Storyhouse, the Chester-based theatre, library, cinema and social venue with over 1 million customers per year, re-opens its entrance lobby for community support from Wednesday 18 March.

“We will fully support our community in this time of need.  From today we will re-open as a mini library with ‘soup and solidarity’, from 9-5pm.  Our entrance lobby – the only public space to be opened – will offer takeaway soup and hot drinks on a pay-what-you-feel basis.  Library staff will be on hand to help customers choose and return their books, and whilst the main building will of course be closed for social distancing, we will not however distance ourselves from the isolated and those in need. Customers with no other online access will be able to use a few library computers in half-hour slots, with plenty of space between them and cleaned between each use.

We are preparing to stage online storytelling, sing-alongs and karaoke; our young peoples’ programmes will move online where possible.  These will take a few days to get up and running, however our front doors are back open for takeaway soup and solidarity.”