Pool, Darts & Games in Chester
Pool, Darts & Games in Chester — Where to Play
Chester has more places to play than most people realise, and they fall into two very different groups. There are the pubs where a pool table sits in the back room and a frame costs a pound — the sort of place that has had the same table for fifteen years and a chalkboard for the winner-stays-on queue. Then there are the purpose-built venues, where the games are the reason you booked rather than something you found once you got there. Both are on this page, because which one you want depends entirely on whether you are filling an hour or planning a night.
The money is worth paying attention to. A frame of pool in a Chester pub is usually a pound or two in the table, and plenty of venues run a free pool night midweek to bring people in on the quiet evenings — Sunday and Monday most often, occasionally Tuesday. The purpose-built venues charge by the hour or by the lane instead, which works out better for a group and worse for two people killing time. If a venue on this page runs a deal on its tables, it will show on our deals page under Activities alongside the drinks and food offers.
Worth knowing before you go: table availability is the thing nobody publishes and everybody wants. Pool tables in pubs are first-come on a coin-and-queue basis and can be tied up all evening on league nights, which run September to April in most Chester venues. The bookable venues want you to book, particularly at weekends. If you are making a specific trip for a specific game, phoning ahead is still the only reliable way to find out — and if a venue has told us their table prices or their league nights, we list them.
Venues
32 venuesThe Bear's Paw
Community sports pub in Newton with open-plan layout and warm atmosphere. Seven large TV screens, Target Darts with auto scoring, pool table. Weekly pub quiz, occasional live entertainment. Burgers, nachos, hot dogs. Designated Asset of Community Value. 10-minute walk from Bache station.
Bonobo Bar & Canteen
Stylish cocktail bar and canteen on St John Street. Known for creative cocktails, sharing plates, and a lively weekend atmosphere with DJs. One of Chester's most popular late-night spots.
The Bridge Inn
Well-reviewed pub on Tarvin Road in Boughton. Known for friendly staff and great food. Traditional pub atmosphere with a warm welcome.
The Carlton Tavern
The Carlton Tavern is a community pub in Handbridge that shows Sky Sports and BT Sport.
The Centurion
Community-run pub and the only licensed venue in Vicars Cross. Cask ales from local brewers, 5 screens with Sky and BT Sports, quiz nights, live music. Function space for events. Food served Mon, Fri, Sat, and Sun.
Chaukees
Pool and snooker club off the Fountains roundabout on Victoria Road. Twenty-six English pool tables, a Chinese 8-ball table, and five snooker tables including a heated Star match table and two Burroughs & Watts. Thirty professional darts lanes, two projectors and twenty-six big screens for live sport, a full bar, and live DJs and singers at weekends.
The Chichester Arms
Traditional red-brick backstreet pub on Garden Lane near the University of Chester. Pool table, beer garden, quiz nights on Wednesdays, open mic on Mondays, and karaoke nights. No food, not dog friendly.
The Coach House
Historic 19th-century coaching inn on Northgate Street. Award-winning restaurant, bar, and boutique hotel. Extensive drinks menu, food served daily, Sunday roasts, and race day brunches. The Heart of Chester since 2006.
The Cross Foxes
Mock-Tudor fronted lively sports bar on Boughton. Pool tables, darts, beer garden. Dog friendly in the garden. Wide variety of drinks and exciting offers.
The Cross Keys
A small single-roomed Victorian gem with stained glass windows, leather seating, and oak floors. A Joule's Brewery taphouse serving Pale Ale, Slumbering Monk, Pure Blonde, and Green Monkey lager, plus rotating seasonals. Real fire, slim raised beer terrace, and a function room called The Slaughtered Lamb.
The Dublin Packet
Traditional pub on Northgate Street overlooking Town Hall Square. Named after the packet boats that sailed to Ireland from Chester's old docks. Everton legend Dixie Dean was once landlord. Freshly cooked pizzas, pool, darts, and live sports on Sky and TNT Sports. Now operated by Nest Pubs.
The Faulkner Arms
Charming gastro pub in the heart of Hoole. Locally sourced food with small plates, classics, pizzas, and Sunday roasts. Cocktail menu. Pub quiz nights. Tuesday pizza specials. Indian Night menu available.
The Grosvenor Arms
Traditional red-brick local in Handbridge. Two cask beers, pool table, darts, sports TV. Straightforward honest pub with a loyal local crowd.
The Leopard
The Little Oak
Good value community pub on Boughton with a rambling interior from a quieter snug area to an opened-out darts floor. Sports TV, outdoor seating. Traditional atmosphere with character.
Little Owl
Family-friendly pub near Gawer Park serving varied menu of pub classics, with a beer garden, children's play area, and dog-friendly bar area. Open daily 11am-11pm with food service 11:30am-9pm.
The Lock Keeper
Canalside pub on Frodsham Street with the largest outdoor area in the city centre, including a raised deck overlooking the canal. Pizzas, burgers, grills, and pub classics. Cocktails, real ales, and artisan beers. Live music, Sky and TNT Sports, pub quiz, and dog friendly. Food served Mon-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 11am-6pm. Cannot cater for dietary needs.
The Lock Vaults
The Mount Inn
Hydes Brewery pub in the attractive suburb of Boughton with amazing tiered garden views over the River Dee. Cask ales, dog friendly, sports TV. A proper local with great outdoor space.
Number Fifteen
Popular bar on Foregate Street, a firm favourite with racegoers, locals, and tourists. Homemade pies and soups, live music and events. Lively atmosphere.
The Oddfellows Arms
Traditional pub on Frodsham Street near the bus station. Part of Craft Union Pubs (Stonegate Group). Timbered interior with stained-glass windows and stone-flagged floor. Karaoke nights, cask ales, garden and smoking area. Dog-friendly with regular drinks promotions including Pick N Mix shots and daily value deals.
The Old Dukes
Independently owned two-floor American-style sports bar on Bell Tower Walk. Multiple large-screen TVs showing NFL, football and rugby, two full-size shuffleboards, pool tables, and board games. Burgers, dirty fries, wings, craft beers and cocktails.
The Old Queens Head
A Craft Union community pub on Foregate Street with late-night opening, sports screens, pool tables, and regular entertainment. One of Chester's go-to spots for watching live sport and staying out late.
The Peacock
Welcoming family and dog-friendly pub on Christleton Road. Known for good food, great drinks, and a friendly local atmosphere. Full range of beers, wines, spirits, and soft drinks.
The Piper
Large family-friendly pub on Pipers Lane, Hoole. Huge menu of pub classics, burgers, grill, chef specials, and Sunday roasts. Food served Mon-Sat 12-8pm, Sun 12-7pm. Lunch deals and Monday two-for-one classics.
Popcorn Bar
Retro-themed cocktail bar with creative drinks, bottled beers, and shots. Features The Gold Room - Chester's only private karaoke room with its own bar and bartender. Live sports daily, pub quiz Thursdays, free pool Sundays, student discount Sun-Thu.
Riley's
National pool and snooker chain in the city centre. Pool tables, snooker tables, darts, and big screens for live sport. Full bar and food served all day. Bookable online.
Rooftop Social Club
Chester's only rooftop bar on the 8th and 9th floors of Pepper Street car park. Features a retractable all-weather roof, heated cabanas, street food traders, cocktails and craft beer, plus games including shuffleboard and beer pong.
The Royal Oak
Friendly traditional Marston's pub on Faulkner Street with sunny beer garden, heaters and covered areas. Sports TV, darts, cask ales, dog friendly, free WiFi. Great for matchdays.
The Saddle Inn
Chester's home of rock, established 2017. Live music venue with live bands Saturday, open mic Wednesday, karaoke Friday, acoustic Sundays. Hungarian chef specials, full food menu 11-9pm, late bites 9pm-midnight. Rock-themed cocktails, 4-for-£10 shots, bar bites 3-for-£15. 9 rock themed rooms, G21 venue for hire, band rehearsal room. TNT Sports, dog friendly, free pool Mondays.
Stanley Arms
The Stanley Arms is a traditional British pub offering a relaxed atmosphere with classic pub food including pies, burgers, and fish and chips, plus beer and drinks. The venue welcomes both locals and tourists and is located on Brook Street in Chester's city centre.
The Waggon and Horses
The only remaining pub in Blacon. Marston's family-friendly pub with beer garden (heaters, bar, covered area, TV screens), play area, pool, darts, sports TV, free WiFi. Dog friendly.
More Chester Guides
Explore more of Chester's eating, drinking and going-out scene.
Late Night Bars
Bars and clubs open after midnight
Beer Gardens
Outdoor drinking spots and terraces
Brunch
Weekend brunch and bottomless brunch
Bottomless Brunch
Unlimited prosecco and cocktail brunch packages
Dog Friendly Pubs
Pubs and bars that welcome dogs
Craft Beer
Real ale pubs and craft beer bars
Live Music
Gigs, open mics and live bands
Sports Bars
Watch live football, rugby and more
Chester Nightlife Guide
The complete guide to nights out in Chester
Today's Deals
Happy hours, meal deals and daily specials
Price Comparison
Compare pint prices, cocktails and food across Chester
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I play pool in Chester?
Chester has both traditional pubs with a pool table in the back room and larger dedicated venues with multiple tables. The venues listed on this page have been tagged by the Out In Chester team as having pool, snooker, darts or other games. Pub tables are usually coin-operated and first-come; dedicated clubs and competitive-socialising venues generally take bookings and charge by the hour, which is worth doing at weekends.
Is there free pool anywhere in Chester?
Yes — several Chester venues run a free pool night, most often on a quieter weekday like Sunday or Monday, as a way of bringing people in midweek. These come and go, so rather than list them here where they would go stale, any free pool night a venue has confirmed to us appears on our deals page under the Activities filter, on the day it actually runs.
How much does a game of pool cost in Chester?
In a pub with a coin-operated table, expect £1 to £2 a frame. Venues with dedicated pool and snooker rooms usually charge by the hour per table instead, which splits better across a group of four than it does between two people. Snooker tables generally cost more per hour than pool tables. Where a venue has given us its table prices we show them on that venue's page.
Which Chester venues have darts?
Traditional pubs across Chester and its suburbs have dartboards, and several run league teams through the winter season. A handful of newer venues have interactive or electronic darts lanes, which are bookable and score automatically — a different proposition from a board in the corner, and better suited to a group who have never played. Both types are tagged on this page.
Are there bowling or mini golf venues in Chester?
Chester has competitive-socialising venues offering duckpin bowling, interactive mini golf, shuffleboard and similar games alongside a full bar and food menu. They are built for groups and generally want a booking, especially on Friday and Saturday. They also tend to run package deals combining a game with food or drinks, which appear on our deals page under Activities.
Can I play pool in Chester on a Sunday?
Sunday is one of the more likely nights for a free or discounted pool offer in Chester, precisely because it is quiet. Pub opening hours are shorter on Sundays though, so check the venue's page for its Sunday times before setting out. Any Sunday games deal we have confirmed will show on the deals page when you select Sunday.
Run a Chester venue with pool tables, darts or games we haven't listed? Get in touch at hello@outinchester.com — listing is free.