Ye Olde Boot Inn, Chester

Long, thin and dark Sam’s pub on the first floor of the Row. Usual old style interior along with a good number of Mr Humphrey notices. The long L shaped counter has four pulls for Old Brewery Bitter plus the usual box collection of taddy kegs. A collection of codgers were in during my midweek lunchtime visit and the banter was of a high order; I’ve had better OBB however. Cash only of course, and no phones as some old lady sat next to a “digital detox” sign found to her embarrassment. There’s something upstairs but I didn’t look.

Tucked away on the upper tier of Eastgate Row (no street level entrance!), the pub retains much of the original 17th century structure and character. This is a classic Sam's pub - multi layered with a drinking corridor separating the front and back bars, salmon walls, wood trim. Tight and narrow which is a pain at the best of times but at 5pm on a Saturday afternoon made for a pretty uncomfortable crush and the lack of ventilation resulted in a sweaty atmosphere. A couple of the classics missing at the bar, for example no Man in a Box. There was however cask OBB which was a bit flat and fluffy (NBSS 2) – end of the barrel? The Dark Mild was also pretty fobby which made me wonder if the cellaring is a bit duff. Kudos to the barmaid who was doing an incredible job serving a huge throng of customers, taking multiple concurrent orders – barmaid of the year and put her idling colleagues to shame. Anyway, if you like Sam pubs you will like this one. I preferred the interior here but the beer was better at the Flacon, so take your pick. 6.5

Visited on Saturday evening. The place was pretty busy, and being able to get a pint for under £2 in Chester city centre would probably go some way to explain that. As anyone who knows Sam Smiths pubs will know, there is only Sam Smiths Old Brewery Bitter on cask, a beer I am not that keen on, but their Extra Stout saved the day for me. This pub also sells their India Ale, which wasn't on in the Falcon (Chester's other Sam Smiths pub) last time I was in. Two separate signs on the door announce that under 18s are not welcome, and that no swearing is permitted. Once inside there are further signs (and plenty of them) advising that mobile phones are banned. Once at the bar you can see the CCTV monitor which continually pans round the bar, giving a distinctive "big brother" feel. We sat on the banquette seating in the window, and judging by the marks on it either somebody had died there and not been noticed for a while, or had pissed themselves, or just been very careless with a drink. Not too bad a place but not somewhere I felt massively comfortable and I don't have any plans to return in the immediate future. One of those places that's good to do once, in my opinion.

archetypal Sam Smiths museum right in the middle of Chester. it draws a mixture of pensionable drinkers and tourists/shoppers looking for the ye olde pub experience. unsurprisingly it was packed beyond comfort on a Saturday afternoon so I didn't hang around - nice pub though.