Introducing Soul Kitchen, Chester
Cara Bradley | 27/10/2025
Food and friendship: they’re perhaps two of the most important ingredients in the recipe for a happy life – and Soul Kitchen in Chester offers both in abundance.
In March 2025, it was estimated that 3,438 people were sleeping rough in a single night in England. Shockingly, this presented an 11% increase from the same period the previous year.
Unfortunately, homelessness in Cheshire West – including Chester - has increased over the past 5 years. The main reason for homelessness in Cheshire West is reported to be due to family and friends who previously offered accommodation no longer being able to do so.
From a job loss to a relationship breakdown, the stark reality of the matter is that homelessness could happen to anyone at any time, for an array of reasons.
For those of us who haven’t experienced it, life on the streets is unimaginable. The prospect of facing another night out in the cold or not knowing where your next meal is going to come from is haunting, which is why the tireless work carried out by organisations like Soul Kitchen is nothing short of a lifeline for many.
What is Soul Kitchen?
Soul Kitchen is a volunteer-run charity that offers weekly group sessions to provide support to those facing homelessness, hardship, and food poverty in Chester and the surrounding areas.
Soul Kitchen lists five key aims:
- To enable people to move away from life on the streets.
- To support people’s journey from the streets and into their own home.
- To build relationships and trust through sharing meals in a welcoming, non-judgmental environment.
- To provide activities to improve mental and physical health and offer a distraction from the negative influences and boredom of life on the streets.
- To assist people with chaotic lifestyles to attend appointments and access professional support.
How did the idea for Soul Kitchen in Chester come about?
The idea for Soul Kitchen was born in 2015 by a group of Chester-based friends wondering how they could do more to help those living on the streets.
The inaugural Soul Kitchen event consisted of a couple of tables on Hoole Roundabout, with each friend bringing along a dish of hot food to nourish those who needed it.
The word spread, and before long, the fondly dubbed ‘Magic Roundabout’ location had drawn quite a crowd.
What initially started out as those first couple of tables at the roundabout soon developed into Soul Kitchen’s current premises at Campbell Hall, boasting warm indoor space, toilets, and a shower.
While Soul Kitchen has blossomed and bloomed over the years, its ethos remains the same: friendship and food are at the heart of all they do.
How could Soul Kitchen help me?
Could you do with a cuppa and a chat?
Craving a good hot meal?
In need of somewhere warm and dry to shelter?
If you’re homeless or facing hardship in Chester and the surrounding areas, you can get all of this and more at Soul Kitchen.
Soul Kitchen offers a safe space where you can access food, drink, shower facilities, activities, and good conversation.
Soul Kitchen also runs weekly cookery sessions: Soul in a Bowl. Soul in a Bowl offers the opportunity to create tasty dishes that can be enjoyed with the group, while building self-esteem and promoting the importance of certain life skills such as budgeting and teamwork.
On their website, Soul Kitchen proudly states that one of their Soul in a Bowl attendees has gone on to enrol in a catering course at college! The attendee in question reported that being a part of the Soul in a Bowl sessions helped him discover a passion for food and gave him the self-confidence to pursue his studies.
What’s more, those attending Soul Kitchen also have the chance to study for and sit a Level 2 Hygiene examination! These valuable qualifications and skills could help boost confidence, as well as potentially expand employment opportunities.
I’m not homeless, but I am struggling to afford food; can I still go to Soul Kitchen?
Absolutely. Whether you’re homeless, in temporary accommodation, or facing financial hardship and food poverty, please know that you are very welcome at Soul Kitchen.
Soul Kitchen states that they are ‘creating a positive future for those experiencing homelessness and hardship.’
When does Soul Kitchen offer its sessions?
Soul Kitchen offers a drop-in session every Saturday evening between 5pm and 6:30pm at Campbell Hall in Boughton, Chester. Anyone attending the drop-in session is welcome to make use of the toilet and showering facilities, as well as help themselves to hot food, drinks, and a packed lunch for the following day.
The Soul in a Bowl cookery sessions currently take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Chester.
For further information on the drop-in and Soul in a Bowl sessions offered by Soul Kitchen, please contact soulkitchenchester@yahoo.com.
How can I help Soul Kitchen?
There are many ways you can get involved with the fantastic work carried out by Soul Kitchen.
- Donate
Soul Kitchen gained charity status in November 2022 and prides itself on being entirely run by volunteers. This means that all donations received are used to support the cause.
To donate money to Soul Kitchen, please visit their Just Giving page. - Volunteer
Times are tough for many people. While it might not be possible for you to donate money, you can still help Soul Kitchen by donating your time instead. Soul Kitchen is always on the lookout to welcome new volunteers to its friendly community. You can find out more about becoming a volunteer with Soul Kitchen here. - Gift items
Food, clothes, and toiletries are also hugely appreciated and can be dropped off at one of Soul Kitchen’s sessions.
Where can I find out more about Soul Kitchen in Chester?
You can find out more about Soul Kitchen on their website or by contacting soulkitchenchester@yahoo.com.
Is there any other help available?
Help is available.
If you’re dealing with domestic difficulties, the organisations listed below can help.
95% of domestic abuse cases involve financial abuse. The thimbl blog on spotting the signs of financial abuse could help you identify harmful behaviours and seek help.
If you feel in immediate danger or are being threatened, harmed, or harassed, please contact the police immediately on 999.
Struggling with your mental health? Remember, there’s absolutely nothing to feel ashamed of. 1 in 5 adults in England is living with a mental health condition.
You have every right to seek the support you deserve. Please consider reaching out to any of the following:
If you’re worried about anything money-related – including debt, housing, and bills - the following organisations offer free, confidential advice:
When we’re trying to navigate money concerns, it can be difficult to know where to turn or what to do next. The free Money Health Check quiz, designed by thimbl and charity StepChange, could help you understand your situation and offer guidance on your next steps. The quiz should take a couple of minutes to complete, and the answers you provide are confidential.
Life and soul
When we’re struggling, whether that be with our mental health, financial worries, or general life uncertainty, it can be easy to isolate ourselves. We often become trapped in our own heads – and that can be a scary place to be.
There’s a lot of sense in that old expression: ‘a problem shared is a problem halved.’
Even if you don’t wish to talk about what’s troubling you, sometimes simply having a chat about normal, everyday things – like the weather or footy scores - can make the world of difference to our wellbeing and provide a much-needed temporary distraction to our thoughts.
At Soul Kitchen, there’s no pressure. If you don’t wish to talk about your personal circumstances, no questions will be asked; you’re more than welcome to simply turn up and enjoy a quiet meal.
However, if you feel that you could do with a good chat about life and anything that’s bothering you, please know that volunteers are on hand to lend an empathetic ear.
The most important thing to remember is that whatever you’re dealing with, you don’t have to face it alone. There are people who care about you, and the very existence of Soul Kitchen is a testament to this.
