows, rocky road ice cream and chocolate sauce. As an irredeemable choc fiend, this was pure ecstasy!
I enjoyed a Fentimans Cherry Tree cola with my treat, which was very good.
The rest of the family also enjoyed sweet pancake joy, though I can’t remember what they ordered. Mine was the best, anyway.
Our trip to Hanky Panky was really appreciated by all of us. We hope to make another trip soon – maybe next time I’ll go earlier and opt for a savoury choice. The “El Matador” (chorizo and sun dried tomatoes) sounds incredible.
All in all, recommended for a different family treat food-wise in Chester, that you’ll want to visit again.
Would you dare to stay a night in a 300 year old pub, in one of it’s most haunted bedrooms? Sound like fun? I wasn’t 100% convinced, but that’s what Mrs Platinum Al and I decided to do recently.
You’re familiar with Most Haunted, right? Where Yvette Fielding and her intrepid group of paranormal investigators visit aged buildings to discover what ghostly goings on they can find? Well Ye Olde Kings Head in Chester, was featured on the programme not too long ago. We watched the programme and were intrigued by the various strange occurrences the team observed.
So Mrs Platinum Al decided she wanted to stay the night there. In the room that was supposedly the most active with things that go bump in the night…
Not like that, you smutty lot!
Ye Olde Kings Head is a wonderful looking building in the Tudor style – dark wooden beams highlighting the architecture. Inside, the pub also has a real Olde Worlde, traditional style with plenty more wooden beams, comfy chairs and an open fire. It is indeed very charming – you would swear you’re on a film set if you didn’t know better. There’s also a well stocked bar, live music and a friendly welcome.
We were staying in Room 1 – supposedly the most active in the paranormal activity stakes. The room featured an enormous four poster bed and antique looking furniture. There were yet more old wooden beams visible, these ones a bit lower – OK for any headless spirits. An excellent spacious bathroom completed the impressive amenities. All very cosy and not at all spooky, I wasn’t nervous at all.
Now I’m not necessarily a believer in the supernatural. There’s usually a plausible real world explanation for most weird events. However I’m not a total nay-sayer either; I’m certainly interested, and if something truly bizarre occurred I’d accept it. But it would have to be pretty out of this world and happen right in front of my eyes.
After a few drinks and a top notch evening meal, we retired to our room to begin our own paranormal investigations. With a glass of wine (or two) for Dutch courage, we waited to see if anything would happen. We closely observed everything in the room to see if any objects had moved.
In true Derek Acorah style, we attempted some “calling out”. You know, all that “Is there anybody there?” malarkey. No, I can’t believe I did that either. I assured our ghostly hosts – if they were there – that we meant no harm and were only curious if they would like to make contact.
Unfortunately, nothing happened. No otherworldly voices, no items moving of their own inexplicable accord.
Although just as we were falling asleep, the television switched itself on.
Now that occurrence might be explainable in many ways: a faulty TV for one. But the fact that the same thing had happened on the Most Haunted episode had us intrigued. I’m not saying I was convinced, but it was an interesting coincidence.
I then fell asleep in the giant four poster, easily the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in. Happily I slept right the way through; my main concern of this visit was having to go for a wee, in the dark, in the middle of the night.
In the morning we had a great full English breakfast and were ready for a new day.
Our investigation at Ye Olde Kings Head didn’t deliver much in the way of ghostly goings on, but we definitely had a brilliant time. We were well looked after, with the food and drinks being excellent. Both the pub and the room we stayed in were really warm with an almost magical ambience.
We’ll definitely visit again, and attempt some further paranormal investigations. Perhaps it was a little disappointing that we didn’t experience anything strange. But we both had a relaxing break in a really good pub, and that’s good enough for me.
Platinum Al's Virtual Hot Tub 