Albion Inn, Chester

What a beautiful pub,just below the Walls and worth desceding to.We approached with trepidation aware that the landlord of 50 years had died not long ago but were delighted to find his widow had taken on the pub and it was thriving and completely unchanged save the sad loss.The interior walls are full of great beweriana and metal adverts,collected over a lifetime and among the best I've seen. The multi room layout remains ,it's totally charming and the small island bar serves all the rooms.The larger is to the left of the side entrance and is two sections with traditional furniture and the three handpumps.Through a corridor is a smaller front lounge and then through an archway a charming small snug where a cards school was in action.This in turn has a door to the entrance lobby. We chatted to the friendly landlady who was younger than her husband and wants to carry on his good work.We celebrated the no children rule ,large pub crawl groups may not get served and on Chester racing days the pub closes early and will be selective about entry.Don't try to enter in fancy dress of any description ! On a Thursday evening we were of median age but when a lone younger female entered for a quiet glass of wine the landlady chatted to her,the locals were friendly and the barman a font of knowledge about the Chester pub scene.Traditional food is served here from a short menu and there are no chips,it's old school and food won't impact on the evening drinking sessions. The ale selection was TT Boltmakers (NBSS 3.5),Black Sheep Bitter and Sharp's Atlantic nothing to get the pulse racing but you don't come here for knockout ale but to revel in a proper pub atmosphere and to enjoy the tradition.An absolute must visit if you care about proper pubs,your custom will help it prosper.

Well known, multi-room, back street pub, almost a time warp as the wallpaper is old school, the furnishings are in keeping as are some of the floor coverings. The walls are covered in photos, paintings, posters etc commemorating the Great War. The larger room to the left on entering is probably the more public bar like of the rooms. Only two beers on in the central servery, Taylor’s Boltmaker and one other I didn’t record, it had Mosaic in the name so I shut down at that point, a pretty good pint of Boltmaker though. Don’t worry if you fear the curmudgeonly aspect has gone, there are suitable signs in the entrance lobby. Slight but noticeable toilet smell, and the beer was better than the food.