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 and Grosvener St (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 5 - Amphitheatre and back to town

 Again, starting close to the Amphitheatre - and it could start at The Albion (also trail 1) then move up to the main road or at the Amphitheatre where All Bar One is just through the gate in the wall called Newgate.

Up the small road at the side of All Bar One brings you to The Church on the left and The Plumber's Arms closed

Come back down the street and go through The Newgate to find Off The Wall quickly followed by The Alchemist. Continue walking up the St John Street to find The Marlbororourgh Arms across the road on the right. At the top turn right and walk down to the next right-hand junction and turn down to see The Brewhouse & Kitchen across the road.

Turn back up to the city and again turn right onto the street you just left. Along here on the right are The Square Bottle, Fifteen and Revolution then across the street is The Old Queen's Head.

The Albion, above, is a small three roomed pub. It would be a remarkable old-fashioned boozer even without the World War memorabilia decorating all three rooms. The main door is at the side. On entry you can go to the largest room on the left or a smaller snug, to the right, with a larger room (still small) through from this.

Good Pub Guide 2013

Have one or two here.

real ale    : Southwold (Adnams); Golden XPA

lager         : Carling

cider         :                                                Guinness

 All Bar One is stylish bar with lots of outside seating and a sweep of a corner opposite the amphitheatre. Either side of entrance is porch area with dining style seating to both sides then up a few steps to main bar area. Curved banquette seating is to the right of entrance. Servery is straight ahead against back wall, the wooden floor is then tiled at the counter. Bare walls and ducts give a nod to industrial chic. Middle and far right have tall tables and stools.

Have a half pint

Bitter     : Wreckless

Lager     : Peroni;  Amstel;  Asahi;  Camden Hells;  Sierra Nevada;  Birra Moretti

Cider      :  Mortimer Orchard

The Church is what it says it is; an old building no longer used as a church. Pathway up to arched church door with extensive outside seating beside path but which can only be entered through main room. Some seating in entrance then into the old church proper. The height is impressive and seating upstairs on both sides. The main bar is a large horseshoe shape coming out of back wall where an organ is situated. Booths to the side down stairs. Lot of standing room round the large counter. Opposite the curve of the servery are stairs leading up to a half-landing to access outside seating then further stairs to right and left to get to upper floor with seating on both sides overlooking the main servery. Another afternoon cocktail place for tourists.

Have a pint here

Real ale : Cheshire Cat;  Eastgate (Weetwood)

Bitter     : Lagunitas Daytime session;  Maltsmiths IPA

Lager     :  Hienekien;  Amstel; Birra Moretti

Cider      : Symonds;  Strongbow Fruit                      Guinness

 Plumber's Arms NOW CLOSED is a traditional one roomed pub - seating at front with bar on right hand side starting half way in. During the day is a husband creche serving food and beer. Opens from midday to 4am Friday & Saturday

Have a pint here

real ale    : Thwaites Original and wainwright.

bitter         : Thwaites Smooth

lager         :Bud, Carling, Carlsberg

cider        

The Alchemist is a cocktail bar using chemical glassware and period table symbols in cocktail recipe book. There are also old chemist bottles as decoration. Once through entrance there are stairs on the left then the metal topped servery for half the room length.  Tall tables down the left after the servery. The keg dispensers do not have identification so you have to ask what is on. It is a cocktail place with a large recipe book, solid CO2 lumps for smoke effect, flasks and beakers and a small burner makes for interesting if slow service. Slightly tall tables down the right-hand wall.

NEWS

have one here

Craft ale: Curious Brew IPA

Lager     : Heineken

Marlbororourgh Arms is a thin single roomed pub. Seating at front and bar starting half way up the room. Wrong spelling is a sign writer’s error.

Have a half pint here.

real ale    : Sunlander; Cambriam Gold (both Stonehouse)

lager         : Becks, Leffe

                                               Guinness

The Brewhouse and Kitchen is a bar with food and microbrewery to the left of entrance steps. The brewery can be viewed through windows at street level. Brewery is for own Brewhouse & Kitchen. At top of stairs, which have lighting made from bottles, is the servery straight ahead. There are two rooms to the left with variety of dining tables. Two the right is a big open plan room with interesting tall tables. There is a narrow balcony off of this room to the side and an entrance to a small room with sofas going to front of building. There are also stairs down to a cellar bar. Lots of food all day and dogs welcome.

Have a pint here

Real ale :   Golden Boy; Devavictrix;  Forrest House;  Hand of Orville (all Brewhouse & Kitchen)

Craft ale: Brewhouse & Kitchen IPA; Beastie Boys IPA; Hurlimann; Gamma ray;  Big Drop Ale;  Black IPA;  Dutty (Tiny Rebel)

Bitter     : Camden Town IPA

Lager     :  Sam Adams;  Brewhouse & Kitchen Lager;  Weihenstephaner

Cider      :  Aspall Crafty Apple;  Hawkes Berry                                      Mushroom Porter

The Square Bottle is a small large pub as Wetherspoons go. Seating either side of the entrance widening out at left then coming back in again to allow servery on left wall. Pub runs a little beyond the servery length. Opposite servery is mainly dining style tables.

Have a half pint

Real ale :  Ruddles;  Abbot;  Broadside (Adnams);  Bog Standard Bitter (Big Bog );  Weetwood Mad hatter ;  Cocker Hoop;  Banoffee Pie

Craft ale:  Shipyard;   Punk

Bitter     :  John Smiths

Lager     :  Fosters;  Stella;  Heineken;  Carling; 13 Hop Lager;  Bud Light;  Coors;  San Miguel;  1664

Cider      :  Magners;  Strong bow ; Strongbow dark Fruit;  Thatchers Gold; 

Real cider:  Black Dragon (Gwynt y Ddraig)                            Guinness

Number Fifteen advertises as traditional bar but no real ale; although it is male dominated and horse racing is on TV. No children or tracksuits either. It is a long thin bar with servery starting well into bar on the left-hand wall and goes a bit over half way up where bar opens out to allow pool table followed by sofa area. There are tall tables opposite the servery with a variety of seating along the front of the room. Rooms available.

Have a half pint of lager!

Bitter     : John Smiths

Lager     : San Miguel;  Tuborg; Heineken;  Carling;  Carlsberg;  Fosters; 13 Hop Lager

Cider      :  Strongbow;  Strongbow Dark Fruit                        Guinness

Revolution has dining style tables either side of entrance with variety of styles of seating. Widens to left at front with dining style area then narrows as servery starts on left wall. High bar counter with comfy stools. Circular booths opposite servery. There are more tall tables and dining style beyond the servery.  Trendy cocktail style bar with matching prices. Food menu has lots of burgers and pizzas plus more

Have a half pint here

Bitter     :  Camden pale ale;  Goose Island Midway

Lager     :  Mahou;  Amstel; Malou;  Peroni

Cider      :  Magners