The Oakfield, the historic home of Chester Zoo founder George Mottershead and his family, has opened its doors to visitors following a £3 million refurbishment, restoration and expansion.
The major development which saw The Oakfield converted into a pub and restaurant has been primarily designed to enable more visitors than ever before to discover the inspirational grade II listed property.
Visitors are invited to relax in the Mottersheads’ former library, with a carefully restored fireplace and wood panelled walls, or enjoy a meal in the rooms which were once both a family home and the functioning centre of the zoo.
The Oakfield was first built as a Victorian country house in approximately 1884 and was used as a hospital for Belgian refugees during the First World War.
George Mottershead (left), who had himself served in The Battle of The Somme during the First World War, bought the house in 1930 with a view to opening the first “zoo without bars” with animal welfare at its heart. The family’s vision for the zoo has helped it to become the UK’s most visited zoo and the third best in the world according to Tripadvisor rankings.
The latest iteration of The Oakfield continues the “always building” philosophy of the pioneering Mottershead family, and the additional revenue generated by The Oakfield will help fund even more conservation projects to protect endangered species from extinction, in line with the family vision for the house.
Simon Lockhart, Chester Zoo’s Food and Beverage General Manager, explained, “The Oakfield is in keeping with the successful freehouses that Cheshire has to offer. We have sought to combine the best of them all to create a satisfyingly good pub with a really good menu. The pub is as much a testament to the past as it is a vision for the future of the zoo. We have been careful to retain the original qualities of the house so it has a real home from home feeling, and the building remains a centre-piece of the zoo in its own right.”
Jamie Roberts, Senior Food and Beverage Manager said, “We have really considered what our guests may want from The Oakfield, with both the design of the building and of the menus. On a cold winter’s day, you may just wander in for a coffee and a chat with one of the team, while you warm up in front of the fire – there are five of those to choose from after all! Whereas, on a lovely, bright day you may choose instead to sit out on the terrace with a satisfying glass of wine, or head to the new garden room, where you can enjoy an appetizing lunch as you look out across the beautiful grounds.
“We are all very proud and passionate about The Oakfield. We want to share our love of fantastic, fresh food and great service with our guests. We hope to see you there soon!”
The Oakfield will be open to visitors during core zoo opening hours. For more information, and to book tickets to Chester Zoo, visit www.chesterzoo.org
