CHESTER CITY FC REAL ALE CRAWL.  From The Gents at WC Brewery.
This crawl takes in the best real ale pubs on the most direct route from the railway station to the football ground.
City centre pubs are also listed if you wish to detour into town. The whole crawl is a good couple of miles and there are no pubs remotely close to the ground unfortunately.

PUBS ON THE CRAWL

1 - Old Harkers Arms   1 Russell Street,   (01244) 344525
(Drop down the steps from City Road at the canal)
Current CAMRA Branch Pub of the Year. It aint cheap but the beer quality is excellent. Very good food too.
WC Brewery ales can be found here from time to time.

2 - Union Vaults   44 Egerton Street,  (01244) 322170
(Walk along the canalside and over the next canal bridge)
Proper old street corner boozer serving two or three good real ales.

3 - Mill Hotel   Milton Street,  (01244) 350035
(Literally round the corner from the UV)
Widest choice of ales in the City. Bar meals are available. An ideal place to catch any early kick-offs on the large screen TVs. Your best bet of finding WC Brewery beers is in here.

4 - Ship Victory   47 George St,  (01244) 376453
(Follow the canal from the Mill to the first road. Ship Vic will be facing you over the road on the large car park)
A true welcoming community pub. Only one guest ale usually available but always in top nick.

5 - Telford's Warehouse  Tower Wharf,  (01244) 390090
(Walk up the hill, go straight across at the traffic lights then down to a t-junction. Cross over and go down cobbles)
Converted warehouse overlooking the canal basin. Good selection of real ales and food available. For evening games beware that it can be pay on the door after 9pm if bands are performing.

TO THE DEVA STADIUM
Upon leaving Telfords, turn right out of the door and turn back on yourself (past the bins) to climb the steps up to Southview Road. Turn right and follow the road down until you reach a T-junction. Turn right along Sealand Road and keep going until you reach Kwik Save opposite the site of the much-missed old football ground.   Turn left into Bumpers Lane where another mile walk awaits with the stadium at the very far end.  With any luck there'll be a crowd to follow.


CITY CENTRE PUBS

1 - Square Bottle
Wetherspoons outlet so good value ale and food.

2 - Albion
Bag full of character and a couple of real ales from regional brewers. The place for food if you like it traditional.

3 - Cross Keys
Couple of real ales with the Deuchars especially always very good.

4 - Bear and Billet
Chock full of history and six handpumps. A rare Okells outlet on the mainland.

5 - Falcon
Sam Smiths boozer and a place where the tight-wads should get a round in.

6 - Boot
Another characterful Sam Smiths alehouse on the famous rows. Good beer, cheap as chips.

7 - Duttons
A JW Lees wine bar tucked down Godstall Lane by the cathedral. Good food and generally two Lees beers on offer.

8 - Custom House
Marston's beers and a guest are served in this traditional boozer.

9 - Fat Cat
Upmarket bar with one or two rotating real ales available. Good for food too.

10 - Coach House
Thwaites beers complemented by a couple of guest ales. Food available too.


FOOD
As well as the pub food mentioned above, there are the usual fast food outlets in the city centre.
If you are in a hurry, there are two chippys just down from Telfords on the way to the ground.
Finally there are mobile catering units on Bumpers Lane for match days, as well as the usual range of matchday fare at the ground itself (mmm chicken balti pies).