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The Old Harkers Arms, Chester
Chester
CH3 5AL
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Old Harkers Arms
Situated beside the canal, also with easy access to the main road which is only a five minute walk back to the station. The seating outside is most enjoyable overlooking the canal. Friendly and entertaining staff and regs alike. Enjoyed a very good ale from Cross Bay Brewery in Morecambe called Sunset Beer. Will defo return.
On 7th March 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Old Harkers Arms
This large canal side pub is located inside an old Victorian warehouse that was once a canal boat chandlers before being rescued from dilapidation by the Brunning and Price chain in the mid-80's. Laid out in a large L-shape, the interior is open plan with bare floorboards and exposed brickwork which has been painted white in some areas. There are large tables throughout, with a mixture of seating including some nice long pews. The right hand wall is dominated by an enormous bookcase which looks fantastic and fits in nicely with the overall look of the pub. All of the windows have potted plants on their windowsills and part of the ceiling I noticed was covered in old port bottle crates. The walls are covered in old photos, paintings, sketches, maps and letters, as well as the occasional display case, such as one displaying old Toby jugs. Amongst all this I spotted an initiation certificate for the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, dated 1914 and you could spend a great deal of time looking through all of the interesting bits on dispaly.
There was a good range of ale available, all detailed on blackboards above the servery. On my visit, the choice was from Brunning and Price Original, Slater's Top Totty, Flowers Original, Purple Moose Snowdonia Ale, Weetwood Cheshire Cat, Hornbeam Black Coral Stout, Titanic Black Ice and Ludlow Black Knight - a good mixture of styles and strengths. I tried the Snowdonia Ale and the Black Coral Stout, both of which were in excellent condition, with the latter being a particularly good drop.
I thought this place might be a bit food orientated for my liking, but in the end, we barely noticed anyone eating at all and thought it was a nice cosy spot to enjoy some excellent beer after a stroll along the canal.
On 24th February 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Oggwyn Great left this review about The Old Harkers Arms
This is a Brunning and Price pub so you know what to expect , a large open plan pub serving a decent selection of mostly local ales a bit pricier than other pubs in the area but worth it for the quality both of the beer and service , this one is no exeption and is as good as the rest of the chain , well worth a visit
On 2nd May 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 797 recommendations about 683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Old Harkers Arms
Another brick warehouse conversion, with green paintwork, on the canal, with the upper floor being a restaurant. This one has a central entrance and large windows.
The interior is open plan, L-shaped around a central bar. The decor is of red and white painted brick, with wood floor. Decoration is supplied by an eclectic mix of pictures, including; maps, cartoons, prints, photos of old Chester and other ephemera, such as a bookcase (and books - though sadly not JR Hartley's Fly Fishing). The tables, offering a nice view of the canal, had those candle things on, perhaps to help the reading should the light fail. Service was fine and the clientele mixed and it was fairly busy, as it usually is. It is expensive here, so be warned.
Beer; tap stuff, with several real ales; Harvey's Sussex Bitter, Ossett Light Ale, the fabulous Titanic Stout, Flowers Original, Old Bear Brewery's Goldilocks, Weetford's Cheshire Cat and Brunning & Price Bitter.
Not cheap, but worth it - unlike the Mill, always a good pint - go!
On 9th November 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Old Harkers Arms
Great real ale pub on the banks of the canal.Large L shaped bar with a side drinking/eating area.Up to 12 real ales on.This pub (along with The Mill Hotel) are a must for the real ale drinker.
On 20th May 2008
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]