The Pied Bull

You'll spot the wonky timber framing from halfway down Northgate Street, but nothing quite prepares you for stepping inside what feels like Chester's most authentic pub experience. The low ceilings and creaking floorboards tell stories of centuries past, whilst the carefully curated selection of local and regional ales keeps things firmly rooted in the present. The kitchen takes traditional pub grub seriously without any unnecessary faffing about - think proper pies, decent fish and chips, and Sunday roasts that actually justify the queue. It's the sort of place where you pop in for a quick pint and somehow end up staying for three hours, deep in conversation with the regular at the next table who's been drinking here since the 1980s.