TOURISTS who flocked to the city over the weekend for two major events have managed to give Chester a massive economic boost.
Pub and restaurant owners say they have been hit by larger-than-usual crowds for the World Cup, with several saying they had experienced record numbers of people.
Meanwhile, thousands of extra visitors were also in town for the recently launched Chestival 2010. The 33-day festival brings together a number of new and regular events under one banner with the hope of transforming the city into a summer-long cultural hotbed.
Organisers believe the city will attract more than 100,000 people over the next four weeks as both events continue into early July, bringing a £5million boost.
City management co-ordinator Stephen Wundke said: “It’s a great time for the city generally because we are right in the middle of the Chestival programme.
“We had a huge boost over the weekend, with our bars and restaurants packed. It was evidenced on Saturday, with the sun shining and people enjoying the Romans and you could also see the England flags everywhere.
“It was a trouble free city with a great atmosphere everywhere you went.”
He added: “It’s particularly a good time for chester as the whole time the Chestival is on at the same time as the World Cup, which means you have families and football fans and crowds everywhere which is doing a great service for a local economy.”
Assistant manager at Off the Wall, Adam Parker, said: “We had special promotions for the World Cup. We have set up 20 televisions, including five new ones and one outside with sound.
“We managed to make about £16,000, which is almost a record sale for us. I was pretty much in the thick of it all. The manager even brought all the staff replica England kits. We really went all out.”
However, Helen Cazaly, manager at The Forest House, said while business had been good they did not manage to exceed expectations.
She said: “We did have a massive influx of people. However, rather than taking money later on, we took it earlier when the match was on, so I think it did cancel it out a bit.
“However it was a great atmosphere. Everyone really enjoyed themselves.”