The Cavern of the Curious Gnome, Chester

I spent a while looking for the Cavern of the Curious Gnome during a visit to Chester at the end of last year, but the hidden location and lack of mobile network in the city meant that I had to give up my search. So this year I went fully prepared with a paper map, address and screenshot of the building frontage, but I still had trouble finding it seeing as it’s located above the Paysan wine bar that you must walk through to access the stairs that lead up to the high ceilinged and wooden floored CCG. Up the right is bench seating with tables that are faced by a toadstool lined serving counter that runs up the left-hand wall. There’s some gnomey stuff dotted around, including a giant gnome that menacingly overlooks the bar from up high. At the rear is a retro gaming table and for some reason there are barbie dolls incarcerated in a couple of cages that hang from the ceiling. The five hand pumps were drawing a decent Ossett’s White Rat, Blackjack’s Manchester Stout, Vaux Brewery’s Best, Electric Bear Brewing’s Theroux the Looking Glass and Oakham’s Citra. The keg range was mostly Belgian with a few crafty options thrown in. I thought the service was polite and I enjoyed the surroundings, although the background music was a bit niche. Worth a look.

This reminded me very much of House of the Trembling Madness in York, both in its atmosphere and vibe, and in being accessed through another business on the ground floor and a staircase to the upper floor. The Rows in Chester are not exactly like Stonegate in York, and this building is not as old, but the idea was clearly there and has been acted upon. There are plenty of Belgian beers and craft keg taps, but I had eyes only for the four hand pumps. I figured that the Big Trip offering would be hazy, confirmed by my drinking companion, and it was too early in the day for a stout from Salopian, so I narrowed the choice down to Ossett White Rat and Kirkstall Blonde, the latter being a new one for me. Unfortunately it was far too cold, but was remarkably tasty in the circumstances (NBSS 3.5, could have been a 4). This pub wouldn't wouldn't be one I'd be desperate to revisit, but on the other hand I wouldn't say no if someone suggested popping again.

Facebook page of The Cavern of the Curious Gnome - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Cavern of the Curious Gnome - www.facebook.com

A large ceiling Belgium beer and gnome theme, not the largest space and seems popular. Accessed at the back of the wine bar, itself accessed on the upper level of the shops. Nice place, if a little trendy

Not easy to find,head up the steps to the gallery level Paysan wine bar,enter then go up their stairs to the pub section set in a baronial hall type room with a very high ceiling.Bar stools are of mushroom design and the large model of the Gnome has an illuminated critique of Putin !The vibe is Belgian beer house and there is a rank of church pew benches opposite the long bar.High on the wall is the beer and ale list ,which looks permanent but maybe can be cleverly altered as bews change. Rock soundtrack but not too loud,juke box which is tempermental,candles give atmosphere and if you order a Belgium beer with a rare and expensive glass from the locked cabinet you will be asked to deposit a shoe in a wicker basket which is then hoist up to the celing to stop you doing a runner with the glass.All very Ghent ! On my trip the ale selection Was Twisted Wheel No Mikey No Chocolate Milk Stout (NBSS 4),Ossett White Rat,Chapter Taller than a House and Buxton SPA.There are 13 kegs beers,mainly Belgian and continental and a vast bottle menu of over 100,the trappist selection was not quite Bruges standard but interesting.Downstairs the Paysan wine list is also very strong. Most likely a haunt of the craft keg brigade but the ale selection was strong enough to both justify the 2023 GBG listed and lead me to conclude this is a must visit when in Chester,dont miss out.