Widnes is an industrial town in the county of Cheshire. It has a population of over 58,000 people. The town is situated on the northern bank of the River Mersey. The town of Widnes is just 8 miles from Warrington.
During the industrial revolution the town of Widnes became known for its success in the chemical industry. The first chemical factory was established in the town of Widnes in 1847. Today the town is still responsible for the manufacture of large numbers of chemicals and the industry provides many jobs within Widnes.
Widnes has excellent transport links to the rest of the UK. The town has its own railway station, and main roads that pass through the town include the A562 and the A557. The Silver Jubilee Bridge gives a direct link for road traffic over the River Mersey. It replaced the Widnes-Runcorn Transporter Bridge in 1961.
There are many employment opportunities in the town of Widnes. The warehousing and distribution industries provide a large number of jobs, which includes Stobart Park, a 520,000 refrigerated warehouse for Tesco run by the Stobart Group. As well as its remaining prominence within the chemical industry, Widnes also provides many jobs in the retail sector.
A new development saw the Hive Leisure Park open as part of the Widnes Waterfront. Its facilities include a five-screen multiplex cinema, a Frankie & Benny's bar and restaurant, Widnes Super Bowl, a children's play area, Nando's restaurant, a Premier Inn hotel, a brewers fayre pub opened in February 2012 and also a brand new Ice Rink opened in December 2012.