Branch Social by train to Chester.

This should be a cracking trip. There are too many great pubs in Chester city centre for one day, so choosing these has been a task! Let’s make it a great turn-out and decide if a repeat visit is on the cards for some point in the future!

The following train times are suggested which will get there around noon.

Piccadilly dep.10.44, Oxford Road dep.10.48,.....Chester arr. 11.51

Rochdale dep.10.48, Victoria dep.11.06,.............Chester arr.12.01 (same train through from Leeds)

So, two different routes from Manchester. Next trains on both routes in 1 hour (basically an hourly service).

Return from Chester 16.27, 17.23, 18.23, 19.25 to Victoria and Rochdale

or 16.52, 17.52, 18.52, 19.52 to Oxford Road and Piccadilly

Suggested Itinerary follows.

Meet at Chester Station Tap around Noon.

CAMRA Trip link https://camra.org.uk/trips/4165ddaa-a894-4a3c-a388-5a0ead12e0b8

From Pub 1. Station Tap House it is just over a 20-minute walk to Brewery Tap, so some may want a taxi. Those who wish to walk and are familiar with Google maps can use this link https://maps.app.goo.gl/r4pmkMqMKfvCjpPr6?g_st=ic

Alternatively, regular services (No 4 Bus to Mold, No 1 to Wrexham or T8 to Ruthin) leave stop S4 on City Road outside the side of Town Crier and drops you just 5 stops later (taking 10 minutes) on Grosvenor St outside Save The Children charity shop. From there walk back to traffic lights and turn right into Lower Bridge St for a couple of minutes to find the steps on your right leading to.....

Pub 2. Brewery Tap. The tap house of Spitting Feathers brewery is an Outstanding Conversion winner that once hosted King Charles I, and the interior really is a wow! Multiple GBG entries over the years including 2025 & 2026.

5-minute walk. Walk along Lower Bridge Street past Ye Olde Kings Head on the left, and straight over the traffic lights into the pedestrianised Bridge Street. Not far on the right up the steps into "The Rows" is....

Pub 3. Cavern of the Curious Gnome (bar and bottle shop). A relatively recent addition to the Chester scene, but run by an experienced team. This also has been in GBG in both 2025 & 2026.

10 minute-walk. Continue on the upper level along The Rows (or go back down to Street level), to the northern end of Bridge St and turn right into Eastgate St. Ignore the rather wonderful (Ye Olde) Boot Inn on the Upper Rows on the left-hand side (unless you fancy a Sam Smith's), and pass under the Eastgate Clock arch. Now on Foregate St, The Square Bottle (Wetherspoons) on the right is a sign that you are very close to...

Pub 4. That Beer Place - Cider POTY 2025 with two casks on. Another fairly recent success story.

4 minute walk. Negotiate the various crossings, or use the underpass, to aim for, diagonally across The Bars roundabout...

Pub 5. The Cornerhouse - Mock Tudor timber framed pub. Also has good GBG heritage, and has entries in both 2025 & 2026 issues.

2 minute-walk. Turn right out of the pub passing Premier Inn & take the steps on the right before the canal, leading directly to...

Pub 6. Old Harkers Arms - Brunning and Price, character building and decor. Good GBG heritage over the years and has entries in both 2025 & 2026 issues.

2-minute walk. Back up the steps by the canal & on the opposite side of City Road, across from Premier Inn...

Pub 7. The Cellar- (Opens at 4pm). A bar with great eclectic choice of keg and cask ales. This is yet another with GBG frequency. In both 2025 & 2026 issues.

7-minute walk. Turn right out of the pub. At the end of City Road, we are back at "The Bars" roundabout. Keep right to follow the dual carriageway over the canal. Go down the slope to join Milton Street and follow that into Brook Street where a few more paces bring us to such a delight...

Pub 8. Ye Olde Cottage - (Opens at 4pm). Truly traditional pub with a warm welcome. Expect an open fire and pub cat. Take time to investigate the bagatelle table, a game unique to Chester. Even better, strong GBG heritage. In both 2025 & 2026 issues. Ask Trev about appearance on The Repair Shop and The Ship Victory pub sign!

7-minute walk back to Station. Turn right out the pub to follow Brook St to the end, bearing right onto Station Rd to find the Station across the road.

Click on either image below (adapted from West Cheshire Branch Pub trail leaflet) for a downloadable .pdf version for ease of printing.