The Brewery Tap, Chester

This pub is set in a wonderful Grade II listed hall called Gamul House, once the residence of one of Chester's most influential families and famous for hosting King Charles I the night before he was defeated at the battle of Rowton Moor, just outside the city. The building is accessed up a flight of steps which lead you into the main hall - a large, high vaulted ceiling and flagstone floored room with the servery on the back wall opposite the front door. The room is a regular rectangular shape and has been filled with a decent amount of seating, from which you can admire your surroundings. The centrepiece is probably the fabulous sandstone fireplace, which is located behind the bar and has been tastefully adapted to house various drinks. To the left is a perspex screen protecting a section of original wattle and daub wall, part of which is cut away to reveal the wattle. Large tapestries at either end of the room and hop vines in the corner complete the look. A second room to the right of the bar was set up more for diners and there were quite a few in there on our early evening visit. The pub was opened by the local Spitting Feathers Brewery in 2008 and their fine restoration work helped win them the English Heritage Conservation Award and CAMRA's Conversion to Pub Use Award. Two of the brewery's beers were available on my visit - Old Wavertonian Stout and the excellent Thirstquencher - alongside a strong guest line-up in the shape of Slater's Top Totty, Derby Business As Usual, Vale Best Bitter, Nelson Thunderer, and Monty's Midnight Stout. All beers were helpfully detailed on a blackboard positioned above the servery. This is an excellent pub and a highlight from my time in Chester. The fantastic historic setting and the fine range of well kept beer makes this a must-do for anyone arriving in town.

This is currently our favourite drinking place when visiting Chester. Up a flight of stone steps this two roomed bar is worth a visit just for viewing the interior let alone the large selection of ales available with normally one or two Spitting feathers ales plus many others from other small breweries. Ususally a very busy place we normally manage to find a spare bar stool or two at the bar after a short while as people do tend to stop for just one or two drinks before moving on if thet are not here for food. Despite it being busy the bar staff have always been freindly and prompt at serving. To date we have always had a good pint in here, and when an ale runs out, the barman soon cleans the pipes and puts a new one back on with the chalk board listing the new ale being put back up ontop of the firepalce behind the bar.

Revisited again on a freezing November weekend , a bit quieter than on my last visit (still busy) allowing me to get a better look at the place , there is a massive old fireplace behind the bar which now houses the fridges and the spirits/mixers , the beer selection reflected the cold weather with Old Wavtonian Stout , Cambrinus Lamp Oil Porter , Lymestone Stone the Crows and Conwy Welsh Pride all good winter beers along with a couple from Spitting Feathers and Westons Old Rosie Cider , theres a lively atmosphere and the locals mix happily with tourists , service was good and friendly , really like this place .

Brewery Tap page at the Chester Tourist site - www.chestertourist.com

Brewery Tap page at the Chester Tourist site - www.chestertourist.com

Official site of the Brewery Tap, contains real ale list - www.the-tap.co.uk

Official site of the Brewery Tap, contains real ale list - www.the-tap.co.uk

Recently opened pub converted from a restaurant which is now the Spitting Feathers Brewery Tap. This is a fine old building, sympathetically converted leaving most of the old stonework, ceiling timbers etc intact. It was originally Gamul House which was a Jacobean great hall, the brick façade was added in the 18th century. Has a large sign outside that says “Because life’s too short for crap beer”. It still has a small restaurant area but is now more wet trade led. It has 8 handpumps, usually serving 3 from Spitting Feathers, 4 guest ales and a real cider. I’ve never had a bad pint in here, it’s a class act all round. I wish all pub conversions/renovations were as good as this one. Well done Spitting Feathers Brewery.