Keynotes inside Chester’s Roman walls
Chester has the most complete city walls in Britain, a two-tier medieval shopping street and the UK’s largest zoo. Paris brings The Grit Code to its employers.
Rows, walls and the Roodee
The city walls are among the best preserved in the country and are Grade I listed. The Rows, galleries of shops at first-floor level, are unique in Britain.
Chester’s Roman amphitheatre, the largest known military amphitheatre in Britain, could seat 8,000 to 10,000 people. Racing on the Roodee is recorded from 1540.
Tourism, retail, public administration and financial services drive the economy today. Chester Zoo, with more than 11,000 animals, is the largest zoo in the UK.
Who Paris speaks to in Chester
Financial services
Keynotes for operations and leadership teams.
Hospitality and visitor attractions
Resilience for customer-facing staff.
Zoo and wildlife teams
Talks on persistence and conservation.
University of Chester
Sessions for students and staff.
Event venues
Most corporate events in Chester take place at the racecourse, Storyhouse, the zoo and the hotels along the walls.
- Chester Racecourse – on the Roodee, recognised by Guinness as the oldest racecourse still in operation
- Storyhouse – a £37m arts centre that opened in 2017
- Chester Zoo – 110 acres of gardens and the UK’s largest animal collection
Ways to book Paris in Chester
The Grit Code keynote (45–60 min) · Grit Deconstruction workshop (90 min to half day) · virtual keynote (30–45 min) · event host and MC. Compare formats →
Endurance you can measure
A marathon on every continent
7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, from Antarctica to Miami via Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid and Fortaleza.
4,800 km of open ocean
The 2023 Pacific row, which raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Paris rowed the Pacific for marine conservation, a theme that suits conservation and zoo audiences. 39 days at sea: the Pacific row film · Keynote speaker Liverpool · Keynote speaker Manchester
Booking for Chester
Available for in-person events in Chester, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book UK speakers about three months ahead, so an early enquiry gives the best chance of your preferred date.
See also keynote speaker in the UK, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Chester’s economy and who the talk is for
Chester has a population of about 87,507 (2016 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Students, graduates and faculty
Higher education is part of Chester’s talent pipeline, with institutions such as University of Chester. Paris’s talks for students and graduates focus on grit as a skill that can be learned, using his own expeditions as evidence.
Typical formats include welcome weeks, graduation events, entrepreneurship programmes and alumni dinners. University keynote speaker →
How a Grit Code session works
- Before the event, Paris speaks with the organiser about the audience and the outcome they want.
- On the day, the 45–60 minute Grit Code keynote mixes adventure film, stories and practical tools.
- Afterwards, teams can go deeper with a Grit Deconstruction workshop of 90 minutes to half a day.
The content is shaped around Chester organisations and their goals, so the room hears examples that match its own challenges. Paris presents as an adventurer and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, not as a theorist.
Where the talk fits in Chester
Organisers in Chester usually book Paris for one of these occasions:
- Leadership offsites and strategy days, where senior teams need energy for a hard year ahead.
- Sales kick-offs and annual conferences, where the talk resets ambition and stamina.
- Awards nights and staff celebrations, where Paris can speak or host.
- Graduation, alumni and entrepreneurship events.
Credentials at a glance
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Questions from Chester organisers
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Chester?
Yes. Organisers in Chester can book him in person or for a virtual session.
Can Paris speak at a race-day or racecourse event in Chester?
Yes. He can give a shorter talk at a hospitality event or a full keynote in the conference suites.
Does Paris speak about conservation?
Yes. His 2023 Pacific row raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Does Paris speak at universities in Chester?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as University of Chester, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Chester?
Yes. The Grit Deconstruction workshop runs from 90 minutes to half a day and turns the keynote’s ideas into team habits and actions.
Can the keynote be delivered online for teams in Chester?
Yes. A 30–45 minute virtual version is available for remote or hybrid audiences, delivered in your local time zone.
Who has Paris spoken for?
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
Check a date for Chester
Send the basics and Paris’s team will reply, or book a call.