Chester:
Victorian town-centre boozer. Pleasant staff, traditional (pubco) interior, decent cask ale, standard Stonegate pubco menu, decent enough beer garden (plastic grass, but otherwise fine). Near to be bus station.
Tag Archives: wirral2023
Watergates Bar (The Old Crypt)
Chester:
Well, it was World Goth Day, so a pub situated in The Old Crypt seemed appropriate. It was a bit of a disappointment that it was Greene King, but as it was I was drinking lager.
The crypt has seen various uses, including a morgue. On a bright sunny day it was cool, dark, and atmospheric inside, but there’s a rooftop bar if you wanted sun.
We’d been in the nearby Victoria, but the staff there couldn’t be arsed serving us, so we went in here and found friendly staff, decent food, and great service.
The Oddfellows Arms
Chester:
Traditional-looking pub, close to the bus station. No cask, so it was Moretti. Felt like it was going to be nice, turned out only average, but we did find a nice sunny spot in the beer garden.
Elephant Lounge
Parkgate, Chesire:
Describes itself as a bar/coffee lounge, but most of the time, this seemed to meet the description of pub, and it’s in Whatpub. It’s a modern craft bar, with the stripped-back polished concrete, some rough-sawn wood, and exposed cable tray. It’s part of a small local chain, Elephant Collective.
No cask, but interesting keg including Kirin, which I’ve not seen on draught before in the UK.
This was Parkgate’s place for the youth, but we found it OK in late afternoon.
The Boathouse
Parkside, Wirral:
A 1926 cafe that became a pub, though there was a pub here previously, t the opposite end to The Old Quay.
A Hydes pub, this pub is multi-area- there’s no actual doors but there’s clearly defined areas- with the conservatory at the back being very much dining focused. There’s a load of outside space too, which made a great place to sit on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
Decent beer, and decent staff, though the one chap (the manager?) seemed a bit full-on, shall we say. Great food, too- a step above average pub food.
The West Kirby Tap
West Kirby, Wirral:
One of two brewery taps for Spitting Feathers Brewery, the other being in Chester. It’s existed since 2014. Inside is a bit industrial feeling- I’m not sure what it was before (well, before it was another bar called Red Door)- but it’s pleasant and spacious. Great beer, pleasant staff, and there’s food at times, but sadly not when we were there. There’s some outside space out the front, but we sat inside, near to the wide-opening doors.
The White Lion Inn
West Kirby, Wirral:
Lovely traditional pub near the town centre: traditional inside, good seating out front and a beer garden at the back, great beer, great staff, and usually there’s food, but not when we visited.
The Old Quay
Parkgate, Chesire:
A Stonehouse family feedbag pub at the far end of Parkgate village.
The building is sadly a bit tatty, with peeling paint, broken roof tiles, and odd bits of paper in some windows, but there’s loads of potential if someone invested: inside is standard pubco feedbag with a carvery and the usual fare, and the usual suspects beer-wise: outside has a big terrace for the sun and the views, Staff were pleasant, but it could do better.
The Red Lion
Parkgate, Chesire:
Our holiday local: the first pub we came to in Parkgate, and a fabulous pub.
Welcoming staff, great beer- keg, craft, and cask. Inside has modern touches but original features, opened out, but logically separate areas. Beer garden, and seating at the front with a view of the Dee estuary. There’s food too, but only from lunch to early evening/late afternoon. At busier times the staff will ask you if you want another drink, and bring it (and a card machine) to you.
The pub gets busy, as it’s in prime position, but service is great and prices reasonable.