The Brewery Tap, Chester

This is currently our favourite drinking place when visiting Chester. Up a flight of stone steps this two roomed bar is worth a visit just for viewing the interior let alone the large selection of ales available with normally one or two Spitting feathers ales plus many others from other small breweries. Ususally a very busy place we normally manage to find a spare bar stool or two at the bar after a short while as people do tend to stop for just one or two drinks before moving on if thet are not here for food. Despite it being busy the bar staff have always been freindly and prompt at serving. To date we have always had a good pint in here, and when an ale runs out, the barman soon cleans the pipes and puts a new one back on with the chalk board listing the new ale being put back up ontop of the firepalce behind the bar.

Revisited again on a freezing November weekend , a bit quieter than on my last visit (still busy) allowing me to get a better look at the place , there is a massive old fireplace behind the bar which now houses the fridges and the spirits/mixers , the beer selection reflected the cold weather with Old Wavtonian Stout , Cambrinus Lamp Oil Porter , Lymestone Stone the Crows and Conwy Welsh Pride all good winter beers along with a couple from Spitting Feathers and Westons Old Rosie Cider , theres a lively atmosphere and the locals mix happily with tourists , service was good and friendly , really like this place .

Brewery Tap page at the Chester Tourist site - www.chestertourist.com

Brewery Tap page at the Chester Tourist site - www.chestertourist.com

Official site of the Brewery Tap, contains real ale list - www.the-tap.co.uk

Official site of the Brewery Tap, contains real ale list - www.the-tap.co.uk

Recently opened pub converted from a restaurant which is now the Spitting Feathers Brewery Tap. This is a fine old building, sympathetically converted leaving most of the old stonework, ceiling timbers etc intact. It was originally Gamul House which was a Jacobean great hall, the brick façade was added in the 18th century. Has a large sign outside that says “Because life’s too short for crap beer”. It still has a small restaurant area but is now more wet trade led. It has 8 handpumps, usually serving 3 from Spitting Feathers, 4 guest ales and a real cider. I’ve never had a bad pint in here, it’s a class act all round. I wish all pub conversions/renovations were as good as this one. Well done Spitting Feathers Brewery.

Entered through a flight of steps, the exterior looks like a brick built old Victorian factory. The interior has two rooms and is like a medieval manor house, with white rendered walls, tapestries, stone fireplace and wood floor. Old pictures adorn the walls and there is a smaller ante-room for dining and although we didnt eat this time, we have in the past and enjoyed it. Beer; tap stuff, but an excellent selection of handpull beers - Spitting Feathers Thirstquencher and Old Wavertonian, Nick Stafford's Hambleton Ales Clipperty?, North Star Porter, Burton Bitter, Howards Town Brewery's Wren's Nest and Rooster's Yankee. Sadly, i failed to note what i had! Great place, a nice experience considering all the modern look laces these days, just a little pricey. Always worth a visit.