What it's like
Oddfellows Chester is the Lower Bridge Street hotel, bar and Secret Garden, useful for afternoon tea, cocktails, Sunday roast, private events, weddings and characterful stays close to the river.
Oddfellows is a hotel first, but plenty of people use it without staying: Wonderland afternoon tea, Secret Garden drinks, Sunday lunch, private events and celebrations all make sense here.
The look is theatrical rather than restrained. If you want a plain hotel bar where the wallpaper stays out of the conversation, this may be a lot. If you want a bit of Chester nonsense with your tea and cocktails, that is exactly the point.
Worth knowing
Oddfellows works when you want Oddfellows. If the theatrical setting, garden and afternoon-tea business sound fun, book it. If you want plain, quiet and frictionless parking, Chester has set you a small trap.
Plan your visit
- Address
- 20 Lower Bridge Street, Chester CH1 1RS.
- Hours
- Hotel, bar, garden and food times vary by service. Afternoon tea is currently promoted Wednesday-Sunday, 12:00-17:00. Check direct before going.
- Food and drink
- Wonderland afternoon tea, cocktails, drinks, lunch, Sunday roast, garden service and event menus.
- What to book
- Afternoon tea in Alice's Parlour, Secret Garden drinks, Sunday roast, private rooms and overnight stays are the clearest reasons to use it.
- Afternoon tea
- Currently promoted at £35 per adult and £15 per child, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free alternatives requested at booking. Menus change.
- Secret Garden
- A walled garden with covered areas and heated huts, used for drinks, food, afternoon tea and events.
- Kids
- Kids can fit afternoon tea and some events well, but check the current setup before assuming every space is family-focused.
- Dogs
- Dog policy is not clear enough across the hotel / food spaces. Check direct before taking a dog.
- Access
- Wheelchair-accessible parking is not listed. Because it is an old building with varied spaces, check direct for the exact room or garden area you need.
- Parking
- No easy venue parking to rely on. Sort city-centre parking before you arrive.
- Price feel
- £££. You are partly paying for setting, design and central convenience.
How to use it
- For a first visit, afternoon tea or garden drinks are the cleanest way to understand the place.
- For an overnight stay, pick the room type carefully and ask about noise if you are staying over a busy weekend.
- For events, book early and be specific about room, garden, food and accessibility needs.
- For a Lower Bridge Street day, use Oddfellows before or after the river, the walls, Bear & Billet or The Brewery Tap.
What's on and practical notes
Oddfellows is active for afternoon tea, garden tables, Sunday roast, weddings and private events. Check direct for menus, deposits, dietary deadlines and seasonal changes.
A Viking Feast of Fire, Story & Legend
- Date
- Thu 18 Jun
- Time
- 19:00
- Venue
- Oddfellows Chester
Nearby plan
Nearby pubs and bars
Nearby food
Nearby attractions
FAQ
Is Oddfellows Chester the same as Oddfellows Arms?
No. Oddfellows Chester is the Lower Bridge Street hotel, bar and Secret Garden. Oddfellows Arms is the Frodsham Street pub.
What is Oddfellows Chester best for?
Afternoon tea, Secret Garden drinks, characterful stays, Sunday roast, weddings and private celebrations.
Does Oddfellows Chester have outdoor seating?
Yes. The Secret Garden is a major part of the venue, with covered areas and heated huts promoted.
Is Oddfellows Chester good with kids?
The themed afternoon tea can work well for children, but check direct for the service or space you are booking.
Does Oddfellows Chester have parking?
Do not rely on venue parking. Plan nearby city-centre parking before arrival.
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.