What's on at Bear & Billet
Live music
Raven Folk Club
Sun 9 Aug · 20:30
Bear and Billet
The Raven Folk Club’s regular Sunday night at the Bear and Billet.
In a paragraph
Bear & Billet occupies a black-and-white town house built in 1664 on Lower Bridge Street. It is a working pub spread over several old rooms and floors, not a preserved heritage interior with a bar added for visitors.
What it's like
The frontage gets photographed, but the useful detail is what happens inside: low beams, uneven levels, small corners, cask pumps and enough separate space for the pub to feel different from one floor to the next.
Old rooms, cask ale, check hours
Beer is the safer reason to go. Up to four changing cask ales and a real cider are listed, with a CAMRA discount. Food is offered, but current opening and kitchen information moves around, so this is not the place to improvise an important meal without checking first.
Worth knowing
The building is not a gimmick and the ale gives it a reason to operate as more than a heritage stop. The weak point is reliability: check the door and kitchen hours, then judge the pub that is actually open.
The essentialsVisit
Getting there
0.3 miles from The Cross. No venue car park. Use paid city-centre parking or make it part of a walk from the river, walls or Bridge Street.
Hours
CAMRA currently lists Thursday-Saturday from noon to 23:00 and Sunday to 22:30, with Monday-Wednesday closed. Reports say published hours have not always matched the door, so check on the day.
Food & drink
Straightforward pub food when the kitchen is running. Check serving times before relying on it for lunch, dinner or a Sunday roast. Start with the cask board. This is a beer stop before it is a dining recommendation.
Access
The pub is spread over an old multi-level building with steep stairs. Check the usable ground-floor space and toilet access before visiting with mobility needs.
8.3 OpenStreetMap - Hours
- CAMRA currently lists Thursday-Saturday from noon to 23:00 and Sunday to 22:30, with Monday-Wednesday closed. Reports say published hours have not always matched the door, so check on the day.
- Address
- 94 Lower Bridge St, Chester CH1 1RU
- Booking
- A pint does not need a plan, but a meal does. Phone first if the kitchen or a particular opening time matters.
- Pay
- cards, contactless
- Dogs
- Dogs are listed as welcome.
- Access
- The pub is spread over an old multi-level building with steep stairs. Check the usable ground-floor space and toilet access before visiting with mobility needs.
- Getting there
- 0.3 miles from The Cross. No venue car park. Use paid city-centre parking or make it part of a walk from the river, walls or Bridge Street.
Nearby plan
Nearby pubs and bars
FAQ
Is Bear & Billet a Wetherspoon?
No. It is a historic Lower Bridge Street pub, not a Wetherspoon.
Is Bear & Billet dog-friendly?
Yes, it is a dog-friendly pub. Check direct if you need a particular area for food.
Is Bear & Billet good for food?
Food is available at some sessions, but current kitchen hours are not dependable enough to assume. Phone before making a meal the reason for visiting.
Is Bear & Billet accessible?
The building is old and awkward, with stairs and multi-level rooms. Check direct before visiting with mobility needs.
What is Bear & Billet near?
Bridgegate, the Chester City Walls, Lower Bridge Street, the River Dee, the Grosvenor Museum and Cheshire Military Museum are all close.
