Brewhouse & Kitchen, Chester

Official site of Brewhouse & Kitchen - www.brewhouseandkitchen.com

Warm Hearth Ltd, trading as Brewhouse and Kitchen, has bought The Forest House, Love Street, which was put on the market last November.

Directly behind the other Wethers and the better one. The main part, and where the servery is, is up a few steps, though there is a lift for wheelchair users. A slightly below street level area is to your left on entering. The main room has areas to sit to the left and right side of the bar plus some raised areas. Not as much choice real ale wise as the other Wethers though. I don't mind this place but its not an immediate destination when in Chester.

This is one of the JDWs announced as being up for sale last November. I could see no evidence of the sale on my visit. I assume the reason for it is because the company have plans to open the old Higson's place the Bull and Stirrup as one of their hotels. This is a shame as it's a good JDW especially considering it's a Lloyds No 1. I opted for the upstairs bar rather than the cellar. This has a wooden floor and the largest lampshade I've ever seen at the entrance. The lighting rig to the right gives a clue of the hell that gets unleashed later on Friday and Saturday nights. There is a bank of four hand pumps in this bar with two to the right almost hidden selling the two GK beers. There were four decent ales on Purple Moose Dark Side Of The Moose, Adnam's Redpoint Tai Pale Ale, Stockport Stock Porter and Kelham Island Get Your Kicks. I went for the Kelham Island beer (£2.59) which I liked so much I stayed for more as I only had a limited time in Chester. This place is miles better than their outlet round the corner but obviously not when the DJ turns up.

Situated in the splendid looking Georgian House, which was built in 1759. The pub consists of a cellar bar and raised ground floor mezzanine. After a short flight up an internal staircase and through a large set of double doors you enter the main bar area facing you. Six ales on handpump, so opted for the Phoenix Wobbly Bob. I particularly liked the two rooms on the left from the bar, with their original features.

Still a decent enough JDW , very busy on Saturday afternoon , but service was quick , tried a couple of festival ales Ramsey Village Elder and Henrys Young Henry both decent beers . There are now 8 handpulls on the bar with the four at the front for the festival ales and the usual Abbott and Ruddles on a second set of four at the other end of the bar .