03-03-2025
Trendy village an hour from Manchester named one of UK's 'coolest places to live' in 2025
A charming village just an hour away from Manchester has been named as one of the UK's 'coolest places to live'. Hoole, a trendy suburb in Chester, is often likened to Notting Hill in west London for its array of independent stores, bars, bistros, and attractive Victorian terraces originally constructed for railway workers.
Hoole had an overall average house price of £313,638 over the last year, according to Rightmove. The majority of properties sold were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £370,440. Overall, house prices were 6 percent higher than the previous year.
The area gained national recognition when it scooped up the Great British High Street of the Year award in 2016. Seven years later, it still holds onto its cool factor, with The Times listing the CH2 postcode as one of Britain's 11 trendiest postcodes.
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The Times said: "It's Chester's oldest 'burb, but 'Notting Hoole', as the locals' tongue-in-cheek nickname goes, is the spot for indie spirit and cool café culture within a half-hour saunter of Chezza's city centre.
"Beyond bagging a res at the neighbourhood favourite Sticky Walnut, the chef Gary Usher's flagship bistro (the rotation of hearty dishes includes chicken schnitzel and ox heart kebabs), foodies can head to Okells for breads, spreads and silky flat whites, or there are brill brunches on offer at Little Yellow Pig, a thoroughly cute café."
It recommended: "The Faulkner is Hoole's go-to gastropub, while the veg boxes from the wholefood store Hoole Food Market are a must. And the crowd? The east London creative Oliver Hooson is a now a regular — he's currently renovating one of the smart Victorian red-bricks in his hometown — as well as cool young parents who have fled London for more space and Parent Power-approved state schools.
"If that's your scene, there's pregnancy yoga at Hoole Community Centre and baby-friendly classes at Barre Esthetique. Slings at the ready."
Hoole is an affluent area and a sought-after place to live, reports the Echo. In September 2024 Innes North, who relocated from Toxteth to Hoole, shared: "I retired from working at BT when I was 67 and decided to move here to be near my daughter. It's a lovely place to live."
"My friends and family are in Liverpool, but they come here all the time for their holidays - I can't get rid of them! I don't miss Liverpool because it's so easy to go there on the train."
Meanwhile, Leann Shaw, owner of Hoole Food Market, remarked: "It's just a lovely social shopping experience here. You can buy what you need and you get to talk to the nice people behind the counter."
Kevin Bartlett, proprietor of Hoptons Butchers, commented: "Business is good, it's back to normal now after the pandemic. People come here for the quality of the produce and for the service. I think being able to buy what they want in small amounts is a big draw for them."
Meanwhile, Sophie, who was employed at the local community centre, expressed her affection for Hoole and its "amazing community", but she is unable to afford living there due to the high cost of rent and property.
