In a paragraph
Basement 85 is a drinks-led cellar bar on lower Watergate Street, serving beer, cider, wine and sharing boards alongside changing pop-up kitchens.
What it's like
Basement 85 reopened in spring 2026 with drinks at the centre of the offer. The owners foreground beer, cider and wine, while food comes through boards, a current menu and changing pop-up kitchens.
Drinks-led cellar near the Roodee
Daily service is walk-in, but race-day brunches and the Middle Room need planning. The cellar is the attraction and the limitation: it feels contained and separate from the street, with no step-free route.
Worth knowing
The cellar creates the atmosphere and rules out step-free access. Current food and event details change, and older reviews at this address describe previous businesses, so use the live venue pages.
The essentialsVisit
Getting there
0.2 miles from The Cross.
Hours
Closed Monday-Tuesday; Wednesday 16:00-23:00; Friday-Saturday 12:00-01:00; Sunday 12:00-20:00. Official pages currently conflict on whether Thursday starts at 12:00 or 16:00, so check direct.
Food & drink
Sharing boards and a current food menu, with pop-up kitchens and race-day brunch on selected dates. Check what is running before travelling specifically to eat.
Access
Basement venue in a listed building, with stepped access and no step-free route or disabled facilities on site.
9.2 OpenStreetMap - Hours
- Closed Monday-Tuesday; Wednesday 16:00-23:00; Friday-Saturday 12:00-01:00; Sunday 12:00-20:00. Official pages currently conflict on whether Thursday starts at 12:00 or 16:00, so check direct.
- Address
- 85 Watergate St, Chester CH1 2LF
- Booking
- No for normal daily service. Book or enquire for race-day brunch, larger groups, the Middle Room and events.
- Pay
- cards, contactless
- Dogs
- Dogs are listed as welcome.
- Access
- Basement venue in a listed building, with stepped access and no step-free route or disabled facilities on site.
- Getting there
- 0.2 miles from The Cross.
Nearby plan
Nearby pubs and bars
Nearby food
Nearby attractions
- Chester Racecourse
- Chester City Walls
- The Rows
- Watergate Street
FAQ
Does Basement 85 do food?
Yes. There are sharing boards and a current menu, plus pop-up kitchens and race-day brunch on selected dates.
Do you need to book?
Not for normal daily service. Book or enquire direct for race-day brunch, larger groups, the Middle Room and events.
Is Basement 85 dog-friendly?
Yes in the bar area for dry, clean, well-behaved dogs. The venue says not to bring dogs for dining bookings.
Is Basement 85 accessible?
No step-free route is listed. It is a basement venue in a listed building with stepped access and no disabled facilities on site.
Is Basement 85 good for children?
In the day, yes with adults. Later at night, and around busy race-day sessions, it is less of a children-friendly plan.
