Off to Chester this weekend. Where to eat and drink? Would love your ideas.

[JimmyTarbuck]

We are off to Chester (child-free) and would love some recommendations of where to eat and drink. We like real ale and DH is vegetarian. What do you think? Also, any places to go for breakfast as I don't fancy paying the hotel's price. Any replies appreciated.

[RandallPinkFloyd]

Depends what sort of food you want really. There's lots of good " Real Ale" pubs though. There's a great one up on the rows that does nice food too but I can't remember what it's called. Helpful eh?

Harkers is always a handy one though, some nice beers and decent pub grub.

[craftynclothy]

When we went to Chester we went here www.moulesagogo.co.uk/menus.htm and it was lovely but not a lot of choice for vegetarians.

[RandallPinkFloyd]

The brewery tap! That's what it was called, food was nice when we went. Very traditional pub grub though so depends how fancy you want to go.

Have a look on here there a lot of olde worlde pubs because of the area.

[BigGums]

I would second the brewery tap and harkers. A new one has opened that's supposed to very nice - the architect i think. I always liked the red house too.

[JimmyTarbuck]

Thanks for the replies. DH is happy with pub grub so Brewery Tap will be visited, I expect.

[Sparklingbrook]

It's a while ago now but we had a nice meal here, don't know if anyone has been more recently.

They have a real ale bar here but the hotel gets mixed reviews.

I am very I love Chester.

[hellsbells99]

Agree with all the above! Also Duttons is nice on Godstall Lane (runs between the Cathedral and the rows on Eastgate Street); Alexanders is good is you like live music (but a bit more studenty at times); Chez Jules on Northgate Street - informal french style restaurant; I think the Boot on Eastgate street rows does real ale; The Fat Cat or Harkers are nice for an early drink. Had a meal at Artichoke (on the canal off City Road near Harkers) just before Christmas which was very enjoyable - and they had a choice of about 20 types of gin!

[Sparklingbrook]

Feel free to not agree with my two hells.

[hellsbells99]

Hi Sparkling. I agree! Chester Tandoori is good. My husband and his friends like the beer at the Mill Hotel. I like just outside Chester (£6 in a taxi) and love it too! Although it can get a bit rowdy late at night.

[Sparklingbrook]

I like the tame squirrels in Grosvenor Park hells. One came and sat on my knee. Glad the Tandoori is still good, the DC didn't want to go there last time we went. Ended up at the big pub with loads of floors in the middle of town. Poss a Wetherspoons?

[JimmyTarbuck]

I'm getting excited now

[hellsbells99]

Sparkling - possibly 'Off the Wall'? Grosvenor Park is lovely - then walk through it down to the river and get a nice ice cream!
Have a fantastic weekend JT :)

[Sparklingbrook]

This one hells. Not a recommendation Jimmy, it's purely because the DC love it.

[RandallPinkFloyd]

Chester's lovely. I can't afford to live there unfortunately but I do live close enough to work there! It's a lovely part of the country, I'm very lucky.

[Sparklingbrook]

It's a great location to stay in and go visiting other places in the summer. Last year we went to Liverpool for the day, and Llandudno for the day. The DSs thought it was fabulous, we rented a townhouse near the canal.

DS2 especially likes the 'topless bus'.

[RandallPinkFloyd]

It really is a great base. Half an hour from Liverpool and Manchester by train, fourty mins by car, and the same to the north Wales coast. It's not much more than an hour to get to Birmingham.

I've always lived here so it's easy to forget how nice it is. I don't think anything of popping to Llandudno for the afternoon or Llangollen. And I can't count the hours I've spent just sitting by the river in Chester.

I used to love the topless busses when I was a kid! A townhouse by the canal sounds lovely.

[hellsbells99]

Hi Sparkling & Randall. I think when you live in a place you sometimes forget how nice it is and you are too busy working and being a parent to enjoy it all! DD2 (14) went into 'town' last summer with friends to go shopping but spent the day having a Boots meal deal in the Grosvenor park with friends, then hiring pedaloes on the river, finishing off with ice creams by the river listening to the band playing in the band stand - a quote from her friend "we had a very civilised afternoon, listening to the band"! .......and we worry that they will all go off the rails ;)
Also both DDs are at an age now where they love getting the train to Liverpool to go shopping with their friends.

[RandallPinkFloyd]

That was my favourite way to spend the afternoon when I was that age Hells.

It still is now tbh, although not the pedalos!

[Sparklingbrook]

DC and I had an exciting half an hour on the pedaloes. I learnt that it is hard to do a three point turn, especially when the Mark Twain is looming into view.

[MustafaCake]

This place is great, the food is amazing.

//www.josephbenjamin.co.uk

[RandallPinkFloyd]

They scare me now [old gimmer emoticon]

[Sparklingbrook]

The DC want to hire a motor boat next time Randall. At least we can get out of showboat's way quicker.

[RandallPinkFloyd]

Yes, I can just about manage those. Although in all honesty I do prefer a more civilised sail on the Lady Di

[Sparklingbrook]

Joint ticket with the boat and the topless bus. Perfect.

[bigbadbarry]

I live in Chester too... Was also going to recommend Joseph Benjamin to eat, and the Pied Bull (opposite) has a microbrewery, so that might be of interest. Will you have a car or are you staying city-based? I know some good breakfast places around and about. The blue moon cafe by the river does a good breakfast if you don't want to drive out, or "fud" cafe at the top of sandy lane - depends where you are staying because that's a bit of a walk if you were central.