City centre traders have been given a boost with the news free parking will be available throughout 2019 thanks to a partnership between CH1ChesterBID and Chester Race Company.

As part of a continued effort to boost city centre visitor numbers, shoppers will again be able to take advantage of free parking at Chester Racecourse’s 450-capacity car park between 10am-5pm on selected Sundays throughout 2019. For the first time, Linenhall car park, will also be involved in the initiative, creating a further 325 free car parking spaces in the city. ,

From Sunday, January 27, free parking will be available on the last Sunday of every month until the 2019 race season gets underway in May, at which time free parking will be made available every Sunday that follows a Saturday race day to encourage additional city centre footfall.

The scheme will then return to the last Sunday of every month for the remainder of 2019 when the race season concludes at the end of September.

Carl Critchlow, BID manager at CH1ChesterBID - the city’s Business Improvement District - said: “It’s a huge boost to the city that Chester Race Company have agreed to offer free parking again in 2019. The scheme has been a huge success over the past two years.

“We know this scheme is popular with our 500-strong members - Chester city centre’s bars, shops and restaurants - as it encouraged thousands of people into the city in 2018.

“One of our priorities is making sure parking in Chester continues to be as accessible as possible.

“We’re thankful to Chester Race Company for agreeing to the scheme for another year and we hope shoppers will take full advantage of the free parking on offer throughout the year.”

Chief executive of Chester Race Company, Richard Thomas, added: “The free parking scheme introduced in 2017 has had a positive impact on city centre accessibility for shoppers and visitors and we’re pleased to continue the initiative.

“A busy and thriving city centre is positive for every business in the city and we hope members of the public will take advantage of the benefit and use it as an excuse to visit Chester and re-discover the city, its retailers and the array of bars, restaurants and attractions on offer.”

The full list of free parking days at Chester Racecourse and Linenhall Car Park are as follows:

  • Sunday 27 January
  • Sunday 24 February
  • Sunday 31 March (Mother's Day)
  • Sunday 28 April
  • Sunday 26 May
  • Sunday 16 June (Father's Day)
  • Sunday 30 June
  • Sunday 14 July
  • Sunday 28 July
  • Sunday 1 September
  • Sunday 15 September
  • Sunday 29 September
  • Sunday 27 October
  • Sunday 24 November
  • Sunday 29 December

For more information about parking in Chester, visit http://www.experiencechester.co.uk/how-to-get-here