CHESTER Race Company has agreed a five-year contract with Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) to manage Chester Town Hall.
Horseradish – the race company’s outside catering arm – will manage the historic building, handle event bookings and provide catering and hospitality.
CWaC hopes the move will result in the 19th century building being used more regularly to host civic, arts, cultural and social events and weddings.
Horseradish already manages matchday and non-matchday catering and events at Chester Football Club and provides hospitality at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
Chester Racecourse chief executive Richard Thomas said: “It is an honour to be awarded this contract and with it comes great responsibility.
“It is our aim is to make Chester Town Hall a key attraction in the city. We look forward to working alongside CWaC to help this superb facility realise its full potential and commercial viability as we have with Chester Racecourse.
“Appointing Horseradish will open-up a wide range of opportunities to make greater use of the Town Hall and we are delighted to have been selected as the venue and event management partner for the next five years.”
CWaC has spent more than £3 million refurbishing the town hall which was built in the 1860s and Horseradish has been tasked with marketing and promoting the venue to businesses and the community.
Cllr Stuart Parker, executive member for culture and recreation, said: “We are determined to realise the full potential of our newly refurbished Town Hall in Chester and believe we have found a partner in Horseradish to achieve this.”