Cherry Orchard Inn, Boughton

Just reopened and Peter is doing a bang up job. He knows his ale, and he knows pubs. Food is reportedly excellent.

12 Aug 2006 12:31

Temple Bar, Chester

He's right, you know. The slcohol dependent and the clinically depressed makes this a place to avoid on a weekday afternoon.

12 Aug 2006 12:28

The Albion Inn, Chester

It's a funny old place, the Albion. It's an undeniably well preserved traditional pub, serving good food and beer. Unfortunately, they open it when they feel like it, and make no apologies for doing so. There's only so many times you can walk up to the place, find the door shut and read the "We're open when we're open" sign in good humour. They do a very good job of looking after the locals, (while treating anybody under 40 with suspicion) which is very commendable, I suppose. I wonder what they'll do when the last of the "locals" has died off and everyone else is sick of being turned away? On one memorable night, I walked up to the door with two friends, one of whom was talking in a loud voice. I said "Shhh! They won't let us in if you don't keep your voice down!" only to round the corner to the door to find some battleaxe standing there with her arms folded, saying "Who's doing all that shushing?! Eh? Whoever's making a racket, doing a lot of silly shushing can't come in!". I'm not kidding.
A good pub spoilt by the misguided attempts to keep it unspoilt.

12 Aug 2006 12:21