UK cities Cheshire West and Chester Council
Commercial Fit-Out & Construction in Chester
- 2016 founded in London
- 4.9★ Google rating
- ~70% direct labour
- ISO CHAS accredited
Chester is a historic walled city known for the medieval Rows, with high-value homes in Cheshire and a strong retail and hospitality economy. We take on selected residential, retail and hospitality projects.
Craftex is a design and build contractor founded in London in 2016. One team takes your project from survey, design and consents through construction to handover — with around 60% direct labour, ISO and CHAS accreditation, a 4.9★ Google rating and every project to date delivered on budget and ahead of programme.
What we build in Chester
We only offer services in Chester that suit its buildings and market. These are the projects we are asked for most here:
Prime residential refurbishment
Prime residential refurbishments in Chester: whole-house and apartment refurbishments, structural alterations, extensions, M&E renewal, bespoke joinery and high-end finishes, managed discreetly with neighbours in mind.
Retail & shop fit-out
Shop and flagship store fit-outs in Chester: shopfronts, bespoke fixtures, lighting, stockrooms and tills, including live-trading refits where the store stays open while we work.
Restaurant, bar & hotel fit-out
Restaurant, bar, café and hotel fit-outs in Chester: kitchens and extraction, bars, dining rooms, guest rooms, washrooms and back-of-house, planned around licensing, neighbours and your opening date.
High-end interior design
Interior design in Chester by our in-house team: space planning, joinery design, lighting, materials and finishes, carried through to delivery so the finished home matches the drawings.
Commercial fit-out & refurbishment
Commercial fit-outs and refurbishments in Chester for offices, showrooms, studios and mixed-use buildings — from strip-out and structural changes to M&E, finishes and handover, with one team accountable for design and build.
Planning, consents and site rules in Chester
Local authority: Cheshire West and Chester Council. Before any design is fixed we check the planning and ownership position for your address, because in Chester this decides what is possible and how long it takes:
- The city centre is a conservation area with many listed buildings, including the Rows.
- Retail and hospitality units in historic buildings need careful fit-out design.
- Larger Cheshire houses often combine refurbishment and extensions.
We prepare the drawings and statements, submit the applications and build the approval time into your programme — so construction starts on a date you can rely on.
Craftex projects that show how we work
- Craftex project Drake's, Savile Row Mayfair
£410K live-trading flagship refit 120 sq m 12 weeks, shop open throughout
View case study - Craftex project Herbert Crescent Knightsbridge
Prime residential refurbishment with self-delivered bespoke joinery on a sensitive address
View case study - Our team Slingsby Place Covent Garden
Strip-out and structural works behind retained façades
View case study
Planning a project in Chester? Send us the address and a few photos — we will tell you what is realistic, what consents you need and what it is likely to cost.
Talk to our teamWhat our projects actually cost
Most contractors avoid numbers. These are real Craftex projects — total value, size and time on site — so you can benchmark your budget. Your cost will depend on condition, specification, consents and access; we confirm it in a unit-by-unit cost plan.
| Project | Scope | Value | Size | Time on site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsoken House, Aldgate | Warehouse-to-office conversion, full M&E | £2.2M | 1,550 sq m | 7 months |
| Beaumont House, Kensington | Office refurbishment, open-plan + meeting rooms | £350K | 750 sq m | 3 weeks |
| Drake's, Savile Row | Flagship retail refit, live trading | £410K | 120 sq m | 12 weeks |
| Medusa, Knightsbridge | Turnkey spa & clinic, four floors | £460K | 180 sq m | 17 weeks |
| Banbury Warehouse | Fit-out inside a live warehouse | £380K | 148 sq m | 4 weeks |
How a Chester project runs with Craftex
- Site visit and brief. We survey the building, check services and access, and confirm planning, listing and landlord or estate constraints.
- Feasibility & Costing Study. Design options, consents route, a detailed unit-by-unit cost plan and a realistic programme.
- Design and consents. Our in-house team completes the design and manages applications and licences.
- Construction. One project manager runs every trade, with around 60% direct labour.
- Handover. Snag-free handover, documentation and aftercare.
Questions about building in Chester
Can you fit out a shop in a historic building?
Yes. At Drake's on Savile Row we refitted a flagship store while it kept trading.
Do you work in Cheshire?
Yes, on selected residential and commercial projects.
How much does a project in Chester cost?
It depends on scope, condition, specification and access, so we don't publish a price per square foot without seeing the building. As a reference, the table above shows what recent Craftex projects actually cost. Our Feasibility & Costing Study gives you a detailed, unit-by-unit cost plan before you commit.
How long will my Chester project take?
Programme depends on size, consents and whether the building stays occupied. Our projects have ranged from three weeks for a 750 sq m office refurbishment to seven months for a £2.2M conversion. We give a realistic programme with the cost plan, and every project we have delivered so far has finished ahead of programme.
Do you really work in Chester if you are based in London?
Yes, on selected projects. Projects in Chester are run by the same senior team that delivers our London work, with a dedicated site lead and a single point of contact. We typically take on projects from around £100k.
Do you use subcontractors?
Around 60% of our labour is direct, and one Craftex project manager controls every trade. That gives you one accountable team, consistent quality and no gaps between designer and builder.
What is the minimum project size you take on?
We typically take on projects from around £100k, from single floors and units to whole buildings.
How do I start?
Send us the address, a short description and any drawings or photos. We arrange a site visit, then prepare a Feasibility & Costing Study with design options, consents, a cost plan and a programme for your Chester project.
Nearby areas we cover
Start your Chester project
Tell us about the building and what you want to achieve.
Did you like our work?
We thought you might! Leave your details here
and we will be in touch to discuss your project
