Ye Olde Kings Head, Chester

Very dark pub which was full of tourists eating fish and chips during our visit, which meant that the pub smelled like a chippy. Looks very old, but how much of it is original is anyone's guess. Only Doom Bar available from the 4 handpumps, but surprisingly this was in good nick and was as good as this pretty ubiquitous beer gets. Next time we're in the area we'll miss this one out though.

I think I’ll side with Steve C rather than Sam Hodgkinson, you really have to be clueless to mess up keg beers like Guinness or John Smiths, clean the lines; wield a spanner; job done; it’s a skill free job. Lots of dark old wood and decorated and furnished in keeping. There’s a suit of armour in one corner, a pub pretty much aimed at the tourist market I would suggest. Six pulls, two in use with an odd and poor local beer and Doombar. Two T-bars of standard kegs. Nah.

Great pub. Very dark which adds to the charm. Staff polite. Well kept John Smiths and Guinness. Good range available.

Ye Olde Kings Head consists of a dimly lit L-shaped bar area to the left and a rectangular Tudor style booth seating area to the right, complete with Henry VIII portrait. More seating is found in the bar area where there is a fireplace, which was bedecked with fairy lights. Hopefully this is just for the summer months. There is no television, but there was some low background music playing. Available from the bar was a standard and premium keg range and I counted six hand pumps. Two of these were unused leaving Black Sheep and Sharp’s Doom Bar alongside Pennine Amber Necker and Heartland. The menu is made up of traditional pub fayre, the burger is priced at £12.95. I found the service to be polite, but I saw nothing here to make me revisit.

looks like a promising ultra old pub from outside but doesn't really live up to that which is a shame. has been knocked through completely and the real ale was an underwhelming choice of Lemon Dream and Doom Bar. still it isn't unpleasant and worth popping in for a swift half I guess.

Popped in here for a last drink of the night and ended staying for an hour or so , there was an exellent acoustic guitarist/singer playing and a pleasant atmosphere , a couple of real ales on Doombar and Beartown Kodiac , customers were the more mature type and staff quick and friendly . A pleasant suprise