The Lock Keeper

Head down to Canal Side and you'll find yourself at The Lock Keeper, where the water's as much part of the appeal as what's in your glass. It's the kind of place where locals actually outnumber tourists, which says something in Chester. The setting is genuinely lovely—you're watching the canal life unfold while nursing a pint, whether that's narrowboats puttering past or just the pleasant mess of waterside living. Inside it's unpretentious and properly pubby, the sort of spot where you can sink into an afternoon without feeling rushed.