What it's like
Bishop Lloyd's Bar & Terrace is a small bar at 53 Watergate Row South, set within Bishop Lloyd's Palace, with beer, spirits, pies, cheese, dogs and bench seating above Watergate Street.
Bishop Lloyd's is one of those Chester places people miss because it is up on the Row. The room is small, warm and low-lit, and the building does a lot of the work before the first pint arrives.
The outdoor bit is not a roof garden. It is bench seating on Watergate Row, which is actually more useful: you sit just above the street and watch Chester go by at ankle-and-shopping-bag level.
Worth knowing
The bar is small, the terrace is benches, and the food offer is deliberately short. That is not a flaw if you use it properly. Come for a pint, a pie and the Rows doing their thing.
Plan your visit
- Address
- 53 Watergate Row South, Chester CH1 2LE, inside Bishop Lloyd's Palace.
- Hours
- Current listings vary slightly. Directory hours show Wednesday-Sunday trading, with Monday and Tuesday closed; CAMRA has also shown early-week afternoon hours. Check direct before travelling.
- Food
- Short food offer: pies, pie-and-pint style deals and cheese rather than a full pub-kitchen menu.
- What to order
- A pie and a pint is the obvious move. Local beer and a cheese board also fit the room better than trying to overcomplicate it.
- Booking needed?
- Worth checking for groups, food and live music. Small room, small margin for error.
- Outdoor seating
- Yes, bench seating on Watergate Row. Good for people-watching, less good if you were imagining a secret terrace.
- Dogs
- Dog-friendly.
- Live music
- Occasional rather than nightly. In a room this size, music changes the visit completely.
- Access
- The Row-level historic setting is awkward. Check direct if steps, seating position or toilets matter.
- Parking
- No venue parking. Use city-centre car parks and walk in.
- Good for kids?
- Not really. Treat it as an adult bar, especially later.
- Price feel
- ££. The pie-and-pint deal can be good value; wine and extras may feel less gentle.
How to use it
- Go early for the calm version and a bench on the Row if the weather is behaving.
- Treat food as a pie-and-cheese stop, not a full restaurant plan.
- If music is listed, decide whether you want that specific mood before turning up.
- Keep the onward plan simple: Watergate Street, the Rows, the walls or another nearby bar.
What's on and practical notes
Occasional live music and small-room events can shape the visit. Check direct or social listings before building a night around it.
No checked TTDC event listings for this place right now. Check its own listings before building a visit around an event.
Nearby plan
Nearby pubs and bars
Nearby attractions
FAQ
Where is Bishop Lloyd's Bar & Terrace?
It is on Watergate Row South, inside Bishop Lloyd's Palace, above Watergate Street.
Does Bishop Lloyd's do food?
Yes, but keep expectations tight: pies, pie-and-pint style deals and cheese rather than a broad pub menu.
Is Bishop Lloyd's dog-friendly?
Yes, dogs are welcome.
Does Bishop Lloyd's have outdoor seating?
Yes, bench seating on Watergate Row. It is good for people-watching, not a large terrace.
Is Bishop Lloyd's accessible?
The historic Row-level setting can be awkward. Check direct before visiting if access matters.
Nearby alternatives and add-ons.
Chapters Chapters is an independent bookshop and wine bar on Watergate Row South, opened in March 2026. It mixes mostly fiction, coffee, wine, light snacks and somewhere to sit without feeling weird about being on your own. A good shout for a quieter Rows stop, and mildly dangerous if you only came in for one paperback. 
Bishop Lloyd's Palace Bishop Lloyd's Palace is a Watergate Row landmark, useful for first-timer walks, photos and noticing the Rows above street level. 
Ye Old Custom House Ye Olde Custom House is a Watergate Street pub near the racecourse route, useful for budget meals, group pints and race-day fallback plans.