






Belong Chester opened its doors on 18th July 2022; located in the heart of the city, adjacent to its historic canal, the inter-generational community provides world-leading dementia and nursing care, with 24-hour support available across six extended family-sized households and 23 independent living apartments, the latter available to purchase or rent.
The Nursery in Belong, the village's 25-place intergenerational nursery, featuring a secure sensory nature and play garden, provides a...
Care Provided by Belong Chester
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Physical Disability
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Nursing Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- Dementia Nursing Care
- For a maximum of 75 Service Users
Dementia Care TypesMild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
Mild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
- Mild Dementia
- Moderate Dementia
- Advanced/Complex Dementia
Other Care Provided
- Parkinson's Disease
- Stroke
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- Convalescent Care
- Day Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Smoking not permitted
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Bar/Café
- Residents Kitchenette
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
See key facts and pricing information on our website.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Belong Chester for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Belong Chester to confirm what's included and get a personalised quote:
Funding Types Accepted
- Self-Funding (Private)
- Local Authority with Top-up
- Local Authority
- NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
Support you may be entitled to
- If you chose a care home based in England, you may be eligible for NHS Funded Nursing Care (FNC), which helps cover the cost of nursing. This is worth £267.68 per week and is usually paid directly to the care home.
Good to Know
Group / Owner
- Belong Ltd
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Person in charge
- Caroline Ray(General Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 55+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Year Purpose Built: 2022
- Last Refurbishment: 2022
- Number of floors: 4
Room Information
- Single Rooms (75)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (72)
Visiting
- A short walking distance from Chester railway station, Belong Chester is conveniently located to access the city’s cultural, historical and retail opportunities.
Parking
- On-site parking is available.
Belong Chester Reviews (29)
Belong Chester has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.851) out of 10, based on 18 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Belong Chester has 29 reviews.
My mum became a resident at Belong Chester 3 weeks ago and I can honestly say, I am delighted. She is so happy here and seems very relaxed after a stressful few months at home. The staff are really friendly and within days, they knew my mum so well. The 'Household' is like a family. I feel quite emotional as this has been a game changer for both my mum and for me - Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for this lovely review! It's a pleasure to have your mum staying with us at Belong Chester. Our team work really hard to ensure a friendly, homely and welcoming environment and they will be delighted to hear that this is appreciated.
The entire staff in Handbridge House care for Dad ( who has various needs) with great compassion dedication and expertise . My Sister and I are entirely satisfied with the care Dad receives in all respects . I particularly like the "House" concept whereby residents staff and relatives feel part of a homely atmosphere .
Thank you so much for taking the time to provide us with this feedback. Our team work really hard to ensure a friendly, homely and welcoming environment and we are delighted that you and your family are happy with the care provided. It's a pleasure to have your dad with us.
After speaking to 63 homes in the northwest and visiting 23 I came across Belong. These homes are head and shoulders above any homes I've seen. When a place came up in Chester I was so happy to get my mum settled in. My mum has dementia so has some special ist requirements which I'm confident are being catered for. Modern, clean, great activities and staff!
Thank you for taking the time to submit such wonderful feedback. We aim to maintain high standards at Belong Chester; we are so delighted to hear this has been your experience and that you are happy and confident that your Mum's needs are being met. I will make sure your kind words are passed to the village team.
To the important stuff, the care is phenomenal. I take Mum's washing home. If Mum was not toileted regularly I would know. She eats with gusto, beautiful food made from scratch, she had lost over a stone in hospital. She'll definitely put that back on watching her eat today!
I asked Mum a couple of days ago, "Just between the two of us, what do you think?" She said, "It will never be home but the staff are all lovely, nothing is too much and I feel safe." Not bad for eleven days and I'm sure she'll feel more at home as time goes on.
The progress that she has made emotionally is so wonderful to see. 'Church' today was a huge achievement and so important. The staff were so invested in making it happen.
The Bridgegate team (you're amazing), thank you.
Thank you very much for taking the time to provide this wonderful feedback. It means a great deal to the team here and we are so pleased to hear that your mum is interacting and being well cared for at Belong Chester. We'll make sure we share this amazing review with the whole team.
My sister is a resident at Belong Chester, she is very happy here and well looked after and cared for, I am personally very happy with Belong and staff. She enjoys all the activities and singing in the choir and also being with the nursery children.
Thank you so much for your positive review on the support provided at Belong Chester. We are delighted to hear your sister is so happy and engaged and that you feel she is well cared for.
My mum is a resident at Belong Chester, she has been there thirteen months now. I visited my mum several times during December. The atmosphere was amazing and Mum absolutely loved being there, the festivities were lovely and activities plentiful. The staff are always happy and cheerful and make a fuss of Mum which she loves. Mum is on Bridgegate household, it is peaceful, relaxing and fun to be in, I feel totally happy that she is being cared for in such a warm environment by such a caring team. The intergenerational experiences are amazing, the little ones certainly bring a lot of smiles to the residents.
Thank you very much for taking the time to provide us with this review. Our team work really hard to ensure a friendly, homely and welcoming environment. It means a great deal to them to know that this is appreciated and that your mum is enjoying life in Belong Chester.
Mum settled much better than I expected. The intergenerational focus is embedded into Belong and has made a significant difference to my mum's life.
Staff know my mum well and with their support, Num has regained her confidence. There is a lot of laughter and warmth. Staff always look happy to be at work and they have time to listen and respond to any concerns.
Belong supports the whole family and we couldn't recommend them highly enough.
Thank you for leaving such a kind review of Belong Chester. We are so happy to hear that your mum has settled in so well and that she has gained in confidence through our support. Our team will be delighted to know how happy you are as a family with the care she receives.
I feel she is in a safe environment and is being looked after.
Most of the staff/carers are excellent and understand my mum's condition.
During visits, I can see how the carers help the other residents with their individual needs and can assess this further down the line, as my mum's needs also increase.
On occasion, I will get two different answers from two carers and so I do not know which one is correct.
Some things could be addressed: some of her clothes go missing and these have not been labelled and so we have done this ourselves on a lot of items. There is a name label tool in Belong but no one seems to know where it is.
The app is a useful tool and I read it every morning and evening so see how my mum is. It does have a lot of duplications entered, I don't know if this is down to the staff making the entry or if the app has generic sentences or tick boxes.
Thank you for taking the time to submit your review of Belong Chester. We are pleased to hear that you are happy with the care provided to your mum overall. We greatly appreciate your feedback and continuously look at ways we can improve our services to maintain high standards. We are in the...
Belong Chester was the best of the many care homes I visited and we were very pleased to secure a place for Mum. It is very well thought out. Location is excellent. Rooms are modern, light, spacious and well-equipped with a big wet room and large windows. They are also air-conditioned, so nice and warm in the winter. Each household has a sunny balcony for warmer times. We particularly like the household set up which allows the small number of residents to get to know each other as they eat their meals together each day in the household dining room and sit together in the communal lounge. The recent Christmas parties were a nice touch. The household has a homely feel and Belong itself is very welcoming. Food is tasty and freshly cooked in the household. The ground-floor bistro is excellent. There is a carefully considered range of activities: we especially like the intergenerational dimension, with the weekly interactions with the kindergarten children. Staff are mostly kind and helpful.
Thank you for taking the time to submit such wonderful feedback. We aim to maintain high standards at Belong Chester; we are so delighted to hear this has been your overall experience and that you made the best choice for your mum's care. I will make sure your kind words are passed to the village teams.
My mum is a household resident on Bridgegate, We are beyond grateful for the care they give her, both physical and emotional.
Thank you for taking the time to submit your review of Belong Chester. We are so touched by your kind words and our team works really hard to ensure a friendly, homely and welcoming environment. It means a great deal to our village team to know that this is appreciated and that your mum is cared for so well.
The best care home I have seen. The staff are outstanding and the level of care is second to none. I would recommend to anyone with relative's needing care.
Thank you very much for taking the time to provide this feedback. It means a great deal to the team here and we are so pleased to hear you are happy with the level of care at Belong Chester.
My father's experiences from settling in preporations and a full year now of care in this setting has been wonderful. The concept of a 'champion' to support and coordinate his care has meant it has been seamless. The celebration of his 98th birthday was the culmination of not only his hopes but ours as a family - true happiness.
Thank you for taking the time to provide this lovely feedback. We are delighted to know that your dad is so happy and settled at Belong Chester and that the dedication of our village teams are making a positive difference to his care. I will share this with the entire team.
I have found a care home that I am happy for my wife to settle in, knowing that she will be well looked after and her needs will be met in a compassionate manner
Thank you for submitting such a kind review. We are delighted to hear your experience with Belong Chester has been a good one and that you are so happy with the compassionate care that your wife is receiving. Thanks again for choosing Belong Chester; it's a pleasure to have your wife with us.
We think the place, its staff and the way it is run are excellent.
Thank you so much for taking the time to post this feedback. We aim to maintain high standards at Belong Chester; we are so delighted to hear this has been your experience.
My wife receives wonderful care in Belong. The staff are very helpful and caring and provide excellent support for all her needs. The Belong Gateway system enables me to find out all aspects of her care. She has the opportunity of taking part in various activities each day. She enjoys the range of food available including the option to either eat in her household or in the bistro.
Thank you very much for taking the time to provide this wonderful feedback, which is valued by all the team. We are delighted to hear that your wife's experience at Belong Chester has been so positive, and that you are happy with the communication, care and support received.
The team caring for my mother are wonderful. Mum has been with them now for nearly three years. She has always been cared for as an individual and is always beautifully turned out, with her hair done every week by the lovely ladies in the salon downstairs. The highlight of her week is the stay-and-play session with the nursery children - she comes much more into focus as soon as she sees them and really engages with them, joining in as much as she is able to with the activities. Mum is usually 'in a good place' each time I go to visit, and I am never worried that that will change when I leave. Staff are always happy to have my input and we work as a team to keep mum entertained and happy. The Admiral Nurse service is excellent and has helped me to cope with what can be a hard emotional journey for a daughter. This is something I could never have coped with without the support of everyone in Belong including the fabulous cleaners, everyone in the Bistro and the entertainment staff.
Thank you for such lovely feedback. We are overjoyed to hear your mum is so happy with us and enjoying all of our services, particularly the stay-and-play and Admiral Nurse sessions. We are very pleased that you are also receiving the support that you need. I will make sure your review is passed on to all of our Belong Chester village teams.
My husband is relatively young to have dementia and it was always going to be difficult to find a suitable care home. After trialing one, it became quickly apparent that it wasn't the right fit for him. I can't find the words to explain how relieved I am to have found Belong Chester. From the cleaners, kitchen staff, carers to management, everyone has been kind, helpful and supportive. They are bending over backwards to try to understand and meet my husband's complex needs. I couldn't have found anywhere better!
Thank you for taking the time to submit your great review of Belong Chester. We are so touched by your kind words and are so happy to hear that you feel you have the valuable help and support that you need for your husband. I will share this feedback with the entire team.
Visitors are welcomed and can support their loved ones through meal times, attend doctors' sessions, talk to trained care and medical staff easily and are never turned away.
The facilities are excellent. Meals can be taken in the household or in the in-house bistro. Daily activities are run and any resident can attend these. Care staff will take residents but visitors are also encouraged to take relatives too.
All staff are friendly and approachable. It feels like you are walking into an extended family environment.
Best decision I've ever made.
Thank you very much for taking the time to provide this feedback which is valued by all the team. We are delighted to hear that your experience at Belong Chester has been so positive and the care and facilities are of such a high standard. We work hard to make our village a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone to enjoy.
Medications are administered exactly as prescribed and individual preferences in meals are catered for.
The building is purpose-built and the units are small and friendly with knowledgeable staff and exceptional cleanliness.
Thank you so much for taking the time to post this great feedback. We aim to maintain high standards at Belong Chester; we are so delighted to hear this has been your experience and it means a great deal to our village team to know that this is so appreciated.
I left feeling totally confident that my wife was in exactly the right place.
I cannot recommend Belong enough, do not hesitate to leave your loved one in their care.
Thank you so much for taking the time to post this incredibly moving feedback. It was a privilege to support you and your wife and it is crucial to us that we make people's time with us as special and positive as possible. It will mean a great deal to our village teams to read your comments and I...
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 04 September 2025Requires improvement
- CaringGood
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveGood
- SafeRequires improvement
- Well-ledRequires improvement
Inspection ratings
We rate most services according to how safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led they are, using four levels:
- Outstanding - The service is performing exceptionally well.
- Good - The service is performing well and meeting our expectations.
- Requires Improvement - The service isn't performing as well as it should and we have told the service how it must improve.
- Inadequate - The service is performing badly and we've taken action against the person or organisation that runs it.
- Not rated - we have not yet rated this area of the service, this is normally because the assessments we have carried out have been focused on other key questions.
Bed Vacancies
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
News (28) & Events (0)
- 29 Jul 2026
Belong at Home, the dementia specialist home care service from Belong Villages, has retained its crown as the UK’s only not-for-profit operator to be named in the top 20 home...
- 21 Jul 2026
Belong Care Villages has been named as one of the UK’s top 10 small provider care homes by leading care comparison website Lottie. Our Wigan, Atherton and Macclesfield villages were...
- 20 Jul 2026
Colleagues across Belong villages are celebrating recognition at the prestigious Palliative and End of Life Care Awards 2026. Organised by Care Talk magazine, the awards recognise the individuals and teams...
There are no upcoming events for Belong Chester.
Awards / Recognitions (13)
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: Belong Ltd
- 30 Jun 2022Recipient: Belong Ltd
- 17 Aug 2021Recipient: Belong Ltd
Meet the Team (5)

Caroline has led the team at Belong Chester since 2024, having proven her credentials in the registered manager role at Belong Crewe and Belong Macclesfield.
She is a dedicated and passionate care professional who is qualified as a nurse and holds extensive social care and training qualifications, as well as the NVQ level 5 in management. Her experience spans working as a staff nurse in the health authority and then moving to social services, where she managed staff in supported tenancies to enable people to live in their own homes. This service provided support to people with varying levels of need, including people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, dementia, mental health issues and those needing end-of-life care.

Chloe Wynn, who has been recognised regionally for her expertise in dementia care, has been appointed support manager with responsibility for managing the village’s specialist ‘household teams’, ensuring they provide the highest standards of nursing and dementia care 24 hours a day.
Since starting her career with Belong in 2011, Chloe has been shortlisted twice at the prestigious Great North West Care Awards and has completed qualifications in leadership, health and social care to rise through the ranks from household assistant to lead senior support worker across Belong's various village locations.

Front of House Manager, Sarah Miotti, will head up the village administration and reception teams, and ensure the highest levels of customer service, while also overseeing the smooth running of the village behind the scenes.
Sarah joins Premier Homecare in North Wales, where she worked for six years, most recently as Care Manager. Prior to that, she was Front House Manager for Macdonald hotels in Chester after a career spanning over 20 years working in a range of front-of-house and events roles in the hospitality industry.

Karen is a highly experienced and qualified nurse, with almost three decades of experience in health and social care, including patient care, managing clinical audits and running patient trials.
She has worked as a Unit Manager, Clinical Nurse Specialist and Deputy Ward Manager at the Countess of Chester and made the switch to a care home setting in order to have more hands-on time caring for people. This blend of experience and outlook makes her ideally placed to lead the nursing team at Belong Chester, maintaining a customer-first approach while bringing both her management and clinical decision-making skills to bear.

As Team Leader for Belong at Home Chester, Heather has been instrumental in growing its home care service since the opening of the new village.
She made the switch from working in retail management in February 2017 when she moved from her home town in Birkenhead, Merseyside, to Atherton, Greater Manchester.
With a passion for supporting others, she was quickly promoted to senior care roles, initially in a care home setting and then later working out in the community.
She joined Belong at Home Atherton early in 2022 and then took up the post in Chester as the home care service was launched following the opening of Belong’s newest care village in the city later that year.
With responsibility for the recruitment of colleagues and managing the provision of outstanding customer care, Heather is a dedicated and hard-working individual who has made a big impact in a short space of time.
Frequently Asked Questions about Belong Chester
What types of Care is Belong Chester registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia, Physical Disability are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does Belong Chester have?
There are 75 Single Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at Belong Chester?
Own Furniture if required, Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Smoking not permitted, Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Lift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Bar/Café, Residents Kitchenette, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room, Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.
How far is Belong Chester to the centre of Chester?
0.4 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact Belong Chester to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Belong Chester has an Enhanced Service -more info.