Chester has one Wetherspoons: The Bull and Stirrup Hotel on Upper Northgate Street. It's a big, busy venue in a converted Victorian hotel building, and it does exactly what you'd expect from a Wetherspoons — cheap drinks, a long food menu, and no-frills service. Whether that's a positive or a negative depends entirely on what you're after.

Here's the full picture.

Where it is

The Bull and Stirrup sits on Upper Northgate Street, about a five-minute walk from the city centre. It's just outside the old city walls, near the Northgate roundabout. If you're coming from the station, it's a 10-minute walk straight up City Road and Northgate Street.

The building itself is worth a look — it's a former coaching inn and hotel with some decent period features that Wetherspoons has kept. High ceilings, a large open-plan bar area, and more space than most Chester pubs.

Full details on the Bull and Stirrup venue page.

Pint prices

This is what most people want to know. Here's what draught pints cost at the Bull and Stirrup right now:

Drink	Price
Murphy's	£2.99
Coors	£3.49
Mod Squirrel Sumo Hazy APA	£3.49
Greenmoor	£3.45
John Smiths	£3.65
Guinness	£3.65
Chester Aged Honey Ale	£3.65
BrewDog Punk IPA	£3.99
Doom Bar	£3.99
Carlsberg	£3.99

For context, the Chester average pint is £5.07. So the Bull and Stirrup is significantly below average, with most pints coming in at £3.49–3.99. The cheapest pint in the venue is Murphy's at £2.99.

Is it the cheapest in Chester? Close, but not quite. The Square Bottle does Doom Bar at £2.45, and The Shropshire Arms has John Smith Smooth at £2.70. But the Bull and Stirrup has the widest selection of cheap pints — if you want variety under £4, this is where to go.

See our cheapest pints ranking for the full comparison.

Food

The Wetherspoons food menu needs no introduction — it's the same nationwide menu with burgers, curries, steaks, and breakfast served all day. Prices are lower than most Chester restaurants: main meals sit in the £6–12 range, and breakfast is available from opening until midday.

The food deals rotate — check the deals page for what's currently running. Wetherspoons typically runs app-exclusive offers and weekday meal deals that can bring prices down further.

The Bull and Stirrup Hotel rooms

One thing that sets the Bull and Stirrup apart from most Chester pubs: it has hotel rooms. This comes up a lot in searches — people looking for a cheap place to stay in Chester. Wetherspoons hotel rooms are generally basic but clean, and significantly cheaper than Chester's boutique hotels and B&Bs. Booking is through the Wetherspoons app or website.

It's a practical option if you're visiting Chester for a night out and don't want to worry about getting home. The location is walkable to all the main nightlife areas.

How it compares to Chester's independent pubs

Chester has a strong independent pub scene, and the Bull and Stirrup sits in an interesting position. It's undeniably cheaper than most independents for standard lager and mainstream beers. But Chester's traditional pubs offer things Wetherspoons doesn't:

For beer quality: The Pied Bull brews on-site and serves house ales from £3.45 — only slightly more than Wetherspoons, and considerably better beer. The craft beer pubs around Northgate have rotating guest ales that you won't find in any chain.

For atmosphere: Chester's older pubs — particularly those in the medieval Rows buildings and along Watergate Street — have character that a converted hotel can't match. If you're visiting Chester for the first time, a Wetherspoons pint is the same as a Wetherspoons pint anywhere. The independents are what make Chester's pub scene distinctive.

For deals: Wetherspoons has cheap base prices, but some independents run happy hour deals and midweek offers that bring their prices close to or below Wetherspoons levels — with better beer and a more interesting venue.

For food: Wetherspoons wins on price and consistency. But Chester has some genuinely good pub food at places like The Mill at Upton and The Coach House, and the steak night deals around the city offer better value for a proper meal out.

Opening times

The Bull and Stirrup opens early and closes late — typically 8am to midnight, with the kitchen running for most of that. Weekend hours extend past midnight. Check the venue page for current opening hours.

The verdict

The Bull and Stirrup is a solid option if you want cheap drinks and straightforward food in Chester. It's not the cheapest pub in the city (that's The Square Bottle), and it's not the most interesting (Chester has too many good independents for that). But it's reliable, spacious, and significantly cheaper than the Chester average.

If you're budget-conscious, use it as a starting point before heading into the city centre for the late-night bars. If you're after character and quality, Chester's independents are worth the small premium.

Browse all Chester pub prices on the price comparison page, or check today's deals and offers to find the best value wherever you end up.