Liverpool was ranked as the third best beer crawl, but you don’t have to go far to find a worthy rival
Eastgate Street in Chester city centre
There is no question that Liverpool has dozens of incredible pubs and bars. People travel from across the UK every year to soak up our nightlife and it’s no surprise given our choice of fantastic drinking establishments that offer something for everyone.
The city recently ranked as the third best place for a pub crawl based on its average of 8.13 pubs per square mile and the average price of a pint costing punters £5, reports Cheshire Live. Now, Liverpool is great for an afternoon on the ale. Whether it’s a trip to the Georgian Quarter or a wander down Dale Street, there’s plenty of choice and most will serve a lovely pint.
But, there is another city on the list that doesn’t rank too far behind for me. Chester took fifth place in the best pub crawl top five. According to the data, put together by Betwright, the Roman city has an average of 6.66 pubs per mile and an average pint price of £4.75 – not bad.
I’ve been for a pub crawl in Chester a fair few times now and have always had a great time. Its black and white Jacobean-style buildings are the perfect setting for its many cosy, traditional style pubs. You stumble across hidden gems down its side streets and quirky bars along the way. It’s great.
It’s also easily accessible from Liverpool city centre thanks to Merseyrail. The train takes around 42 minutes from Liverpool central to Chester and they are usually every 15 minutes. This becomes every half an hour if you’re travelling after 7pm or on a Sunday.
It’s around a 15 minute walk from Chester train station to Eastgate Street which is where the famous Eastgate Clock is located. Fortunately, there’s plenty of places to stop on the way which eases the walk into town.
The Old Harkers Arms in Chester
A great stop on the walk is the Old Harkers Arms which is sat next to the canal. It’s around 13 minutes into town from the station if you fancy breaking up the walk. Its location also makes it a great place for watching the world go by as people and canal boats pass.
It has seating outside which can be covered with a canopy for whenever the British weather decides to make an appearance. It’s inside a former factory which dates back to 1864 too, so has an old-aged, ex-industrial feel.
That Beer Place is around a four minute walk from the Old Harkers Arms and is just on the edge of town. It’s a unusual spot that is both a bottle shop and tap room, stocked full of different beers, ciders, lagers and more. It serves a wide selection on tap but you can also grab a bottle from its well-stocked fridges.
That Beer Place Chester city centre
Not too far away is a stand out called the Marlborough Arms. It is tucked away off the beaten track and a proper traditional pub with a much more chilled vibe. It’s a pub that knows how to pour its Guinness, with a friendly and relaxed atmosphere every time.
Another spot is the Commonhall Street Social. Located in the heart of Chester city centre, the pub serves a vast selection of rotating craft beers. It also has Spaten on draft which is always a bonus. Visitors can tuck in to a mango chilli chicken burgers or Louisiana BBQ pork stacks from its burger menu or some of its bar bites including tapas or frickles.
Inside, it has a rustic feel with bare-brick, wooden beams, fairy lights and knick-knacks dotted around the place. It’s a lot more lively than some of the other pubs, but has always had a welcoming feel. There’s also a huge beer terrace at the back.
A little bit of a walk away from the main area of Eastgate Street is Telford’s Warehouse. It’s a bit out the way but worth the walk, in my opinion. As its name suggests, the building was originally conceived by the famous industrial engineer Thomas Telford in the 1790s. Its music history is just as fascinating with a long-list of musicians and artists performing there through the years – including Catfish and the Bottlemen, John Cooper Clarke, Robert Plant and Frank Turner.
It has a great selection of European beers, as well as a good selection of wines. It also does some tasty pub food – I’d recommend the fish and chips.
If your pub crawl is coming to an end and you’re in need of a bite to eat, I’d recommend a trip to Chester Market. It is huge and full of different independent traders selling everything from authentic Thai food to incredible pasta dishes.