Witton Chimes, Northwich

The attractive mock Tudor exterior and unique name of Witton Chimes gave me raised expectations of finding a real gem, but alas I was misled. There are two tables in the front window and a U-shaped bar is on the right-hand wall facing booth seating up the left. More seating is found at the end of the bar before a raised rear area that houses a pool table and dartboard. Televisions throughout were playing ITV News with sound while background music played. Live football is advertised and the walls are adorned with Northwich Victoria memorabilia. The bar supports standard and premium keg and there are two hand pumps. One was badged with Sharp’s Doom Bar and the other with both Fuller’s London Pride and Shepherd Neame’s Spitfire. The service was polite, but this isn’t a great pub.

The pub has reopened after a closure of a few months. Despite a spruce up it is still a fairly basic no frills boozer with the rear area housing a pool table and dart board and with numerous screens dotted around what is quite a small single room. Live music is still advertised with regular gigs listed. There are two hand pumps, Doom Bar and Robinsons Dizzy Blonde on at the time. Nothing special but harmless and nice to see it back open.

Looks like a great pub outside and this is the best place to see it. Inside is bleak. Ale is poor.