West Cheshire

Basement 85

85 Watergate Street
Chester
CH1 2LF
Emailku.oc.58tnemesab@ofni Telephone(01244) 820559
Real AleWiFi
Opening times: Mon and Tue closed; Wed and Thu 16:00-23:00; Fri and Sat 12:00-01:00 next day; Sun 12:00-20:00

See more about this pub on CAMRA's national web site

Re-opened Spring 2026 and it's back as a pub after a brief stint as a seafood restaurant. An intriguing layout features a front bar as its anchor point, opening up to a larger room at the rear that leads onto further intimate seating tucked beneath a beautiful brickwork vaulted ceiling. All very tasteful

Previous iterations have included the Henry Potts and prior to that the Big Hand Alehouse but, in all guises, despite being tastefully furnished and well-operated in what is an interesting building, it's mysteriously never been a true success. Most folk point to it being the wrong side of the inner ring-road which serves as an invisible glass wall precluding crucial footfall.

Let's hope this latest incarnation finally smashes the glass wall.