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Detail Pages
Watergates, Chester
Chester
CH1 2LB
Pub Type
Taylor Walker (Spirit Pubs)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Watergates
Down into the depths of an ancient crypt (actually formerly storerooms for the shops above), with old arches and a brick and quarry tile floor. Sadly it’s a Greene King pub serving only their beers over the four pumps, only Abbot was on in spite of a forward facing IPA clip. To be fair there was not much wrong with the Abbot apart from low temperature and dying a slow death in the glass as it warmed, not a lot of hop flavour either of course. A definite ecclesiastical flavour to the decor, at the back it splits into two of the usual for this part of Chester, barrel vaults although there’s another vault to the side of one and there’s another off the main front section opposite the bar - that one leads to the toilets via a seating area and some brick lined passages.
On 13th November 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Watergates
Called in here on Wednesday. 4 handpumps, 2 badged and turned around and 2 unbadged. I asked why there was no real ale on, the barmaid said "We don't sell much of it". Well you won't if you don't have any will you?
On 20th August 2022
- rating: 1
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about Watergates
Greene King tourist pub similar to their chain in London, and sadly it’s just as dull as you expect despite the character of the interior. full of rowdy types on a Saturday afternoon, it really wasn’t worth bothering with. GK IPA, Speckled Hen and Old Rosie was the very poor selection on the handpumps. There are plenty of interesting independent pubs and bars in Chester, GK don’t need or deserve your custom with lazy offerings like this.
On 1st February 2020
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Watergates Bar
The split-level Watergates Bar has seating by the entrance at street level before some steps that lead down to the long bar that stretches down the left-hand wall. At the rear are a couple curved roof seating areas that I imagine were once full of wine racks and vats. A roof garden is advertised, but I did not visit. In the bar area are a couple of plasma screens that were airing muted Sky Sports News whilst some background music played. I spotted a live music advert for the weekend.
One of the four hand pumps supported by the bar was unused. This left Eastwood Ales Eastgate alongside Greene King IPA and Abbot as the cask ale options. Peroni, Amstel and a standard keg range were also available. Pub Co food is available all day until late.
I found the service to be friendly and there is a 10% CAMRA discount.
On 20th August 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5254 recommendations about 5222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Oggwyn Great left this review about Watergates Bar
We visited here twice over our Chester visit , once on Thursday evening and again on Friday afternoon , pretty quiet on Thursday evening mostly with people eating , busier on Friday Afternoon where we went on the small sunny roof terrace , the roof terrace has its own bar , open on busier times and for private functions .
Four handpulls with two from GK and two locals Cheshire Stout and Brew Brothers Gold which was fine , staff were a friendly bunch , i liked it here its OK
On 6th May 2017
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 797 recommendations about 683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Watergates Bar
A busy Taylor Walker pub in the heart of Chester's busy shopping thoroughfare. Formerly a wine cellar and part of a Medieval stone undercroft. You step down a couple of steps into the bar from street level. This part of the pub had a drinks shelf running along the front with high stools, where you can sit and watch Chester's shoppers scurrying past.
A traditional style Mahagony bar was over on the left, displaying four handpumps, with three on, offering GK IPA, Speckled Hen and London Glory. The back of the pub hosted two cellars, which were set up for dining. Through a side archway took you into the stone undercroft, which had a small and private looking seating areas.
Well worth a visit for the novelty factor alone, but gets very noisy when busy, hence the low brick ceiling height.
On 12th January 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Watergates Bar
This modern bar is in a vaulted sandstone cellar, a few steps down and then a few more from street level. It goes a surprisingly long way back, and even more surprising is the sign directing ones steps to the heated roof terrace, which I didn't have time to explore on this occasion. It was quite busy, even crowded, at the time of my Saturday lunchtime visit, mostly with day tripping shoppers eating. It was good to see a couple of hand pumps on the bar, and these were serving beers from Weetwood, a previously unheard of brewery just a few miles away. Beers available were Oasthouse Gold and the temptingly named (to a Luton Town fan, anyway) Mad Hatter. This proved to be an unremarkable session ale that was good without being earth-shattering. With the core business here being food, it's not really one for beer drinkers to make a special point of visiting, but certainly worth popping in for the odd half or two if passing.
On 18th November 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3746 recommendations about 3483 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about Watergates Bar
Set in some crypt like place. Decent enough though dark. Has a roof terrace.
On 22nd March 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]