We checked 15 Chester pubs, from CAMRA's local winner to bars beside the canal, for opening hours, beers and hygiene ratings. Updated November 2026.
This guide puts 15 Chester pubs in one place for 2026, with opening hours, beers, dog rules and hygiene ratings for those that serve food.
Hours change, especially in winter, so check before you set off.
Inside the walls: Lower Bridge Street and the Rows
1. The Brewery Tap, Lower Bridge Street
The Brewery Tap is run by Spitting Feathers, the brewery at Waverton, and fills the great hall of Gamul House, the early 17th-century home of Sir Francis Gamul. The pub’s history page says Charles I stayed there in September 1645.
It is reached by fifteen steps from the street. CAMRA’s branch guide lists Spitting Feathers Thirstquencher as the regular beer, alongside changing guest ales from small breweries.
It was West Cheshire CAMRA’s Pub of the Year in 2025 and came third in 2026. The kitchen serves pies, steaks and a set menu.
Open Mon to Sat 12pm to 11pm; Sun 12pm to 10pm
Call 01244 340999
Address 52-54 Lower Bridge Street, CH1 1RU
Hygiene rating 4, Food Standards Agency, 1 March 2024
Listing Our listing
Good for real ale, guest ales, pies and steaks, 17th-century hall, fifteen steps up from the street
2. Cavern of the Curious Gnome, Bridge Street Row East
The Cavern of the Curious Gnome is upstairs at No 61 on the Rows, above Paysan, its sister wine bar, which says it does not take bookings or answer the phone. West Cheshire CAMRA named it Pub of the Year for 2026, having also given it the title in 2024.
The branch guide describes a Belgian beer bar with toadstool stools and a large papier-mâché dwarf, five hand pumps of changing cask ale, and lambics, gueuzes and Trappist ales. CAMRA members get 20% off cask ale Monday to Thursday.
Dogs are not allowed, because of lease conditions on the Rows. The hygiene rating below is for Paysan downstairs.
Open Mon to Sat 12pm to 11pm; Sun 12pm to 10pm
Address 61 Bridge Street Row East, CH1 1NW
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 27 March 2026
Good for Belgian beers, real ale, lambics and Trappist ales, CAMRA discount Mon to Thu
3. Ye Olde Kings Head, Lower Bridge Street
Ye Olde Kings Head is the black-and-white timbered building on the corner of Castle Street, with “Built 1622” painted over the door. CAMRA’s guide says it was the home of Randle Holme, Mayor of Chester before the Civil War, whose family were Chester heralds and historians for four generations.
Inside is a low-beamed lounge with an open fire in winter and a side room hung with portraits of Henry VIII and Charles I. The pub also has rooms, and markets overnight stays as paranormal investigations.
Open Mon to Thu 12pm to 11pm; Fri and Sat 12pm to midnight; Sun 12pm to 11pm (CAMRA)
Call 01244 324855
Address 48-50 Lower Bridge Street, CH1 1RS
Hygiene rating 3, Food Standards Agency, 16 July 2025
Listing Our listing
Good for rooms upstairs, open fire in winter, built 1622, paranormal overnight stays
4. The Boot Inn, Eastgate Row
The Boot Inn is a Samuel Smith’s pub up on the Rows off Eastgate Street. CAMRA’s guide dates the building to 1643 and says it has been called the Boot Inn since 1750.
It points to the original beams, a panel showing the wattle-and-daub walls, and a back parlour with a cooking range and settles. Like all Sam Smith’s pubs, the beer is the brewery’s own, with Old Brewery Bitter on the hand pump.
There are house rules: no mobile phones or other electronic devices, and no swearing. The pub has no website of its own.
Open Mon to Sat 11am to 11pm; Sun 12pm to 10.30pm (CAMRA)
Call 01244 314540
Address 9 Eastgate Row North, CH1 1LQ
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 4 September 2026
Listing Our listing
Good for Samuel Smith's beer, real ale, back parlour with cooking range, no phones, no swearing
5. The Cross Keys, Duke Street
The Cross Keys is a one-room red-brick pub just inside the walls near the Bridgegate, owned by Joule’s, the Shropshire brewery, since 2012. CAMRA’s guide lists Joule’s Pale Ale, Pure Blonde and Slumbering Monk on the bar, and notes oak floors, panelling and stained glass windows showing other Joule’s pubs.
There are pies at any time and a roast on Sundays. It runs a quiz on Thursdays, Irish music on the second and fourth Wednesdays and an open mic night on the first Wednesday.
Open Mon and Tue closed; Wed to Fri 4pm to 11pm; Sat 1pm to 11pm; Sun 1pm to 9pm (CAMRA)
Call 01244 344460
Address 2 Duke Street, CH1 1RP
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 2 September 2026
Listing Our listing
Good for Joule's ales, pies, Sunday roast, quiz Thursdays, Irish music 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, open mic 1st Wednesday
Northgate Street and Park Street
6. The Pied Bull, Northgate Street
The Pied Bull calls itself “the oldest coaching inn in Chester” and says the building has held a continuous licence since 1535. It is now a pub, restaurant and 31-room hotel with its own brewery in the cellar, which it says is the only one inside the city walls.
Its brewery page lists CAMRA awards for its beers, most recently a gold for Minotaur as Champion Beer of the North West (strong ales) in 2024. Brewery tours cost £24.95 a head, with tasting.
CAMRA members get 10% off real ales. Dogs are welcome throughout the pub and the beer garden, but not in the hotel rooms.
It was West Cheshire CAMRA’s Pub of the Year in 2011.
Call 01244 325829
Address 53-57 Northgate Street, CH1 2HQ
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 20 February 2025
Website piedbull.co.uk
Listing Our listing
Good for dogs welcome, beer garden (drinks 10am to 9pm), own brewery and tours (£24.95), rooms, quiz Thursdays 9pm, CAMRA discount
7. The Albion Inn, Park Street
The Albion is a Victorian street-corner pub beside the city walls. CAMRA’s guide says Mike Mercer kept it for almost 50 years until his death and that his family now run it the same way.
It has three rooms, including a snug, with First World War flags, posters and memorabilia throughout, enamel advertising signs and an open fire. Timothy Taylor Boltmaker is the regular beer, and home-cooked food, including curries, is served.
The hours are short, so check them.
Open Mon and Tue 12pm to 3pm and 5pm to 10.30pm; Wed closed; Thu and Fri 12pm to 3pm and 5pm to 11pm; Sat 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm; Sun closed (CAMRA)
Call 01244 340345
Address 2 Albion Street, CH1 1RQ
Hygiene rating 4, Food Standards Agency, 20 March 2026
Listing Our listing
Good for snug, open fire, First World War memorabilia, real ale, home-cooked curries
Towards the station: Foregate Street, Brook Street and City Road
8. That Beer Place, Foregate Street
That Beer Place describes itself as a bottle shop, craft beer bar and tap room. It was CAMRA’s national Cider and Perry Pub of the Year for 2024, and West Cheshire CAMRA has named it its Cider Pub of the Year for three years running, most recently for 2026.
The branch says it stocks more than 120 real ciders and perries. Its CAMRA listing adds that cask ale arrived in July 2024, that there are two Belgian sours on draught, and that a cider club meets on the second Wednesday of each month.
The bar’s website publishes what is on its taps.
Open Mon to Wed 12pm to 9pm; Thu to Sat 12pm to 11pm; Sun 12pm to 10pm (CAMRA)
Call 01244 325195
Address 116 Foregate Street, CH1 1HB
Website thatbeerplace.co.uk
Listing Our listing
Good for real cider and perry, craft beer, cask ale, Belgian sours, bottle shop, cider club 2nd Wednesday
9. The Cellar, City Road
The Cellar says it is “all about great beer, knowledgeable staff and excellent company”. It lists CAMRA branch Pub of the Year titles in 2014, 2015 and 2023, regional Cider Pub of the Year in 2017 and 2022, and every edition of the Good Beer Guide from 2013 to 2026.
CAMRA’s guide describes six hand pumps with Timothy Taylor Landlord as the only regular, two real ciders, up to eight craft keg lines and live sport on three screens. Food is mezze, platters and pizzas.
Open Mon to Thu 4pm to 12.30am; Fri and Sat 12pm to 1.30am; Sun 12pm to 12.30am
Call 07766 331103
Address 19-21 City Road, CH1 3AE
Hygiene rating 4, Food Standards Agency, 27 March 2026
Website thecellarchester.co.uk
Listing Our listing
Good for real ale, real cider, craft keg, live sport, pizzas
10. The Olde Cottage, Brook Street
The Olde Cottage is a traditional local between the bus station and the railway station. It came second in West Cheshire CAMRA’s Pub of the Year for 2026 and has won the title four times, most recently in 2022.
CAMRA’s guide lists four hand pumps, with Otter Bitter and Wye Valley HPA as regulars plus rotating guests, darts, bagatelle, a real fire in cold weather and a quiz every Wednesday. It has no website of its own.
Open Mon to Fri 4pm to 11pm; Sat 2pm to 11pm; Sun 4pm to 11pm (CAMRA)
Call 01244 324065
Address 34-36 Brook Street, CH1 3DZ
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 10 March 2020
Listing Our listing
Good for real ale, darts, bagatelle, real fire, quiz Wednesdays
By the canal and the river
11. Telford’s Warehouse, Tower Wharf
Telford’s Warehouse calls itself “an independently run freehouse / bar / restaurant and a renowned music and arts venue”, open since 1993. Its history page says the Grade II listed building was designed by Thomas Telford in the 1790s and built partly over the Shropshire Union Canal, so boats could be unloaded inside.
A fire in 2000 closed it for nearly a year. Gigs are held downstairs, and some charge for entry; the upstairs restaurant is family friendly, according to CAMRA’s guide, which lists Salopian Oracle and Weetwood Cheshire Cat as house beers.
It was CAMRA’s local Pub of the Year in 2012 and 2017. The hours below are CAMRA’s; the pub’s own FAQ page carries the latest times.
Open Mon to Thu 12pm to 11pm; Fri and Sat 12pm to midnight; Sun 12pm to 11pm (CAMRA)
Call 01244 390090
Address Canal Basin, Tower Wharf, CH1 4EZ
Hygiene rating 4, Food Standards Agency, 2 September 2026
Website telfordswarehousechester.com
Listing Our listing
Good for live music, Grade II listed, canalside, family-friendly restaurant upstairs, real ale
12. The Old Harkers Arms, Russell Street
The Old Harkers Arms is a Brunning & Price pub on Russell Street, just east of the city centre. The pub describes itself as “a proper old city of London boozer, only in Chester”, and lists every Good Beer Guide since 1998 bar 2024, including the 2027 edition.
It was CAMRA’s local Pub of the Year in 2007 and 2009, and the Good Pub Guide’s Town Pub of the Year in 2015. Children are not admitted: the booking page says “Harkers is an adult only environment”.
Open Mon to Fri 10.30am to 11pm; Sat 10am to 11pm; Sun 10am to 10.30pm
Food to 9.30pm, to 9pm on Sunday; brunch Sat and Sun
Price mains £15.95 to £26.95 (daily menu, 24 October)
Call 01244 344525
Address 1 Russell Street, CH3 5AL
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 27 March 2026
Website brunningandprice.co.uk/harkers
Listing Our listing
Good for adults only, real ale, weekend brunch, Good Beer Guide listed
13. The Boathouse, The Groves
The Boathouse is a JW Lees pub with rooms on the River Dee, just outside the walls. Its website lists JW Lees Bitter, Manchester Pale Ale and seasonal beers on cask, and a “floating beer garden” on the river.
It serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday roasts, with vegetarian and vegan options.
Open daily 10am to 11pm
Food Mon to Sat 12pm to 9pm; Sun 12pm to 8pm; breakfast Mon to Fri 7am to 10.30am, Sat and Sun 8am to 10.30am
Call 01244 328709
Address The Groves, CH1 1SD
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 4 March 2026
Website theboathousechester.co.uk
Listing Our listing
Good for riverside, floating beer garden, rooms, Sunday roast, vegetarian and vegan options, real ale
Handbridge and Boughton
14. The Carlton Tavern, Handbridge
The Carlton Tavern was built in 1923 for Walker’s of Warrington. CAMRA’s guide calls it “a rare, highly complete example of an interwar ‘improved pub’ design”, with bow windows, a semi-circular entrance porch, and a lounge that keeps its panelling, fixed benches and bell-push buttons for table service.
The other room has pool and darts and hosts occasional music nights. It is a drinks-led pub with no food hygiene rating; the FSA lists it as awaiting inspection.
It has no website of its own.
Open Mon 4pm to 11pm; Tue 4pm to midnight; Wed and Thu 4pm to 11pm; Fri 4pm to midnight; Sat 1pm to 11pm; Sun 1pm to 10.30pm (CAMRA)
Address 1 Hartington Street, CH4 7BN
Listing Our listing
Good for interwar pub interior, table-service bell pushes, pool, darts, occasional music nights
15. The Jolly Gardeners, Christleton Road
The Jolly Gardeners in Boughton is a pub that is also listed in the Michelin Guide, which dates the building to the 1850s. The pub describes itself as an independent freehouse with no brewery tie.
The whole ground floor is kept for walk-ins, so you can turn up for a drink. There is more on its food in our Chester restaurants guide.
Open Mon to Fri 12pm to 11pm; Sat 11am to 11pm; Sun 12pm to 10.30pm
Price mains £20 to £24
Booking upstairs dining rooms bookable; ground floor walk-ins only
Call 01244 835391
Address 33 Christleton Road, CH3 5UF
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 15 October 2025
Website jollygardenerschester.co.uk
Good for walk-ins, Michelin Guide listed, independent freehouse, 1850s building
How we chose
These are the pubs West Cheshire CAMRA keeps giving awards to, the oldest buildings in the city still pouring beer, and the long-standing locals people ask for by name. Every pub here that serves food holds a hygiene rating of 3 or better. Hours change, particularly out of season, so check with the pub before you set off.
Run a place that should be here, or spot something that has changed? Email newsdesk@chesteronline.co.uk.
For more to do locally, see things to do in Chester, what’s on in Chester this month, our Chester restaurants guide, and every pub in our Chester business directory.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best pub in Chester according to CAMRA?
West Cheshire CAMRA named the Cavern of the Curious Gnome, upstairs on Bridge Street Row East, its Pub of the Year for 2026, with The Olde Cottage on Brook Street second and The Brewery Tap on Lower Bridge Street third. The Brewery Tap won in 2025. That Beer Place on Foregate Street was the branch’s Cider Pub of the Year for the third year running.
Which Chester pubs allow dogs?
The Pied Bull says dogs are welcome in all areas of the pub and its beer garden, though not in its hotel rooms. The Cavern of the Curious Gnome does not allow dogs, because of lease conditions on the Rows. Check with the others before you go: most do not publish a policy.
What is the oldest pub in Chester?
The Pied Bull on Northgate Street says it has held a continuous licence since 1535 and calls itself Chester’s oldest coaching inn. The Boot Inn on Eastgate Row dates from 1643, according to CAMRA, and Ye Olde Kings Head on Lower Bridge Street from 1622.
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