Bear and Billet, Chester - A bear, a beer and plenty of chips
Bear and Billet
By Rebecca Taylor
If Charles Dickens ever visited Chester, I like to think he would have taken time out to observe the locals at the Bear and Billet.
The 17th century Lower Bridge Street building is one of Chester's quirkier pubs at the best of times, with low beams, leaded windows and stories of a resident ghost.
But in December, with a bauble-decked tree next to a roaring fire and a sprig of mistletoe above the door, it really is the picture of a Dickensian Christmas.
On a dark, cold Thursday night, I headed over there with a group of friends in an attempt to block out the damp December weather with good food and a CAMRA-recommended ale or three.
Jon arrived a little ahead of the rest of the group and before long was sitting at the bar, debating the merits of the local Weetwood brewery's Cheshire Cat ale with the barman - a fellow beer fan.
He is organising a beer festival at the pub in January and invited us all to nominate our favourite beers to feature in the event. Apparently there will be a total of 16 beers and ciders on sale from a special bar from January 25-28.
Festivals aside, the Bear and Billet always boasts an impressive array of cask ales and draught beers and must be the only pub in Chester with a separate menu just for beer.
It's one of my favourite pubs in Chester purely because it's one of only two places that regularly serve the Belgian cherry beer Kriek on tap (the other place is City Bar on City Road).
Sadly though on this occasion the Kriek barrel was empty so I looked around for drinking inspiration from the others... just as Richard F spotted his favourite tipple - Wapping Ales' Stout - on draught and gave a whoop of joy.
We both had a glass of the thick, dark, chocolatey ale while Jon tucked into a pint of Phoenix, Arizona blonde ale (crisp with a grapefruit taste, apparently).
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