Chester Nightlife & Going Out Guide
Pub Crawl Chester — The Best Routes
Chester is one of England’s best cities for a pub crawl. The medieval walled city keeps everything within easy walking distance — you can get from the Roman amphitheatre to a canalside bar without breaking a sweat. Whether you want ancient coaching inns, waterside terraces, or a Northgate Street bar crawl with live music and craft beer, Chester has a route that suits your group.
We’ve put together three curated routes covering different parts of the city. Each route is designed to work as a standalone evening out — stops are ordered as a walkable route so you can follow them in sequence. Venues marked on Out In Chester link through to their full listing, where you can check current prices and live deals before you arrive. Opening hours are shown for each stop — check before you head out, as some venues are closed on certain days.
The Classic
Northgate Street to Lower Bridge Street
The quintessential Chester pub crawl. Start at the top of Northgate Street and work south through the heart of the city — past the medieval Rows, down through The Cross, and along Lower Bridge Street to some of Chester's oldest pubs. Everything is within ten minutes' walk of everything else, so you can take your time at each stop.
57 Northgate Street
Mon: Closed · Tue–Fri: 12:00–21:00 · Sat: 11:00–21:00 · Sun: 12:00–21:00
Closed Mon
59 Northgate Street
Mon, Tue: 11:00–23:00 · Wed: 11:00–00:00 · Thu: 11:00–23:00 · Fri: 11:00–00:00 · Sat: 10:00–00:00 · Sun: 10:00–23:00
9 Eastgate Row North
Mon–Sat: 11:00–23:00 · Sun: 12:00–22:30
54 Nicholas Street
Mon–Thu: 12:00–23:00 · Fri, Sat: 12:00–23:30 · Sun: 12:00–22:30
Park Street
Mon, Tue: 12:00–15:00, 17:00–23:00 · Wed: Closed · Thu, Fri: 12:00–15:00, 17:00–23:00 · Sat: 12:00–15:00, 18:00–23:00 · Sun: Closed
Closed Wed, Sun
94 Lower Bridge Street
Mon–Sun: 12:00–23:00
The Bear & Billet is only open Friday to Sunday and The Albion is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays, so this route works best on a Friday or Saturday. Start around 6pm to catch happy hour deals at several stops.
The Waterside Wander
Canal Basin to the River Dee
Chester's canal and River Dee give this route a completely different feel from the city-centre crawl. Start at the Shropshire Union Canal basin and work east along the towpath, then cross south to the riverside strip along the Groves, where several venues have outdoor terraces right on the water. In summer this is one of the most scenic pub crawls you can do anywhere in the north of England.
Tower Wharf, Raymond Street
Mon–Thu: 12:00–23:00 · Fri, Sat: 12:00–00:00 · Sun: 12:00–23:00
Milton Street
Mon–Sun: 10:00–00:00
1 Russell Street
Mon–Fri: 10:30–23:00 · Sat: 10:00–23:00 · Sun: 10:00–22:30
21 The Groves
Mon–Sun: 10:00–23:00
Souters Lane, The Groves
Mon–Sun: 10:00–23:00
City Road
Mon–Sun: 10:00–23:45
This route has more walking between stops than the Classic — comfortable shoes are a must. All venues on this route open daily, so it works any day of the week. In summer, bag a riverside table early; they go fast.
The Northgate Quarter
Northgate Street, Watergate Street & Beyond
The Northgate area is one of Chester's liveliest districts. Start at the Wetherspoons in the Bull and Stirrup and work down Northgate Street through craft beer, live blues, and traditional pubs. The route then turns onto Watergate Street for cocktails in a medieval crypt before finishing at The Brewery Tap on Lower Bridge Street. Shorter on walking but longer on atmosphere.
8 Upper Northgate Street
Mon–Sun: 07:00–23:00
45 Northgate Street
Mon–Sat: 11:00–23:00 · Sun: 10:00–22:00
100-102 Northgate Street
Mon–Wed: 14:00–23:00 · Thu: 14:00–00:00 · Fri, Sat: 12:00–00:00 · Sun: 12:00–22:00
11-13 Watergate Street
Mon–Thu: 12:00–23:00 · Fri, Sat: 12:00–00:00 · Sun: 12:00–22:30
58 Watergate Street
Mon–Wed: Closed · Thu: 19:00–00:00 · Fri: 17:00–01:00 · Sat: 18:00–02:00 · Sun: Closed
Closed Mon, Tue, Wed, Sun
52-54 Lower Bridge Street
Mon–Sat: 12:00–23:00 · Sun: 12:00–22:00
Kuckoo is only open Thursday to Saturday (from 7pm Thu, 5pm Fri, 4pm Sat), so save this route for later in the week. Most venues here hit their stride from 9pm onwards. Check the deals page for student offers on Northgate Street.
Tips for a great Chester pub crawl
A few things that make the difference between a good night and a great one.
Start earlier than you think
Most Chester pubs do their best business from 7pm, but starting at 5:30 or 6pm lets you enjoy your first couple of venues before they fill up. You also get to take advantage of happy hour deals — check our deals page for what's running.
See current deals→Keep pace sensible
One drink per stop is the classic format. Chester's pubs are welcoming and it's easy to linger — build in 45 minutes to an hour at each venue rather than rushing through rounds.
Check opening hours
Not every Chester pub is open every day. Some venues — particularly on Lower Bridge Street and Watergate Street — are closed early in the week or only open from late afternoon. We show opening hours on each route above, but it's always worth checking the venue listing before heading out.
Eat before or during
Many Chester pubs serve decent food until 9pm. Factor in food at your third or fourth stop to keep the group going. Several venues on all three routes do proper pub food — check their listings for menus and prices.
Browse venues with food→Book transport home in advance
Chester taxis get busy after 11pm, especially on weekends. Book your return in advance or plan around the last train if you're coming in from outside the city.
Use our map
Not sure which venues are near each other? Our interactive map shows all Chester venues plotted by location, so you can build your own route around where you're staying.
Open the venue map→Pub crawl Chester — frequently asked questions
How many pubs should I include in a Chester pub crawl?
What's the best day for a pub crawl in Chester?
Is Chester good for a pub crawl?
How much does a pub crawl in Chester cost?
Ready to plan your Chester pub crawl?
Browse every pub and bar in Chester, check live prices and deals, or turn your crawl into a game of pub golf.