Marlbororough Arms, Chester

An interesting building with a name that is apparently the result of a signwriter's error. We called in during what we thought were opening hours, though the shutters were closed and a chair was propping the front door open, so it was no surprise to be told that 5pm was when they would be open. My drinking companion was lucky in having a train to catch at that time, which left me to find some very odd beers. Three of the four were from Stonehouse brewery in Oswestry, and I've had their very good Station Bitter a few times before, so plumped for a half of that. It had a very odd taste, a little bit sweet, a little bit sour, and nothing like the classic bitter that I remember. After a couple of sips I approached the lass behind the bar and said that I didn't think it was right. She asked if I wanted something else instead, so I went for the Sunlander, a blonde from the same brewery, but this was just the same. It would be a strange infection that affected beers being served from different pipes, so maybe it was a problem with the yeast at the brewery, but it would be unprofessional to let beer in this condition leave the premises. While I pondered this a young man came in and asked for a pint of the Station Bitter; he was obviously a regular and the lass said to him, as she handed it over, "tell me if this is ok?". He said that it was, so I just walked out. Could the beer in the pipe have had an infection but not enough had been pulled through before serving me? I couldn't summon up the energy to have that conversation with someone who had already got me figured as an idiotic timewaster. I decided to walk to the nearest Craft Union pub to get my taste buds checked.

First time I’ve visited this famous spelling mistake when it wasn’t rammed so I got a seat at one of the long wooden tables and benches at the back and was able to read the rather unimaginative graffiti scribbled thereon. The front area is fairly woody with casks, a long pine table, a round wooden table and a battered sofa; while the rear has a quarry tile floor, wood panelling and some neat tiles. The counter is dominated by four large ceramic dispensers, four pulls sit between the middle two. Only two beers on and only one was a Stonehouse beer, the other being a Porter from Chester Beer Company, who are listed as a nano brewery on Untapped, WhatPub says Stonehouse beers exclusively sold in its description of the pub. Average quality.

Saturday evening visit and first time in this pub. Four hand pulls at the bar all offering Stonehouse ales. I went for Off The Rails and my drinking accomplice had Sunlander, both of which were fine. Lots of stripped back wood inside, which I imagine would originally have been stained dark. Fairly nice place overall, mix of furniture/seating, relaxed feel to the place.