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 3 - Chester Cross and back again, via Northgate St

Starting at the Chester Cross go The Victoria which is obvious if you look up on the row above though start next to it The Amber Lounge -closed. So now start at The Victoria . Exit by the rear of the Victoria into a small courtyard where The Commercial Hotel shelters.

Now leave by a lane opposite the hotel and turn up left from this. At the next corner and round, where the street widens there is The Dublin Packet. Walk up from The Dublin Packet, skipping The Coach House, to The Shropshire Arms. Skip The Pied Bull to get to The Red Lion then onto The Liverpool Arms.

Now return down to The Pied Bull and also to The Coach House.

Cross over and walk down to The Cathedral and walk along the road that curves around it. As the road begins to curve again there are two small lanes; one to the right and one going straight ahead. The wider alley to the right has The Music Hall Tap at its entrance, while down the narrower alley is The Botanist and then Duttons.

Follow the alley to the end and you are in a row. Turn right to walk along to Ye Old Boot.

Amber Lounge (closed but may shift position) was a pleasant old bar which has been modernised stylishly. (Beams are no longer black)

Good for food and late-night drinks NEWS

Have a pint here

bitter         :John Smiths

lager         :Fosters, Amstel, tiger

cider         : Cheddar Valley                                           Guinness

 The Victoria has a round bar serving different small comfortable drinking areas. A room further back leads to outside courtyard (below).

Serves good food

Have a half pint here

real ale    : Deauchers; Flying Scotsman; Theakstons

bitter         : John Smith

lager         :Fosters; Amstel

cider         : Strongbow                                             Guinness

Commercial Hotel has lots of rooms and upstairs cocktail bar. Rooms are sparse - standing/ talking/dancing with occasional table for resting glass on. Is a hotel but also late night music and partying.

Have a pint here

real ale    : Bombardier, Cheshire cat

lager         :Harrison's; Kirin Ichiban ; Estrella

cider   

Dublin Packet is a two roomed pub and Gin bar. Long gallery with seating and standing to the right. Bar is immediately in front of entrance with a small seating area to its left.

Have  pint here

real ale     : Speckled hen; Doombar

bitter          :John Smiths

lager         : Fosters, carling, Carlsberg, Coors, Grolsch

 Shropshire Arms is basically a modernised two roomed pub. front has the bar and the shouting locals. The rear has lounge styled area

Have a pint here

real ale    : Cheshire cat, Bombadier

bitter          :John Smiths

lager         :Coors, Stella, Fosters

cider         :Strongbow

The Red Lion is a Nicolson’s pub so good service and food in pleasant surroundings. A two room deep drinking area with mixed seating styles. there is a dining area further on/

Have one here

real ale    : Nicolson's PA; Doombar; Thwaites Original; Limehouse Cut

lager         :Carling, Becks, Heineman, Peroni, San Miguel

cider         : Strongbow, Aspall                                                Guinness

The Liverpool Arms has a modern pub sign and has been modernised inside but feels a little rundown. Bar runs for half-length of pub then opens out to dance floor/performance area.

Have half pint here.

real ale    : Bombadier

bitter          : John Smith

lager         : Carling, Fosters, Coors

cider         :                                                Guinness

Pied Bull is an old coaching inn from 1473. Corridor takes you to open area with bar in front. To the right there is seating and tables with large fireplace. To the left is some more tables and the hotel reception.

CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2103-16

Good Pub Guide

Have a  pint here

real ale    : Rhode Island red (Brimstage); White Rat (Rat); Braodside; and Sensibul, Bulls Hit and Piedeyed all from Pied Bull microbrewery

lager         :Amstel, Heineken, Birr moretti, Sagres

cider         : Trad Scrumpy; Symonds                                            Guinness

Coach House Inn is a 19th century dining pub of very good standard. Outside seating looking at the cathedral

Have a pint here

real ale    : Farmhouse Ale (Spitting Feathers), Thwaites Original and Wainwright and Lancaster Bomber

lager         :Carling, Amstel

cider         : Kingston Press

                                          Guinness

Music Hall Tap is a craft ale /Sports/music/pub. The servery is against the long back wall with circular booths along the window wall. There is a variety of four- seater tables in middle of room and some tall tables to right of servery followed by stairs to upper room. Cheap pints on Monday, food all day and dogs welcome

Have a pint here

Craft ale:  Captain Planet pale Ale (Yeastie Boys);  Trooper Nitro (Robinsons);  Atom Dark Matter Stout;  Loco Juice

Bitter     :  Goose island midway;  Meantime London

Lager     :  Hop house 13;  Carling;  Peroni;  Camden Hells;  Heineken;  Amstel

Cider      :                                              Guinness

The Botanist works very hard at being old – more distressed wood than a disused factory. However, it does it well and is actually attractive. Difficult to find: (a) up a short corridor from the street or (b) along a narrow alley around corner on same street. Way (a) takes you, past stairs on your left, into a large room with servery along the left wall. The (b) alley way takes you into an outside seating area which is covered and separated from alley by lattice metal work; so, it is kind of not outside. Down a few steps and you are in the large room with the servery. There are tall tables opposite the servery. There is also seating along to the right of servery then onto stairs. Both sets of stairs take you to the restaurant area which overlooks the servery.

The restaurant part at top of the right-hand stairs succeeds in giving impression you are in an old barn – falling apart wood on walls and lots of old farm implements.

The bar is heavily into cocktails and food, and beers are craft and named on small blackboards as the keg dispenser are not labelled. The lamp above the servery is a full-sized old motor bike with various bulbs hanging from it. Dogs allowed downstairs. Opens at 12.00 Live music (not Mon or Tues)

Have one here

Craft ale:  Love Lane pale Ale;  Shameless IPA (Red Willow );  Tribal Pale Ale;  Goose Island Midway

Duttons is a W Lees diner and bar. This is down a narrow alley which widens enough for it to have outside seating. Inside the servery is straight ahead and the passage to it is flanked by a long tall to each side. To the either side of servery is dining style seating for two and for four people. Further to the left is some comfy seating including a small booth area. Just past this is a secret small lounge with bar at far end which can also be used for private parties.

Have one here

Real ale :   Manchester Pale Ale;  Lees Bitter

Lager     :  Carlsberg;  San Miguel; 

Cider      : Symonds                                          Guinness

Ye Old Boot Inn is up on one of the Rows. It has a definite old pub feel. There is very little natural light and the dark wood interior keeps it dark Room is light by bright lights. Little chairs opposite bar gives it an old boozer feel. There is a back vault. Good cheap beer in atmospheric surroundings.

Good Pub Guide 2013 History

Have one here

real ale    : Samuel Smiths Old Brewery Bitter

Bitter         : Sovereign

lager         :Taddy lager, Alpine, Original organic

cider         : Cheddar Valley                                           Extra stout