CHESTER

There are FIVE Chester PubTrails available on this site.

The canal trail (2) is the closest to the train station. However, the walk from the station to any of the trails is not long, it just means you may pass lots of pubs to get to a particular trail. Trail 3 and 4 start at Chester Cross and trails 1 and 5 start near the Amphitheatre. Trail 4 and 1 could easily meet. This means that trails can be expanded easily or mix and matched.

Trails have 10 to 13 pubs. This does not mean all pubs have to be visited (it is not a u-tube challenge) however, it does give flexibility. You can miss out pubs with no real ale or which are cocktail joints or old men's pubs or that are too busy or close together.

1.  Bridgegate and the river (black icons) Excellent dog friendly trail

This trail takes in 11 or 12 pubs, 5 of which are across the river. Several of the pubs are outstanding and 7 are starred. This is a pleasant evening trail with a lot of variety. It starts at the Amphitheatre or Old Dee Bridge.

2.  Along the canal (green icons)

Most of these pubs are close to the canal and easily accessed from it, rather than on the actual canal. Chester is a city and does not do quaint countryside canal pubs. Several of the pubs have appeared as the canal area is regenerated. This trail has a mixture of the old and the new. This is a long slow trail of 10 pubs, 5 of which are starred, Lunch or dinner should be factored in with The Old Harkers Arms excellent for food.

3.  Chester Cross to Chester Cross via Northgate Street (Dark Red Icons)

This trail travels down one of the main roads crossing the city. It goes to the centre of the city where it meets Watergate Street famous for its 'Rows' - shops with another street of shops on top of them. The trail has 13 pubs, 5 of which are starred. There are some old pubs on this trail which passes the Town Hall and the Cathedral. Some of these pubs exist in groups next door to each other which, unfortunately, reduces the walk between them to mere steps. The closeness of the pubs means that this trail needs to be taken slowly.

4.  Around Chester Cross (purple icons)

This trail has 10+ pubs with six of them starred. It is a gentle walk along a busy street.

5. The Amphitheatre plus  (Yellow Icons)

This trail covers a selection of 12 (three starred) pubs starting close to the amphitheatre.

 Trail 2 - Along the canal

 This trail starts from the bridge taking City Road over the canal. One end of City Road is the city and the other end is the train station. From the bridge there are several choices of watering hole. Walking down the stairs onto the canal brings you to The Old Harkers Arms. Walk slightly further up and turn down Steam Mill St to reach The Cross Foxes on the corner. Return up to the canal but this time cutting diagonally across the car park. Once at the canal look left and you will find The Artichoke.

Now walk back past The Old Harkers Arms (or stop for another) and go up the stairs to City Road. Walk down City Rd to The Cornerhouse (formerly The Compass).

Crossing over City Rd and walking back to the canal there is The Cellar. Descend the stairs to the canal and continue along the canal until the next bridge. Turn to the right, going over the canal and discover The Union Vaults on the next corner. Leaving the Union Vaults turn along the street going left, parallel to the canal and come across The Mill Hotel.

Now walk along the side of the canal. You will see The Lock Keeper on the other side so cross over at the next bridge. Just before you reach The Lock Keeper you will see the Oddfellows Arms on the corner but first visit The Lock Keeper by the canal. Now visit The Oddfellows Arms then continue up to the pedestrian area to The City Tavern.

Old Harkers Arms is of the Brunning & Price chain and has been created from the bottom floor of an old warehouse. The bar is immediately in front of the entrance though rather blocked off by pillars. To the right is a large room with a variety of seating and a far wall using a bookcase for wallpaper. The counter continues round to the left with another large room with tables and chairs and a large standing area. Further on from this is a room mainly used for dining. The pub serves way above standard pub grub for only a little bit more. This is a excellent pub which gets busy. There is some seating along the canal to take advantage of summer days.

CAMRA Good Beer Guide 1998-2025

Have a pint or two here

real ale    :Flowers, Cheshire Cat (Weetwood), Golden Arrow, Monty's Sunshine, Monty’s middnight, Burscough Flat Rib Mild,    B & P Original Bitter, Celebration (Bragdy Conway)

lager         :Becks, Staroperamen

cider         :Thatcher's Gold,  Aspall                                                   Guinness

The Cross Foxes is a nice wee pub but concentrating on lager. It tries hard to attract people.

Have half here

bitter         :John Smiths

lager         :Fosters, carling, 1664

cider         : Strongbow                                       Guinness

The Artichoke is a dining pub. Tables are a good distance from each other. There are stools, made from Meccano, and plenty of standing area close to the bar. Busy for eating but less so for drinking. There are seats outside on the canal

Good beer Guide 2023

Have  pint here

real ale    :Eastgate Ale (Weetwood), Outlandish Pale,

lager         :Freedom Four, Saison Dupont, Bacchus, Timmerman, Kastel, Bud wheat, Bud Czech lager.

cider         : Stowford Press                                                  Titanic Stout

The Cornerhouse (formerly The Compass), so called because it swoops gently round a corner giving a good length of outside seating. It has black metal and wood beams, exposed brickwork and varnished wood flooring. The servery is on back wall to left of entrance making this area narrow. Opposite servery is a raised area with comfy seating and further sofas are is a small space beyond the servery. Plenty of standing room around bar area while down a few steps to the right lots of tables and seating. Similar décor and brick in upstairs function room. Midweek CAMRA discount; food lunch and evening; dog friendly.

Good Beer Guide regular, including 2023, 2024, 2025

Have a pint here

Real ale :   Oracle (Salopian);  Landlord;  Dragon Slayer

Craft ale:  Gamma Ray;  Pilot;  Paper planes (Salopian)

Lager     : Peroni;  Becks;  Timmerman’s Peach;  Jever

Cider      : Reveller          Guinness

The Cellar is basically a one roomed bar with a cellar downstairs that can be rented out. There is a little outside seating along pavement to left of entrance. The servery is on the right wall a bit into the room.  There are a couple of tall tables in immediate vicinity of servery together with plenty of standing room and a couched area down the window side.  Down a step is the main seating room with tables and stools. Two TVs for sport and one beside servery showing beers available.

Have a pint here.

Good Beer Guide regular, including 2023, 2024, 2025

CAMRA discount and dogs welcome.

Has been CAMRA Chester & South Clwyd pub of the year several times and is regular in Good pub Guide

Real ale :   Landlord;  Top Rope (4 Horsemen); Manchester Bitter (Marble);  Pictures of You (North);  Inman and Howgate (Kirkstall);  Single Hop (Kirkstall)

Craft ale:  Saucery (Magic Rock);  Objects in Space (Ridgeside); Squawk Pale; Thyme After Thyme (Hawkshead); In Flight Meal; Michelle raspberry Sour

Lager     :  Flemsburger;  Berlin Pilsner

Cider      : Aspall Harry Sparrow                                  Titanic Stout

The Union Vaults is an old-style pub. The corner door leads to the bar. To the left are stairs up to a lounge and dart area and a few more stars take you to a back lounge (with door to the street.) The bar has a well looked after Bagatelle table which used by the locals. Great pub.

Have one   here.

real ale    :Tiger (Everards), Spitting feathers Special Ale

bitter         :John Smiths

lager         :Becks, carling

cider         : Weston trad scrumpy, Strongbow                                                Guinness

The Mill Hotel is a modern hotel build by the canal side. The back looks over the canal and a walkway takes you over the canal to the other side where the hotel has a Spa club and a restaurant. The hotel also has a canal cruiser which serves as a restaurant - sailing along the canal as you eat.

More surprisingly this hotel has a bar with a large selection of real ales.

CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2103-16

Good Pub Guide 2013

Have pint here

real ale    :Deauchars, Cornmill (Phoenix), Westwood Best Bitter, Excalibur (Merlin),   Bateman's XXXB, Bombardier Spring campaign, Coach House mild

bitter         :John Smith

lager         :Fosters, Heineken, Stella, Becks;      Grolsh, Peroni, Veltins

cider         : Strongbow                                             Guinness

Lock Keeper is a dining pub alongside the canal with music at weekends. It has plenty of outside seating on patio. Inside has a variety of seating areas and a large standing area by the bar.

Have a half here

bitter         : John Smiths

lager         :Tiger, Heineken, Fosters, Carling, Amstel, 1664 

cider         : Strongbow                                                Guinness

Oddfellows Arms is a corner pub which is larger than it looks. The small bar is to the right with a larger room opposite running up the side wall.  There is also a small lounge, with hatch, making up the fourth quarter. This has access to a yard. Has not quite kept the old look, nor got modernised, but worth the visit.

Have a pint here

real ale    : was off

bitter         : John Smiths, Tetley's Cream

lager         :Carling, Carling, 1664, Fosters

cider         : Strongbow                                        Guinness

City Tavern is a large traditional looking public house with corner door taking you into a large room with servery straight ahead. Plenty of floor space for standing and seating along left wall by windows. Seating continues alongside wall and towards servery.  Several different drinking areas are covered  by a the servery snaking around from back wall of main room down the right hand side and opening out into a more dining style room. Beyond this room are stairs for upstairs seating and access to outside garden. CAMRA discount. Food 10-6

Have one here.

Real ale :   Cheshire Gold;  Gunpowder (Coachhouse);  Eastgate (Westwood);  Mermaids Purse

Craft ale:  punk IPA

Bitter     : Goose Midway

Lager     :  Heineken;  Camden hells Lager;  Amstel;  Carlsberg;  San Miguel;  Stella;  Peroni;  Blue Moon

Cider      :  Strongbow;  Strongbow dark Fruit;  Somersby                                Guinness