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We've teamed up with We Love Good Times to bring you a comprehensive guide to al fresco dining in Chester this autumn! Make sure to also check our ever-growing list of al fresco options in Cheshire.
Autumn is definitely my favourite season. I love getting cosy in big jumpers and scarves, and wasting time escaping the every day taking photos in and around the city of the changing season. This year, there is more reason than ever to embrace the outdoors as so many of us feel much more comfortable outside – and the good news is that some of our favourite venues have upgraded their beer gardens, or even created beautiful brand new spaces for us to dine, drink and relax within our social bubbles.
Autumn is also my favourite season for food and drink. Casseroles, stews and hearty dishes appear on our menus, and local Chefs have a field-day with the best quality local produce. So this year I’m super-excited about spending lots more time in the great outdoors, enjoying seasonal dishes, big red wines and lots of good times with my nearest and dearest.
Here is my selection of the best Autumn beer gardens in and around Chester – along with my suggestions for the best dishes and drinks to enjoy while you’re there.
Hickory’s Smokehouse Chester
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We know how much effort these guys put into their outside drinking and dining spaces, and Chester has to be the pièce de résistance with their incredible walled garden and the stunning backdrop of the River Dee. And who doesn’t absolutely love Hickory’s?
The Chester Fields Country Pub and Restaurant
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Gorgeous gardens, outside Alpine style huts and those stunning views over the Cheshire plains – its certainly worth the ten minute taxi journey from the city centre. They have won countless awards for their consistent use of local produce too. Autumn evenings at The Chester Fields are perfect with gorgeous sunsets and fabulous hearty dishes, but for me, their Sunday Roast is legendary.
The Black Dog, Waverton
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I’m a massive fan of The Black Dog. These guys think very differently and put their exciting plans into action. They have plenty of outside space in the countryside to enjoy great seasonal food and drink, including their fabulous all-weather Domes. Their food is incredible too (I’m a massive fan of Head Chef Mike Hodges) – and you can even order food to takeaway and enjoy at home! (Collection only).
Barlounge
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Barlounge is looking better than ever! This iconic Chester venue came out of lockdown with a stunning new terrace – covered, heated and very smart indeed – the perfect place to drink and dine, whatever the weather – and their sticky sausages are still totally divine!
The Boathouse Chester
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The Boathouse in Chester has one of the best outside spaces in the city with its sunning riverside location, a floating barge and the cutest, heated beach huts for the perfect socially-distanced Autumn dining experience. You can’t beat a hot choccie with a delicious dessert, wrapped up warm with a blanket on a floating barge!
The Pied Bull Chester
There are lots of great surprises to be found at The Pied Bull. The most incredible bedrooms, a microbrewery (the smallest inside the city walls we believe), great pub food, a couple of friendly ghosts and this fabulous hidden garden right in the heart of the city. This beautiful space is the perfect escape from the everyday … and their pub classics are so good!
The Faukner Hoole, Chester
The Faulkner is a favourite neighbourhood restaurant serving really good food (they’ve won tons of awards). As independents go, its one of the best and their outside space is delightful! Its weather proof and super-cosy with booths, fluffy cushions, heaters and fairy lights – the perfect way to embrace the Autumn chill.
Ring O’Bells Christleton, Chester
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Ahhh the Ring O’Bells – I always describe this fabulous place as one of our Great Cheshire Pubs. Chef Andrew King heads up an award-winning kitchen and its always a really good quality experience all round, and definitely worth the 5 minute car journey from the city centre. And le boss Ian Wade became quite the gardener over lockdown, upgrading his outside space. Chef Andrew loves the Autumn as much as I do, so you can be sure of some delicious hearty dishes as well as some bloody good beer from this favourite country dining pub.
Blue Bell 1494 Chester
Now this is a real gem in the city centre – a beautifully authentic Spanish tapas bar with this gorgeous garden. We reviewed Blue Bell 1494 recently and gave it five stars (click here to find out why) so give it a go, it really is a very special place with another great ghost story from 1645.
The Goshawk Delamere
Just 15 minutes drive from the city centre, this is another Great Cheshire Pub with a stunning outside space, and this one overlooking an immaculately manicured bowling green. The Goshawk is located close to Delamere forest, so a walk through the golden woodland followed by great pub food is the perfect Autumn escape with the family.
Opera Grill, Chester
Opera Grill is a pretty impressive venue. Seriously sexy food, fabulous decor and a truly cosmopolitan vibe, their outside terrace space is the place to be seen in the Autumn sunshine. Heated, covered and with plenty of space, if you’re looking for a super-stylish venue, then Opera Grill is definitely the place for you.
Duttons
I love the new look Duttons – and the fact that it sits on the most beautiful street in the city (Godstall Lane) just makes it all the more gorgeous. Sitting outside Duttons enjoying a delicious alfresco lunch with a glass of wine or two is an affordable treat – and the staff are delightful too.
Rowton Poplars
Hidden away in Waverton is a very special place called Rowton Poplars Hotel. This unusual venue is well known for its great quality food, fabulously warm welcome and super-cosy bedrooms. Independently run by the Friend family, they have taken full advantage of their idyllic canal side setting by creating a gorgeous fairly light-lit garden – perfect for enjoying the crisp Autumn sunshine. Enjoying a baked brie to share with a couple of glasses of red is a pretty good way to spend a couple of hours unwinding in the Cheshire countryside.
Popcorn Chester
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Quirky, cute and covered, this is one of my favourite outside spaces in the city. And they even have heaters and blankets keeping you cosy and warm in the Autumn sunshine. They serve a delicious casual dining menu including plenty of vegan options … and it’s one of the most instagrammable bars in the city.
Shrub Chester
Pretty new to the Chester Food and Drink scene, plant-based Shrub opened post lockdown, and their gorgeous terrace has been full ever since. These fabulous tables overlooking The Cross have to be among the very best Alfresco tables in the city, and perfect for covered Autumn dining on the historic rows, overlooking the city centre streets below.
The Secret Garden at Townhouse Chester
I’m totally in love with the new Secret Garden at The Townhouse on Bridge Street. This is such a unique venue with great bedrooms (and a seriously good breakfast) and the most delicious Afternoon Tea which you can enjoy in this lovely new outside space – and they have big plans for making it all-weather, so we can all enjoy this stunning garden all year round.
Meltdown Handbridge
A short walk through the city and either over the glorious Queens Park Suspension Bridge or the postcard-perfect Old Dee Bridge takes you to Handbridge, and here you will find the best cheese toasties on the planet. And the best bit is Laura’s gorgeous little garden out back. Its super-cute and I love it. The ultimate Chester Independent success story.
The Botanist
This Chester favourite has had a proper spruce up and its looking as fresh as a daisy, and that gorgeous outside space has had a makeover too. A little oasis in the heart of the city, this super-cosy garden is the perfect Autumn hideaway.
Related
Hickory’s Smokehouse is an authentic American BBQ restaurant set on the banks of the River Dee.
Situated just 4-miles outside of the historical city of Chester, The Chester Fields Country Pub, Restaurant & Wedding Venue boasts stunning views of the Cheshire countryside.
Located on Watergate Street, just a stones throw away from Chester Racecourse. Barlounge is Chester's original cocktail bar & restaurant.
The Boathouse is situated in the idyllic loaction of the Groves lining The Chester River Dee, overlooking the river.
The Pied Bull, Chester is a city centre inn with the warm feel of a country pub, located within the walls of the historic Roman city of Chester. As the oldest coaching inn in Chester, the building dates back to the 11th Century, when it was the official residence of the Recorder of Chester. Today the interior reflects its distinctive heritage & even houses an original handmade staircase dating from the 15th Century.
Located in the trendy Chester suburb of Hoole, this modern British Gastro pub is sure to go down a treat!
The Ring O' Bells is situated in the heart of the picturesque village of Christleton, only a stones throw from the city of Chester.
The Goshawk is a rare and special country pub in the heart of the Cheshire countryside, offering gorgeous food, cask ales, wine and most of all, a warm welcome and great hospitality.
Standing out from the crowd, this 400-seater restaurant is housed in a grand Grade II listed building featuring a distinct neoclassical Greek façade and mixes an industrial look with a touch of opulence inside. Opera Grill brings theatre on a grand scale to Chester.
Tucked away on Godstall lane, not far from Chester’s stunning cathedral, is one of the city centres best kept secrets.
The Rowton Poplars is a family run hotel in rural Cheshire with 14 modern rooms all recently refurbished. The bar and kitchen has a relaxed and friendly feel with a variety of cocktails, wines, spirits and beers on offer, including local real ales from the micro brewery, Spitting Feathers.
Located across from Chester's Amphitheatre with a fun and unique environment. Popcorn has a beer garden and al fresco dining. Dog friendly and vegan options available.
Shrub is a plant based eatery offering food, coffee, cocktails and more, located on The Rows in the heart of Chester.
Located on St. Werburgh Street Chester, The Botanist is a concept unlike anything else! A floral-themed lodge, aged and transformed into a homely retreat, complete with watering cans and other agricultural accoutrements.
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