Mill Hotel, Chester

The Mill Hotel & Spa has a decent sized bar that is open to non-residents. The entrance leads to a foyer with a huge dining area to the left, reception to the rear and the bar area to the right. In here seating runs across the front floor to ceiling windows that look onto a patio area with patio furniture that runs across the width of the bar. A serving counter runs up the right hand wall where deli food is available at the front and beers the rear. Premium keg and Carling were available alongside Coach House Brewing’s Mill Premium Bitter (rebadged Dick Turpin Best), Phoenix Brewery’s Pale Ale and Weetwood’s Resistance from the three out of four hand pumps that were in use. There was some slow music playing and snooker was airing on the television. The service was polite in a corporate way, but I thought the atmosphere was very draining so I don’t plan on returning.

All very strange! a large hotel and spa complex that took me a while to find the ‘pub’ part. It’s basically a modern sports bar with 9 handpumps, 7 of which were on. My Oregon Pale from Weetwood was alright but then I couldn’t find anywhere to sit down with it as I stumbled through a restaurant and reception area - I ended up sitting outside! Weird, it’s not a pub but then again it also is a great place for ale.

Called in yesterday and a good selection of ales on the bar. 3 from Sky's Edge brewery. We chose First Chop Figs & Syrup which was not bad for 2.8%, and Sharps Atlantic. Quality was fine.