chester city centre real ale pubs (last updated 22/10/2011)

Chester might not, as yet, be in the same league as real ale meccas such as Norwich, Derby and York but it's certainly upwardly mobile for cask. Twenty years ago you had to be grateful for the odd place selling a decent drop of Burtonwood, Marstons and especially Greenalls but that's all changed thanks, in part, to the emergence of the likes of the Mill Hotel and Old Harkers Arms which bristle with hand pumps serving a myriad of micros. Elsewhere the city boasts tied houses belonging to Spitting Feathers, Sam Smith's, Lees and Okells. Throw in a few other pubs who have adopted an enlightened guest beer policy and basically, the visitor, with a modicum of research, shouldn't go wrong.

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George & Dragon (22) Liverpool Road Greene King Range Big. Open plan. Games. TV sport. Students. B&B.   Hickory's (23) The Groves Weetwood Cheshire Cat US style grill and sports bar. Split-level patio. Ornamental pig and rhino. The Weetwood is served under disguise as 'Old Hickory'. Food. website   Joseph Benjamin (24) Northgate Street Woodlands Beer Intimate bistro with tiny front bar. One handpump. Food. website   Kash (25) Brook Street Blueball Ales Opened June 2011. Small front bar. Airy, dining spaces to rear. Food. website   Lock Keeper (21) (off) Frodsham Street Wells Bombardier, Greene King Old Speckled Hen Formerly the Frog & Nightingale. Spacious. Live music. TV sport. Canalside seating. Food.   Marlbororough Arms (26) St John Street Stonehouse Ales Small and narrow. Spartan decor. Wood / tiled floors. Green walls. Live music w/e.   Mill Hotel (27)  Milton Street Coach House Mill Bitter, Weetwood Bitter, Guest Ales Occasionally hectic hotel bar. About ten ales (inc mild and cider). Inescapable TV sport. Jazz night Monday. Canalside seating. Food. B&B. website   Oddfellows Arms (28) Frodsham Street Tetley Mild  Corner pub. Locals. Back patio. Weekend karaoke popular. Ale often unavailable.   Old Cottage (29) Brook Street Taylor Golden Best, Guest Beers  Local flavour. Pool, darts, bagatelle table, real fire. 1960s prints of Brook Street. Cheap for Chester. Summer Pub of the Season 2011.   Olde Custom House (30) Watergate Street Marstons Beer Range Modernised 17thC townhouse. Central bar. Verdant patio garden. Food.   Olde Kings Head (31) Lower Bridge Street National Ales 17C. Mock tudor facade. Open plan dim-lit bar. Log fire. Upstairs restaurant. Darts. Live music. B&B.   Old Harkers Arms (32)  Russell Street Phoenix Original Bitter, Weetwood Cheshire Cat, Guest Ales Exemplary upmarket converted canalside warehouse. Friendly service. Diverse range of micro-ales. Cider. Not cheap. website   Pied Bull (33) Northgate Street Pied Bull Beers, Guest Ales  Old historic coaching inn. Microbrewery in cellar. Branch PotY 2011. Food. B&B. website   Pitcher & Piano (34) St John Street Marstons Ales  Modern trendy bar and restaurant in former telephone exchange. Outside seating. website	Plumbers Arms (35) Newgate Street Thwaites Beers Tucked away. Small and bright. Movie icons on walls. Beer garden. Bar snacks.   Queen Hotel (36) City Road Weetwood Cheshire Cat  Opulent bar opposite station. Interesting artwork and pictures. Food. B&B.   Red Lion (37) Northgate Street Guest Beers Part of Nicholson's pub chain. Plush furnishings. Dining area to rear. Enterprising guest ale list. Food. website   Ship Victory (38) George Street Tetley Bitter, Guest Beer  Small, one-room, community pub on the edge of the city centre. Cheerful and friendly. Big into charity fund raising. Darts nights plus singalong / karaoke at weekends. Guest ale usually from a micro.   Shropshire Arms (39) Northgate Street Wells Bombardier, Shepherd Neame Spitfire Open plan. Tidy upstairs seating. TV football. Live bands.   Slug & Lettuce (40) Bridge Street National Ales Modern pub chain. Long bar. Rear mirrors. Music. Food. Outside seating.   Square Bottle (41) Foregate Street Guest beers  Stereotypic Wetherspoons. Architecturally dull. Locale. Food.   Stanley Arms (42) Brook Street Shepherd Neame Spitfire, Wells Bombardier Two roomed. Modernised and functional. Largely locals. Cask Marque. Bagatelle. Food.   Telford's Warehouse (43) Tower Wharf Thwaites Original, Weetwood Cheshire Cat, Guest Beers  Spacious. Big windows. Canal views. Cargo crane. Live music. Upstairs seating / restaurant. Beware of occasional entrance fee. website   Temple Bar (44) Frodsham Street Spitting Feathers Beer Lively front bar. Attractive rear restaurant. Bands and karaoke. Boisterous at weekends.   Town Crier (45) Station Road Varying National Ales Opposite station. Large lounge. Separate bar. Pool. Spacious garden. Good value. Food.   Union Vaults (46)  Egerton Street Everards Tiger, Guest beers  Split-level. Characterful earthy locals. Bagatelle table.   Victoria (47) Watergate Row North Wells Bombardier, Theakstons Bitter, Guest Ale Low ceiling. Central bar. Rear patio. Loud music. Weekend party atmosphere. Not cheap. Food.   Watergate Inn (48) Watergate Square Guest Ale Unpretentious freehouse in shadow of racecourse. Lacking in luxuries. Guest ale often from an independent.

Albion (1 - see map) 
Park Street
Varying Ales (seldom micros)
Multi award winner. Three roomed. Mature crowd. Great War artefacts. Conversation rules. Real fire. Grub. B&B.
website
 
Alexanders (2) 
Rufus Court
Weetwood Beers
Atmospheric music / comedy bar. Food. Beware admission fee.
website
 
Artichoke (3) 
Canalside
Guest Beers
Ground floor of Steam Mill. Spacious bistro cum bar. French windows, stone floors, bare brick and Panton S chairs.  Waitress service. Guest ales usually from Cheshire. Outside seating. Food.
 
Bear & Billet (4) 
Lower Bridge Street
Okells Range plus Guests
Stunning 17thC former town house. Three storied. Multi windowed. Real fire. SKY sports. Ales tend to be of the golden variety. Cider. Food.
website
 
Boathouse (5)
The Groves
Lees Beers 
Waterfront location. Comfortable lengthy bar. Beer garden. Food.
 
Boot Inn (6)
Eastgate Row
Samuel Smith Old Brewery Bitter 
Narrow. Low roofed and wood panelled. Splendid rear parlour. Cheap ale attracts hardened drinkers.
 
Brewery Tap (7)
Lower Bridge Street
Spitting Feathers ales, Guest Beers
First floor level. Former banqueting hall. Stone floors. Candles. Tapestries. Six ales plus stout. Cider. Food.
website
 
Bridgewater Arms (8)
Crewe Street
Tetleys Mild, Spitting Feathers Beer
Backstreet terrace local. Pub sports. Games. Near station.
 
Canalside Inn (9)
Canal Side
Guest Beers
Hotel bar. Glazed patio to enjoy neighbouring curry house aromas. Near station. Food.
 
Cellar Bar (10)
City Road
Guest Ales
Dark, modern split-level bar. Fish tank. DJ nights. Liverpool Organic beers often feature.
 
Chester Bells (11)
Grosvenor Street
Wells Bombardier, Deuchars IPA
Red brick rock music venue. Modernised but unusual interior. Pool. TV. Rear patio. Food inc. Thai. B&B.
 
Chester Hangman (12)
City Road
National Ales
Split level. Window seating. Sometimes clamorous. TV sport. Pool. Live music nights.
 
Chichester Arms (13)
Garden Lane
Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Shepherd Neame Spitfire
Local pub in studentsville. Two roomed. Pool, darts, juke box. Football miscellania.
 
Coach House (14)
Town Hall Square
Thwaites beers plus guest
Smartly and comfortably modernised. Uniformed staff. Food biased. Outside cafe-bar style seating.
website
 
Commercial (15)
St Peter's Courtyard, Northgate Street
Weetwood Cheshire Cat, Stonehouse Station Bitter, Wells Bombardier, Guest Ale
Popular bar / hotel. Multi-roomed. Quirky decor. Resident w/e DJ. Outdoor seating. Food. B&B.
website
 
Cross Keys (16)
Duke Street
Joules Beers
Red brick. Comfortable and open plan. Function room. Front verandah. Food.
 
Duttons (17)
Godstall Lane
Lees Beers
Hidden down boutique alley. Smart. Strongly food by day. Lively music bar at night. Bouncers. Outside seating.
website
 
Falcon (18)
Lower Bridge Street
Samuel Smith Old Brewery Bitter 
Half-timbered. Oak beamed. Wood panelled. Cosy. Undervalued underused upstairs room. Daytime food.
 
Fat Cat (19)
Lower Watergate Street
Theakstons Bitter, Guest Beer
Smart cellar-bar. Sofas and stools. Intimate and food-led to the rear.
 
Forest House (20) 
Love Street
Guest Ales
Wetherspoons Lloyds No 1. Multi-roomed. Quieter downstairs bar. Music. Food.