Bear and Billet

From Chester Wiki

Contents 1 Blurb 2 Where 3 Atmosphere 4 Prices 5 Food 6 Conclusion 7 Facts and Trivia 8 Links

[edit] Blurb

A grade 1 listed building.

The Bear and Billet started life as a town house built for the Earls of Shrewsbury, who were also sergeants of the nearby Bridge Gate. The building replaced an earlier building destroyed during the English Civil War.

The building is dated on the front facing gable to 1664. The initials 'HH' are also included.

The Pub is on three floors with a bar and seating area on the ground floor with a smoking area and beer garden to the rear of the building.

The second floor has a dining area and a large plasma screen TV for live football.

Six types of cask beers are served along side the normal lager on tap.

On the 16th January 2009 a fire broke out in the chimney, this was quickly extinguished by Chester Fire Service without any damage to the building.

[edit] Where

Located within the city walls at the end of Lower Bridge Street on the west side just before the Bridge Gate.

[edit] Atmosphere

Traditional English, Coal Fires in the winter. Quiz nights and Live Football.

[edit] Prices

Moderate to expensive.

[edit] Food

The Bear and Billet now has a good tradtional food menu available. Details are on the website.

http://bearandbillet.com/menue.htm

[edit] Conclusion

No visit to Chester would be complete without a walk down hill from the Cross to have a pint and to soak up the atmosphere in this tradtional half timbered building.

[edit] Facts and Trivia

This pub is reputed to have a ghost in the form of a kindly old lady who is said to often greet men on the stairs with a smile. Do try the stairs though, because the upstairs bar is quite spectacular. There are also stories that the desperate ghostly screams of young maid can still be heard in the premises. Here is a panoramic view. John Lennon's grandmother was born in the Bear & Billet in 1873.

[edit] Links

http://www.chestertourist.com/pubs_bear.htm

http://www.okells.co.uk

http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-news/local-chester-news/2009/01/16/fire-at-chester-s-historic-bear-and-billet-pub-59067-22709109