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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
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Detail Pages
The Pied Bull, Chester
Chester
CH1 2HQ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Pied Bull
Another Chester pub that we haven't been to before, and a brewpub with 2 of their beers available, one had just gone. Also guests from Waen, Magpie and Adnams. We enjoyed Pied Bull Black Bull Porter and Waen Growling Copper. Also in the 2015 Good Beer Guide.
On 9th November 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Pied Bull
On one of the main streets inside Chester’s city walls is The Pied Bull, which, according to a sandwich board on the pavement outside is an “award winning CAMRA pub”.
By the entrance, we learn that The Pied Bull is Chester’s oldest existing coaching inn, established in 1473 and was formerly known as The Bull Inn and Delta Hotel. The ubiquitous blue circular plaque tells us that it was refronted in the 18th century when it became an important coaching inn. The refronting extends to the far side of the pavement, so you actually walk under an archway straddling the pavement before you reach the entrance.
Inside, we find a traditional and reasonably characterful interior with much wood panelling and shiny dark polished beams and which, according to the inn’s own leaflet “reflects its distinctive heritage”. It’s carpeted throughout and music free. There’s a clear emphasis on catering for the numerous visitors to this historic city with, in addition to a dedicated dining area where tables for four are laid out with place mats, most other tables having condiments and menus on the tables. Seating is largely of the normal spindle backed chair variety that one expects to find in an inn of this style. There is little of specific note apart from an old fireplace above which we see a pair of bulls horns and an old framed tapestry, about which, somewhat disappointingly, no details are provided.
Accommodation is offered – double room £ 80 – and they open at 7am for breakfast for non residents.
Somewhat surprisingly, as it just doesn’t feel like that type of place, The Pied Bull is home to a microbrewery and, on the back of the wine list, we learn that their one barrel brewery was installed in their cellar in April 2011. Tasting notes are provided for 5 of their beers – described, as appears to be the vogue nowadays as “Craft Brewed Ales”. These are Pied Eyed, Black Bull, Bulls Hit, Matador and Sensibull. .A beer festival was being advertised for 4-7 October 2012 with beer suggestions being invited.
There’s 6 handpumps which, on my recent late September lunchtime visit were offering Salopian Oracle, Adnams Broadside, Hard Knott Cool Fusion, Titanic Pier 54 plus 2 Pied Bull beers – Bulls Hit and Red Bull ( 5.5% - not described on the drinks menu ) The Buls Hit was an excellent tasty pint, but, at £ 3.20p, somewhat overpriced in my opinion for a beer that had just come up from a downstairs cellar. The pub is listed in the 2012 CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
This is a pub definitely worth seeking out when in Chester, but I would suspect that diners can dominate at peak meal times so, unless you’re popping in for food, you might want to time your visit accordingly
On 2nd November 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Pied Bull
Defo worth a visit, as I found their choice of beers excellent. The barman on the day Jake, was friendly and helpful and took interest in what he is doing. I went for their Bulls Hit, which I thought was excellent.
On 4th March 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Pied Bull
Whether its claim to be "Chester's oldest coaching inn" is true or not, the Pied Bull is certainly a historic inn of considerable interest. Traditional furniture and decor as you would expect, and it still offers accommodation. Excellent range of beer from six handpumps, including Adnams Broadside, Oakham Inferno, Moorhouse's Black Cat, Venus Gold from Project Venus, Off Beat Quirky Kiwi and Bull's Hit from the in-house micro-brewery (£3.10).
On 1st March 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Pied Bull
Located roughly halfway between the Northgate and the Town Hall/ Cathedral, the Pied Bull is a former coaching inn, which claims to be the oldest continuously licensed premises in Chester. It boasts a wonderful dark oak beamed interior with nice wood panelling and a grand fireplace which had a lit stove in it on our visit. There is a decent sized seating area at the front of the room including some nice bench seating under the front windows, before the pub narrows as it passes the bar and then opens out again at the rear, with a partitioned off section in the middle. There are a couple of TV screens and slot machines which look a bit out of place, but the TV was off and the machines quiet during our stay. They still do accommodation and the reception can be found to the rear of the pub, with the rooms upstairs via a nice old staircase. Unsurprisingly, the pub is reputed to be haunted in both the hotel and the cellar.
We popped in for a bite to eat and to try some of the pub's own ale, which it brews on site and claims to be the only brewery within Chester's city walls. The food we tried was very good and the portion sizes seemed generous for the price. Unfortunately there were no Pied Bull beers available during our stay, so I had to choose from Adnam's Broadside (later replaced by Phoenix Hopsack), Red Willow Relentless, Sandstone Obsidian and Monty's Midnight Stout. I gave the Relentless a try and thought it was fantastic - probably the best beer I found in Chester - which made up for any initial disappointment. The barman, who also acted as waiter and hotel receptionist, did a fine job of getting a new beer on and serving all his customers in an efficient and very friendly manner.
This is a pub full of character and history with good food, excellent beer and friendly and helpful staff. I would most certainly put this place down for a re-visit when next in town and would suggest it is a must-do pub that will appeal to most visitors.
On 24th February 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Pied Bull
Currently Chesters newest brew pub, but not for long as the Canalside is also due to start up. Fine old pub with a multi roomed layout, quite food led normally, but on our visit they had a beer festival on with 10 extra handpumps on a stillage borrowed from Marble Brewery alongside the 6 on the bar. The pub is an old wooden beams type of place with lots of dining tables and chairs. Several of these had been moved to accomodate the extra beers. There's a one barrel brewery in the cellar which the landlord/barman Luke was good enough to take me round. We had several beers in here on Sunday night. Pied Bull Black Bull, Red Willow Feckless, Burscough Mug Billy & Marble Stout were all tried. All were in excellent condition. Friendly bar staff and regulars made for a very pleasant couple of hours. We'll be back next time we're in Chester.
On 8th November 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3223 recommendations about 3134 pubs]
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I L left this review about The Pied Bull
Superb old coaching in with plenty of original looking timber Walls and beams inside. There is a fireplace filled with wood but doesn't look like it actually gets used as two large air con units spoil the ceiling. However the range of 6 ales on the more modern looking timber bar make this a very worthwhile pub to visit ( if real ale is your favourite drink). at time of our visit there were two Station House ales, two Hornbeam ales including a stout, adnams Broadside, Brewdog Punk IPA and their own house ale. well worth a visit up Northgate Street to this pub.
On 28th December 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 287 recommendations about 284 pubs]
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Oggwyn Great left this review about The Pied Bull
Another good looking pub , inside its open plan though it doesnt feel like it , very food led but drinkers are well catered for with 6 real ales , Salopian Darwins Origin , Titanic English Glory , Warickshire Duck Soup , Adnams Broadside , Pied Bull Pye Eyed plus a Mild and Westons Organic Cider . It was busy on my visit but service was very good as was the beer (Pye Eyed and Duck Soup) well worth a visit
On 2nd May 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 797 recommendations about 683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Pied Bull
Another pub, like the Red Lion, which is set back behind a wonderful stone and brick facade.
Again, an open plan place, with white artex, beam and wood panel decor. There are wood carved seats, toby jugs and other traditional ornaments. There was Sky TV. Service was fine, though it was quieter.
Beer, usual tappy stuff, with Spitting Feathers' Basket Case and Honey Trap, Bombardier, Adnams Broadside and Sandstone Buxom Barmaid and Leeds Brewery Midnight Bell. All were fine (except Bombardier and Broadside, which i didnt try)
I love this pub, i always visit here when in Chester.
On 29th October 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
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Dale Miles left this review about The Pied Bull
Not exactly the nicest place in chester city centre, took an age to get served and the bar person never cracked a smile, I will give this place a wide berth next time I visit chester.
On 20th May 2008
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 184 recommendations about 182 pubs]