The Brewery Tap, Chester

There were eight ales on in here. I didn’t bother listing them all, but I hadn’t seen any of them before. The pint of Gadd’s No5 that I had was in great shape. Food is available in the evenings, and is somewhere between gastro and pub grub. I had some shepherd’s pie (£9.95) - the sausage& mash (with “local award-winning pork & apple sausages”) was £9.50, and “gurnard fillets, cherry tomatoes and spring onions was £9.95. There were no burgers though. This place is a bit like having a drink in a chapel, with its massively high vaulted ceiling and cross shaped light fittings high up on the walls. In fact it's sited in Gamul House, a late 17th Century building. It's a bit of a museum piece. There are bits of what are clearly ancient bits of wood around the place, including a really old door by the toilets protected by clear plastic screening. There's also a massive old sandstone fireplace behind the servery, which is clearly a modern addition. It's also the brewery tap for the Spitting Feathers brewery (the clue's in the name), although brewing doesn't actually take place on the premises, and when I was in only one of their ales was available. There were two or three largish groups having a great time on the Thursday evening I visited, making the main room very noisy - aided by the hard furnishings and high ceiling - even though there were no TVs on or music playing. A smaller room on the right looked a bit more peaceful. Nonetheless, this is a "must include" on any Chester crawl.

This place is really quite something. I noticed it the day on our walk about but was not expecting the magnificence of the place on investigation on the night. Who would not want to drink in a former Medieval Dining Room, when only ordinary pubs are available ;-) Enter via some stone steps and get taken away by the high vaulted ceiling, exposed beams and the bar that is literary built in a monster fireplace. With the tapestries on the wall, its not hard to think you are in a former time. And the beers match the opulent surrounding. A choice of around 8 real ales and ciders - some from their own brewery. The staff are helpful and pointed to something they thought I would like, based on my preference. The clientele were a bit rowdy, including some staggeringly drunk parties. But then again, it was Saturday night three weeks before XMAS. A real gem of a place. Recommended and best we found in Chester.

Always good for a visit when on a crawl of Chester, and we enjoyed a couple of their guest beers this time, Copper Dragon Fire Dancer and Happy Valley Tie the Knot.

Nothings changed since my last visit , still a great place for a drink , did seem a little less busy than i remember .