What it's like
Ye Olde Kings Head is the timber-framed Lower Bridge Street pub, restaurant and hotel with deep Chester history downstairs and the My Haunted Hotel operation above.
This is one of the Chester pubs where the building is doing real work. The black-and-white frontage, low beams, old floors and Lower Bridge Street setting all help before you have even ordered.
Downstairs, it is a traditional pub with food, cask ale, dogs and a tourist-friendly amount of story. Upstairs, the haunted-hotel business is not just a poster by the bar; it is a separate overnight experience with cameras, kit and its own following.
Worth knowing
The Kings Head earns the historic-pub stop even if you ignore the ghost side completely. The haunted-hotel operation is real enough to be interesting, but do not let it distract you from the simpler fact that this is a very Chester pub in a very Chester street.
Plan your visit
- Address
- 48-50 Lower Bridge Street, Chester CH1 1RS, south of the Rows and close to the river side of town.
- Hours
- Current listed pub hours are generally from 12:00 daily, with later closes Friday-Sunday. Check direct for kitchen hours, events and hotel arrangements.
- Food
- Traditional pub food: fish and chips, ribs, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, pies, pub platters, Sunday-style comfort and vegetarian/vegan options.
- What to order
- Fish and chips is the obvious safe bet. Also look at ribs, pub platters, sandwiches and anything that suits sitting in an old room with a pint.
- Drinks
- Beer, cask ale, wine, cocktails and standard pub drinks. More old-pub stop than specialist beer shrine.
- Rooms
- Accommodation is part of the building, but the haunted-hotel element is a separate proposition. Book direct and read what you are booking.
- Dogs
- Yes, dogs are listed as welcome. Check direct if booking food and needing a specific area.
- Outdoor seating
- Outdoor seating is listed, but do not make the whole plan depend on a specific outside table.
- Access
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance is listed, but this is an old building. Check direct for the easiest route and table position.
- Good for kids?
- Yes for a pub meal with adults, especially in the day. The haunted branding may be either a bonus or a conversation you regret starting.
How to use it
- Use it as part of a lower-town Chester plan: walls, Roman Gardens, Grosvenor Museum, Old Dee Bridge, then pub.
- For food, book if the timing matters. Historic pubs can fill fast when the weather is poor and everyone suddenly wants beams.
- For the haunted hotel, book through the proper channel and treat it as an experience, not a casual add-on to a pint.
- For dogs, mention it when booking a table so the venue can put you in the right bit of the pub.
What's on and practical notes
The pub side is useful for food, drinks and traditional evenings. The haunted-hotel side runs as a separate overnight experience, so check that directly.
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
FAQ
Is Ye Olde Kings Head haunted?
The venue actively runs My Haunted Hotel upstairs, with overnight paranormal experiences. Whether you believe in it is between you and the landing.
Can you just go for a drink at the Kings Head?
Yes. The pub works perfectly well as a normal Lower Bridge Street drink or food stop.
Does the Kings Head serve food?
Yes. Expect traditional pub food, including fish and chips, ribs, sandwiches, platters and vegetarian or vegan options.
Is the Kings Head dog-friendly?
Yes, dogs are listed as welcome. Check direct if you are booking food and need the right area.
Is the Kings Head good for families?
Yes for a daytime or early evening pub meal, though the haunted-hotel angle may depend on the child.
Nearby alternatives and add-ons.
Bear & Billet Bear & Billet is the Lower Bridge Street historic-pub stop: black-and-white frontage, old rooms and an easy pause near the walls and river. Good for a pint with visitors or a dog-friendly break, less good if you need quiet, smooth stairs or a meal to carry the whole plan. 
Black Bush Traditional Irish Bar Black Bush is a Lower Bridge Street Irish bar beneath The Brewery Tap, useful for stout, music, small groups and late-ish pints. 
Forty Six Forty Six is the Lower Bridge Street cafe for breakfast, brunch, coffee and a useful stop between the city centre and the river. It is small, practical and good for a refuel before a Dee walk or after deciding sightseeing requires carbohydrates. A calm little reset rather than a big dining plan.