Watergates, Chester

This modern bar is in a vaulted sandstone cellar, a few steps down and then a few more from street level. It goes a surprisingly long way back, and even more surprising is the sign directing ones steps to the heated roof terrace, which I didn't have time to explore on this occasion. It was quite busy, even crowded, at the time of my Saturday lunchtime visit, mostly with day tripping shoppers eating. It was good to see a couple of hand pumps on the bar, and these were serving beers from Weetwood, a previously unheard of brewery just a few miles away. Beers available were Oasthouse Gold and the temptingly named (to a Luton Town fan, anyway) Mad Hatter. This proved to be an unremarkable session ale that was good without being earth-shattering. With the core business here being food, it's not really one for beer drinkers to make a special point of visiting, but certainly worth popping in for the odd half or two if passing.