Pubs In Chester City Centre No Longer With Us

I was out recently with a good friend of mine and we had a real good catch up. As you do. Various topics covered during our chat. The usual stuff when two “old muckers” get together. One of the topics (no surprise really) was pubs related. Not only current pubs, but we had a good reminisce talking about pubs in Chester city centre no longer with us.

I’m not talking about those pubs in Chester city centre that have undertaken upgrades and/or name changes. No, I mean those that are no longer with us. I’m sure I’ll leave a load of pubs out from generations before my time, so if you can think of any I’ve missed, then drop me a line.

Or, as my posts are just a small offering of my own experiences, you can see more definitive, fully comprehensive details of pubs galore from as far back as when Nelson had two eyes it would seem, on this hugely informative Chester website, Chester Walls. Some great information on there.

Pubs In Chester City Centre No Longer With Us

In no particular order, or in my particular geographical sequence, here are the pubs in Chester city centre that I know of that are no longer with us. Actually, I’ve just thought and to clarify, it’s not just pubs – it includes wine bars as well. The reason I stipulate that is because we had a good old recollection of a wine bar that is no longer with us. Who remembers Pierre Griffe’s in Mercia Square?

Hands up, how many reading this have just said “Mercia Where?”

Those of us of a certain age remember it only too well. Pierre Griffe’s (aka P.G’s) was tucked in the corner of Mercia Square, about 50 yards or so from where the Bell Tower is now.

Pubs in Chester city centre no longer with us. Credit to www.chesterwalls.info for the photo.

What a great popular bar that was. I must admit as a beer drinker, I didn’t go to P.G’s maybe as much as other places because they did not sell beer. Only wine. However, having said that, it was always on the Friday and Saturday night route. Mercia Square itself was always a very lively location and was a brilliant meeting place.

Dukes Wine Bar and The Pump Room

If you wanted a beer instead of a wine you could also go across the Square to Dukes or The Pump Room. I didn’t really go to Duke’s that much, but The Pump Room was a regular stopping off point. One of the main recollections I had of The Pump Room was the revolving door entrance from the Square. Too many sherbets and you could find yourself in a perpetual spin trying to get a pint of bitter.

When the weather was nice revellers from all three bars used to congregate in the Square. Great days, great bars. It was a sad day indeed when Mercia Square was demolished in 1990 – a mere 20 years after it was built. Comparing today with then, I’m not sure why it was demolished when you consider how popular the whole Square was (shops as well as bars).

I would guess that PG’s was in its pomp all through the 80’s.

Anyway, there it was, or there they were….now a gonna!!!

What other pubs in Chester city centre are no longer with us?

You didn’t have to go too far from Mercia Square to find your way to The Kings Arms Kitchen. If you stepped off Mercia Square onto The Walls, turned left and dropped down the steps about 50 yards away onto Eastgate Street you would find The Kings Arms Kitchen. Sadly it was a pub I never went in to. As it closed in 1978 I wasn’t long out of short pants so to speak so that is probably the reason why. I believe it was a very popular pub for real ale beer drinkers. And that some regulars frowned upon those “soft drink” patrons who’s tipple was lager – or dare I say, even worse, wines or spirits!!! Shock….disgrace!!

Did you know though that you can still see the layout of the pub with all its fittings and wood paneling etc as they are now located in Chester Museum.

Talking Of Strange Drinks….

Yes indeed, talking of strange drinks, what about the Royal Oak. To be fair, Toby Light isn’t (and wasn’t) a strange drink back in the 80’s. It’s just that it was quite rare back in those days. There weren’t that many pubs that sold it. The Royal Oak on Foregate Street was one however. Where exactly was the Royal Oak? Any health food aficionado’s who visit Holland & Barrett and just take a look above the entrance will see the Royal Oak’s pub sign.

It closed sometime in the 80’s to become Dixon’s, then Curry’s, Waitrose and now Holland and Barrett.

Talking of drinks no longer with us, and not only those served in the Royal Oak, what about drinks like Wrexham Lager; Skol; Caffreys; Beamish and Beamish Red, to name just a few. Did anyone else drink Mild? Or a pint of Brown over Bitter?

And how about the ladies? Do any of you still drink Dry Martini and Lemonade. How cool were those Leonard Rossiter and Joan Collins, Cinzano Martini adverts from back in the 70’s. Or was it the 80’s….or both? 

If you would like a reminder or would like to see them for the first time, have a look at these classics…..

Time to take a big sigh as I remember these well established watering holes. And drinks.

Anyway, I’ve still a fair few more pubs (and drinks) to bang on about, so I’m thinking I’ll also make this article a Part One and a Part Two post.

On that note….watch this space….”Pubs In Chester City Centre No Longer With Us – Part II” coming soon. I bet you can’t wait!! 

Chester Lifestyle

I hope you like my Chester Lifestyle website. It’s a pleasure to write stuff about our beautiful city. If you would like more information about the website and Chester in general, have a look at this link HERE.

Things To Do In Chester

Chester is such an historic city, there’s plenty of things to do in – including visiting some of the many pubs in Chester city centre. Here’s a link for some ideas of things to do in Chester HERE.

And going off on a complete tangent and as this is Chester related website. Here’s the “help support a local small business” section. 

As This Is A Chester Related Website

As this is a Chester related website, you may be looking for the ideal Chester related gift for your loved ones. If so, then have a look at my Chester section of my new Etsy store. You can find out more about my Etsy store HERE.

Plenty of originally created downloadable digital artwork for you to have a look at HERE. And, as I say, a variety of Chester related products to choose from. Like this artwork image of Chester Bandstand in The Groves: