What it's like
The Old Dukes is a relaxed sports bar on Bell Tower Walk, serving snacks, burgers and steaks with live sport, shuffleboard, pool tables and a small outdoor area.
The Old Dukes is not the old-school pub its name might suggest. It is a sports bar tucked behind the Cathedral, close to the walls, with screens, games, bar food and a group-friendly setup.
That makes it useful in a very specific way. If the group wants football, rugby, pool or shuffleboard near Northgate, it fits. If someone asks for a quiet heritage pub with a hand-pulled pint and no televisions, send them somewhere else before resentment sets in.
Worth knowing
The Old Dukes is best judged as a sports bar, because that is what it is. Screens, games, burgers and groups make sense here. Quiet-pint expectations do not.
Plan your visit
- Address
- Bell Tower Walk, Chester CH1 2DY.
- Hours
- Current listed hours are Monday-Friday 16:00-23:00 and Saturday-Sunday 12:00-23:00. Check direct for late changes around sport.
- Food
- Sports-bar food: snacks, burgers and steaks are the core offer.
- What to order
- Use it for drinks, dirty fries, burgers, steaks or snacks around a match or games session.
- Sport
- Live sport is central, with multiple screens.
- Games
- Shuffleboard and pool are part of the appeal.
- Outdoor seating
- A small outdoor area is listed, but it is not the main reason to choose it.
- Kids
- The venue describes itself as family-friendly, but other data is mixed. Check direct if taking children.
- Access
- Access detail is not strong enough to promise beyond nearby parking limitations. Check direct before travelling if access matters.
- Price feel
- ££. Moderate city-centre sports-bar spend.
How to use it
- For football or rugby, book or arrive early.
- Use it as the active bar in a Northgate/Cathedral plan, not as your quiet pub stop.
- Check weekday opening before heading there in the afternoon.
- Eat here for convenience around sport and games, not because the food is the headline.
What's on and practical notes
Sport schedules shape the room. Check what is being shown before building a group plan around a specific fixture.
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 food
Nearby attractions
FAQ
Where is The Old Dukes?
It is on Bell Tower Walk, tucked behind Chester Cathedral near Northgate Street and the city walls.
Does The Old Dukes show sport?
Yes. Live sport is a core reason to go.
Does The Old Dukes have games?
Yes. Shuffleboard and pool tables are part of the offer.
Does The Old Dukes serve food?
Yes. Expect sports-bar food such as snacks, burgers and steaks.
Is The Old Dukes open at lunchtime?
Usually only at weekends. Weekday opening is listed from 16:00, so check before going early.
Nearby alternatives and add-ons.
Ristorante Sergio Ristorante Sergio is a Watergate Street Italian for pasta, seafood, date nights and family dinners in a long-running Chester room. 
The Botanist The Botanist is a Godstall Lane cocktail bar by the Cathedral, useful for dates, groups, brunch and drinks that feel more dressed-up. 
GAUDI'S Gaudi's is a Cathedral-side cafe-bar for brunch, lunch, coffee and outdoor tables when you need a central pause rather than a long dinner.