Fox & Barrel at Cotebrook in Cheshire West and Chester

Excellent experience. The food was tasty different and delicious, the atmosphere relaxed and service friendly, helpful and the pub also accommodated our little dog. We will certainly lunch here again. Thankyou

Lunch out with a friend, had eaten here previously. Had the”light bite” venison ragu , WOW. So much flavour, Parmesan cream fantastic with crunch of crispy onions for texture. The homemade pasta was so light. Great service with a sense of humour … thank you Fox and Barrel.

If you want to be ignored, have poor service and mediocre food this is the place to be! After a promising start we waited nearly an hour for our main course. My steak and ale was dry and salty. My partner's pork loin meat was cold. During the time we waited for our food we were totally ignored by all the staff. No one asked if we wanted another drink even when they brought our main course. There was a mix up with the bill. The manager blamed our server but did not offer an apology. A very disappointing evening and it was upsetting that we had paid to be treated in this way.

One of the rare finds in the UK - great pub with quality tasty food with great service at reasonable prices. If you are in the area it’s highly recommended.

Out and about glad we came across this pub lovely atmosphere staff lovely and friendly food hot and tasty toilets immaculate plenty of parking space

Stopped here for lunch on way home to South Wales. Its a lovely country style pub with a good sized outside area for alfresco dining, nice and clean inside and out. The food was absolutely delicious, couldn't fault it, and it came to the table prity quick too. Fairly priced but not your usual family pub grub deal. The staff were very friendly and polite. Will definitely stop here again if we ever come back this way. Highly recommend.

We visited the fox and barrel early evening on a Sunday, we booked on the back of a recommendation from a friend, I checked out the recent reviews on here that confirmed it was well worth a visit. Really excellent standard of food and service, both myself and my Wife couldn’t fault it, well, maybe the Yorkshire puddings could have been a bit crisper, but that’s it, and even though they could have been better, it doesn’t warrant marking this establishment down to just very good. We also thought it was really good value for money. 3 drinks, 2 starters and 2 Sunday lunches, one chicken and one lamb. The place was pretty much full, which speaks for itself, we will definitely return and recommend to our friends and business contacts.

Excellent and well run, food was delicious, efficient staff and pleasant to sit in the courtyard on a sunny day. We stopped off on a journey to Shropshire and honestly felt like we’d hit the jackpot. Starters were great - risotto balls with tarrogon dip, courgette batons in a light batter. The best was the tarragon. Cauliflower soup was a revelation and the chips are about as good as get. Great. Would recommend

Really great lunch with clearly a talented crew in the kitchen. Not only that though because the bar team and waiting staff were also on great form. Lovely slab of pate with pickled veggies, tender slow cooked lamb, the beef came properly rare as requested, lovely veg selection. Desserts also good, the orange curd sponge suitably warming, the chocolate and salted caramel tart just needed a few flakes of Maldon sea salt on the top to make it perfect. Nice cask beers on tap and one of my favourite Navarran roses on the list. Try it, you wont be disappointed!!!!

Wonderful food and ambience, great location, it also has an outside seating area. The food is mega, and it’s a place we try and go when we are in the area

Booked this Lunch for the International Wine & Food Society , Mersey & Mid Cheshire Branch. 20 people. A warm welcome from the staff along with with a log fire, made for a good ambience. easy access from the large car park , and server assisting the Wheelchair user with out fuss, as with the Vegetarian and gluten free options chosen. Food and service was good, with an excellent Creme Brulle. everyone agreed, a restaurant to revisit.

Have been visiting the Fox & Barrel regularly over the years. One thing that has really left a sore taste in my mouth after our latest visit and questioned whether we will return is the underhand Vat trick. The menu prices have always been on the higher side but you could live with that as the quality has always been good. However this time I was shocked upon receiving the bill that 20% is added on for VAT! This must be a new initiative as have never noticed this before and was definitely not mentioned anywhere on the menu. In over 30 years going to top restaurants all over the world including numerous Michelin stared establishments I have never encountered this. This has tuned a good pub with high prices into an extortionate one. We have been regular customers for years and have come with lots of friends and family and have made recommendations. However after this furtive Vat deception I have doubts whether we will return. Message to Fox and Barrel management if you are going to add 20% without any prior warning then at least inform your loyal customers don’t treat them like idiots. It takes years to build a reputation and minutes to lose it so be very careful!…

Absolutely delicious food presented and cooked with care and attention to detail in a great pub with a wonderful atmosphere and served by very professional and attentive staff. Like a previous reviewer I do think adding the VAT on the bill at the end is a little bit naughty but I can also see (given how hard the hospitality sector is at the moment) that places have to resort to such tactics at all just to get paid properly for delivering a first class experience. I would, however, still encourage being more open and transparent with this issue on menu's or simply making your customers aware verbally. The place, service and food are worth the 20% government fee that should simply be lower to help this important sector and what's left is definately well earned by the Fox and Barrel for a great dining experience. So thanks for a great lunch!

Wow! Where do I start, we both love food and our dinner on Friday was the best food in pub we had in years! I had chicken dish and my partner had duck, there was lots of great flavours on the plate and both cooked to perfection. Service was excellent, quick and nothing was too much trouble. I didn't enjoy my dessert and they have exchanged it for a creme Brule that was outstanding with no issues. Its a big pub with different bar/restaurant areas and it has been done up so beautifully feels cosy and elegant and it was packed when we came around 7pm. We can't wait to come again, we haven't stop talking about how good our meal was since🤩

We had a nice table in the bar area - I find it much nicer than the restaurant area. We were welcomed and taken to our table, offered drinks, menu etc. The evening was very good - the food arrived after we had had our drinks, there was a nice gap between the starters and the mains and the ambience was lovely. One thing worth noting - the lad who served us made a small mistake on the drinks order but it was quickly sorted. When he cleared the plates away, he piled one person's on top of another's. He just needs some training. Otherwise, a very pleasant evening!

Following a road closure and being unable to reach out intended destination, a local whom we asked for directions, advised us to try this pub/restaurant and said it wouldn't disappoint. They were not wrong! The pub is beautifully decorated, cosy, nice relaxed vibe and lovely friendly and attentive staff who clearly work as a team together. Food menu was varied and whilst it seemed costly, you get what you pay for. The Fish & Chips were delicious both in taste and appearance. Sticky Toffee pudding for dessert was homemade and perfect! A gorgeous pub, great food and a great team - we will definitely be returning! Thank you so much F&B!

Food was delicious again today, consistently excellent whenever we visit. For lunch we had the steak sandwich, and the meat was beautiful cooked, and tender.

Lunch today after a great trip to Dettagli clothes in Tarporley. Excellent cheese soufflé followed by pork belly which was first class. Perishing cold day made pleasant by a table near the log fire. Wonderful!

The atmosphere is great and all the staff who greeted and served us were welcoming, friendly and helpful. The food was really delicious and of a high standard and they were able to adapt food to be gluten free. A really lovely experience and we would not hesitate to recommend

I think I’ve been takin for a ride. I looked at the menu and decided. Choose our food. The food was delicious as was the coffee. But when I went to pay for our food I got a shock ⚡️. The food on the menu does not include vat. So vat is added at the end without anyone noticing. You pay 20% on top. More than a little surprised. 😳 I’ve looked at the menu on line and I can’t see it anywhere 😡 If I’m not correct then let me know.

Booked our walking group for lunch here today, it's a busy and popular place but we all received excellent service from all the staff we came into contact with. All the food was very good, the service was very efficient and professional and the whole experience couldn't be faulted. I would highly recommend but book ahead.

Sunday roast. Very good quality. Excellent service from Matt.. he was efficient, welcoming, helpful and enthusiastic.

Superb food in a warm welcoming atmosphere with friendly professional staff Really enjoyed our meal and the pudding was great too

Visited with a work colleague and colleague for lunch. Between us we had the sausage and mash, steak and ale pie and the chicken breast. The food was excellent as was the service and surroundings. I don’t live too far so I’ll be back again sometime soon.

Having eaten here several times with my husband in the evening, I took my mum for her birthday along with my 2yr old granddaughter. The welcome as we walked in was warm and friendly. The gentleman serving us provided a high chair, colouring crayons and was so lovely with the little one throughout our visit. My mum couldn't get over the quality of the food , the menu isn't huge yet has enough options for them to be able to focus on the high standard of taste and the presentation was very nice. The atmosphere in the afternoon had a relaxed flow to it the staff are calm and know how to look after the guests. We had 3 courses and coffees and the childs portion was more than ample with the same high quality ingredients and taste. They have baby change facility in the ladies and it was immaculately clean. This place has the feel of a warm friendly country pub with the food taking it to the next level. Thank you for making my mum feel special with the little treat at the end of our meal.

Good points - nicely decorated, nice waiting staff, good drinks. Bad points - slow service and really bad food! We were here on a Saturday night. Waited about 45 mins for our one course to arrive, it wasn't overly busy. We ordered the fish and chips and burger, kids burger and kids sausage. Can't even say one positive thing about any of the food, asked for the burger to be well done, it was still pink, also just slightly warm in a dry too thick brioche bun, coleslaw was horrible, tasted like cheap mayo, the chips were not triple cooked as stated. The fish was tasteless, awful batter, cheap sausages used for the kids meal and also cold. Massively disappointed as everything else was done right apart from the food. Stop trying to be something you're not and get the basics right. I could have made this meal better myself at home, £70 down the drain! Nothing worse than leaving a restaurant feeling ripped off. Won't be back and will not recommend.

Very poor meal. Stilton and broccoli soup had no taste of Stilton. Humous was too lemony. Mains steak and ale pie very dry. Coffee very very weak. Not a good food experience especially as we have been many times in the past and enjoyed it. No criticism of the staff who were very polite and friendly. Also liked the ambiance and environment.

Visited for the first time this evening and we had a great time. Fabulous food, great choice on menu and the staff were friendly and attentive. The lemon sponge pudding was amazing!! We will definitely be back!

Called in for a lunch with my husband. Service and food very good. We will definitely be going again!

Celebrated my mothers birthday at The Fox & Barrel today. We had a table of 10 and everything was great! The service was super friendly and efficient and the roast dinners were lovely! We also loved that the vegtables came separate so you could choose what you wanted on your plate! Will definitely be back again! Thankyou!

Celebrated my mums 80th birthday here it was a lovely venue staff were so helpful and polite. Food was delicious 😋

Excellent. What a wonderful lunch. Our thanks to you all for looking after us today. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Our second time but not our last. Steak and ale pie. Scrumptious

I just said sincere thanks to Julien and Chris for looking after us tonight. It was the first night on the job for Chris and he did great. Julien I have met before and he is always such a pleasure to speak to, wonderfully articulate and extremely knowledgeable, a fantastic asset to this establishment. It is an establishment that I have visited maybe half a dozen times now and I always walk out of the door incredibly happy. Tonight was perhaps the pinnacle for me and I really wanted to leave a 5 star review. Everyone is so organised, professional, passionate and incredibly friendly, the staff are people you would love to spend more time with and it is evident that they enjoy their time at the Fox and Barrel. The lamb dish I had tonight blew me away, I will really have to think of a better dish I have had in recent years, it will probably keep me awake tonight! The food is just executed and presented so well, the flavours are outstanding and very intelligent. The padron peppers really set me up for the main event, apparently 1 in 10 of the peppers are hot and I got a few tonight which really made my day. Thanks so much, see you soon.

Haven't been here for quite a while and it's obviously under new management/ownership since then. We called in while passing for a bite of lunch. It was a lovely sunny late summer afternoon and we sat outside and I was impressed how well kept the outdoor sitting area was. Lovely well kept garden with herbacious plants which attracted the bees, neat mown lawns and well kept furniture with individual pots of geraniums on each table - which had actually been watered and were in lovely healthy condition. Often outside sitting areas are rather neglected but not in this case. The food was very good too. Initially I was disappointed as I fancied a nice sandwich but there were only a couple of non-traditional type sandwiches on the menu. I opted for the battered fillet of fish sandwich with chips - a rather posh chip butty you might say. It was delicious and very nicely served and presented. My partner had the steak sandwich which he was pleased with. All in all it was a very nice lunch experience and we will call in again.

This is by far the best experience I have had in both food and customer service. I attended last minute with my girlfriend for a Sunday Roast. The staff were very accommodating polite and friendly with genuine smiles on their faces and the food was absolutely delicious. I would give this place a 10/10 and will be returning in the future.

We had friends from the USA over and so we took them with the kids for an evening meal. The pub, atmosphere and food was exactly what I wanted to give my American friends. All the food was perfectly cooked, service was incredible and the bar had a great atmosphere. The service here is amazing and every member of staff is friendly. The toilets are even clean and lovely!! Yes, it is expensive but it is a treat that always delivers.

This is an experience to be had. Everyone can cook a Sunday lunch with many pubs only just getting it average with the mass production, this is the best I’ve ever had. The team were excellent not just in the restaurant but the bar too. This has a chef not just a cook.

Wonderful Saturday evening meal with family , whole experience was A**, Busy but friendly atmosphere, Excellent food cooked to perfection, and really great staff who really understand the art of customer service. Definitely worth a visit.

What a beautiful place. The team are friendly and welcoming. The food is first rate. I had a steak and ale pie with mash and probably the best gravy I've ever had!

Our last visit 12 months ago was excellent this time though very poor. A very long wait for food on what seemed a fairly quiet day . The food was poor . The chips alone were under cooked . No one came to check on...

A lovely cozy pub with some stunning food at relatively cheap prices the drinks were also great and services was quick , really nice waiters aswell

Brilliant experience. Great welcome into somewhere neither of us had been for years. Decor and atmosphere excellent. Prompt service on sitting down. Knowledgable re wine list. Not overlong menu and both our main courses were nothing short of outstanding. The waitress again provided an excellent...

Absolutely wonderful birthday Sunday lunch. First visit to the pub with our dog and it was perfect. Full Sunday lunch for one and a Salmon trout for the other with a side of truffle parmesan fries. Dessert was chocolate and coffee tart. Absolutely delicious from...

I was meeting up with friends from Taiwan and chose the Fox and Barrel as somewhere with good food and atmosphere where we could spend time catching up on experiences since the last time we met. It fulfilled all my requirements. The food, as always,...

Can’t go wrong with this restaurant. Top notch service and fantastic food. Highly recommended!!! Friends from London brought here for the third time . Never disappoints.

Beautiful pub with lovely staff and food. I stopped to take a break in my journey and I had a lovely lunch while enjoying the countryside in a peaceful yet convenient setting

Fitted two of us in at exceptionally short notice for dinner on what seemed like a very busy weekday evening. A hugely comprehensive menu and clearly it was food cooked to order and of a very high order and delightfully presented. Impressive front-of-house staff who...

20/10!!! Food was the best food I have ever tasted. We had the lamb and the steak and the sauvignon blanc. Absolutely amazing is an understatement!! I would highly recommend.

I have a assistance dog and was refused a table because off it even though all his credentials was shown and the bar manager agreed he’d let a guide dog sit in the area off tables he wasn’t prepared to let me service dog, bottom...

Excellent Sunday lunch! Have been a few times on a Sunday. They are always busy and the food is always on point. One of the best Sunday lunches in the area. Highly recommend.

We have visited this beautiful county pub for years always calling for lunch on our way down to Shrewsbury to meet our daughter. Sadly we won't be calling anymore as the last meal we had there was so bad we had to send it all...

My wife and I called in for lunch last Friday. We have been many times before and we have always been impressed by the hospitality and the food. We ordered a fillet of fish in bread and chips on this last occasion. When it arrived...

Absolutely the best roast dinner we’ve ever had! The roast beef was amazing, the pub was very busy but that was fine as they had enough staff to deal with the volume of people. Food was really quick and we took our little dog with...

We called in for a late lunch. Hummus & flatbread Beetroot carpaccio Onion & rarebit tart steak & Ale pie rocket & Parmesan salad Mixed ice cream Lemon tart Great beers Great wine Great staff Delightful place a must!!

Probably one of the best, if not THE best, pub lunch I have eaten. We lunched late and the establishment was still extremely busy. However, this did not affect the service, which was excellent. The weather was warm so we sat outside close to their...

Super service, food was excellent, lovely setting and the walk on the website was awesomely beautiful

Excellent lunch with friends, we sat outside, staff were attentive and helpful and food was great. We had the fish finger sandwich and the smoked salmon with rosti and poached egg. Both lovely and fresh.

Stopped off for early dinner on way back from Oswestry as M56 was closed so was travelling along A49 to bypass. Very glad we did so. Staff were very friendly. Nice atmosphere. Food was top notch. Many restaurants offer triple cooked chips but very few...

Wonderful friendly pub serving delicious food. We received a warm welcome and had a lovely afternoon. The service was great and we will definitely return, highly recommend this place.

Another fantastic meal again tonight. The best steak & ale pie ever, the salt & pepper squid cooked to perfection and the chicken wings all super delicious. Food, service and atmosphere second to none. Cannot wait to come back. Thanks again

I took my mother here for her birthday meal...well... if all country pubs were as good as this one - Britain would rule the waves once again !. From the food to the staff to the decor - everything is first class - all fully...

Sunday lunch for 4. All the starters, mains and deserts we had here today were cooked/prepared and presented to perfection, with a lot of attention to detail. The sea trout (main course) on today's menu was a particular highlight as it was outstanding. The service...

JUST GO!!! Have been trying to get a table to suit our diaries for nearly two years and were so chuffed to FINALLY secure a table this evening for 6.30 pm 16th April Menu is short (always indicating great offerings) I had the lamb shoulder...

We have visited this restaurant many times, nice reception, very courteous staff and well prepared food. Only comment - please change the menu - please please

We were staying in the area at The Goose Lodge (an incredible out of the way stay) and after a day of busying ourselves around the area needed to feed ourselves well and out our feet up. The Fox & Barrel managed to seat us...

Service friendly and efficient. Food mainly very good. Fish absolutely beautifully cooked. However broccoli and stilton soup was watery. It was a shame really as it was very tasty served with beautiful focaccia, but so thin and watery, completely ruined it. Please don't ruin the...

We called in here on the off chance and were fortunate to get a table. The staff were extremely attentive and absolutely lovely. The food was excellent and probably the best steak I have ever had. I would highly recommend this place to everyone and...

Met up here with friends who live nearby. Cosy atmosphere. Warm welcome. Fabulous menu. Food cooked and served to perfection. Really tasty food. Great, friendly service. Would certainly go again, even though it’s an hour away from where we live. Thank you all

Great food and service. They manage to accommodate a table for two on a busy Froday evening. Our table was nicely placed and the service was slot on. We have several starters and sides only.

Country pub atmosphere, fire burning, friendly bar staff as you walk in. We had a table overlooking the open kitchen which was fun. Waiting staff were knowledgeable, attentive and experienced. A varied menu with special dishes as well as pub classics such as pies, bangers...

We were on a short break and popped in for some reasonable food. We were not disappointed the food was very good staff were good without being over the top. My wife had the pie and I had the mild curry chicken breast. Both meals...

Fantastic again, we were here on Oct and it was just as good again! Christmas menu simple but great choice, I would have eaten anything on the menu. I chose cheese soufflé, turkey and Afregato. Very good food, lovely staff, big roaring fire and good...

We decided to go here for a Sunday roast yesterday. We all had starters and roast beef with all the trimmings. It’s honestly the best roast we have had, eating out, for a very long time. Highly recommended!! My only criticism was we had a...

As always, perfect. We are locals who visit regulatly. Lovely gastro pub. A truly divine experience. As locals we love this place as it meets all our needs. Brilliant team. Well done Fox and Barrel.

My adult granddaughter and I were driving from Northwich back to Shrewsbury in torrential rain looking out for somewhere appealing to have lunch. In the November gloom I spied a very attractive building. It was busy, but we received a warm welcome and were shown...

Wonderful food here. The kitchen staff really know what they're doing. Comes close to what could be called fine dining. It's a gastro pub rather than a restaurant however so the atmosphere is less than fine dining. In particular it was noisy during our visit,...

The food was delicious, portion size was just right and the staff were really friendly. Would definitely recommend if your in the area. We went after visiting Oulton Park.

First time at the Fox & Barrel! Family meeting at a half way point … it will definitely not be our last visit ! WHAT an Amazing pub , by far the best Sunday roast we have ever had in a pub , and we’ve...

Went to celebrate or wedding anniversary great service, lovely food. Really friendly atmosphere. We had nibbles, 3 courses plus wine and coffee for a reasonable price.

I couldn’t think what else to title this review other than Fantastic. Wonderful service the minute we walked through the door, relaxed about us having a drink before going to our table, our server was so sweet, friendly and polite. An imaginative and varied menu...

Stopped here with a friend in our campervans overnight as we were at Oulton circuit early the next day - could not have been treated better or looked after more! All of the staff were friendly, attentive and superb at their jobs, but Julian in...

Lovely food, attentive and very friendly manager and staff. We will definitely be back 👍🏽 Dog friendly too 👍🏽

Limited but well cooked and prepared food. Very nice and easily accessed with good service and very helpful

Had another fabulous Sunday roast here, we all had the roast beef which is perfectly cooked, with delicious homemade yorkie pudding, green veg, roasties, parsnip dauphinoise, swede mash and gravy. The best roast around here. The service is friendly and attentive. There’s a good atmosphere...

Food excellent. There are a couple of places in Chester, after that you have to go to top restaurants in Manchester to get the same quality of cooking & presentation in this region. Had the chicken and pork loin for main courses, 10/10. These were...

Phoned on a whim for Sunday lunch and they very kindly fitted us in at a table in the bar. When we saw the size of the portions we sensibly skipped starters and both ordered rare roast beef. Best pub lunch I’ve had in years....

We had a super lunch - main and dessert. The menu always offers up tasty surprises and there's an interesting selection of light bites too. The surroundings are lovely and the staff all have the right balance of being attentive, personable and helpful which makes...

Visited the Fox and Barrel for lunch with my wife. Had a lovely meal. The starter, main and dessert were delicious, presentation was excellent and the quality and flavours were top notch. It was nice to be welcomed by the staff who were all very...

What a lovely time we had here! The food and service were exceptional! So friendly, so busy, nothing was too much trouble. Can definately recommend, it was a real treat. Thank you

On our way back from a day trip to Wales, we looked up pubs with good reviews, and found this gem!! Lovely from the moment we pulled up! Very well presented, helpful staff, efficient service, welcoming surroundings and the food was sublime! We will always...

My family and I had lunch here recently. Lovely interior very inviting. Menu was good, I had the fish fillet sandwich which came with chips and was very nice but a choice of brown or white bread would have been nice, I didn't think to...

Popped in on the way to our mini break, very warm welcome, excellent knowledge from the staff about the menu, we had the “light bite steak sandwich “ it was delicious, every mouthful was tasty and full of flavour. It was filling and excellent value...

Sunday Roast at its very best. The most mouth wateringly delicious lamb I have ever tasted. Excellent table service too. Will definitely be booking again.

We had lunch today and it was the best food we've eaten in a pub for years. The food was superb. We shared a starter, pork belly and pigs cheek. Everything melted in your mouth, for the main course my husband had rump steak and...

We have eaten here many times, and it’s always outstanding! 5 stars for food and service! Our favourite! Dicky continues to do a great job! The best food in the area! Oh, and the best Bloody Mary made by Julian!..

it’s some years since we last visited The F&B. It’s been totally refurbished and is light, airy and spacious. People make the place, tonight there was a great atmosphere and the staff (especially Ian) were second to none. Food was great, plenty of choice and...

We came here last minute as where we would not ally go was fully booked and it did not disappoint. From start to finish the staff where engaging and so welcoming. We all ordered a roast...the beef comes with a delicious Yorkshire pudding the size...

Visited here for a birthday/anniversary meal. It was pre-booked. The place was quite busy for a Tuesday but all arrangements were great. The staff were helpful and friendly, the food excellent and well presented. The flavours and quality were very good indeed. We liked the...

I’ve eaten here regularly and usually it’s all excellent and top class. However, my experience yesterday was different and just shows you that we’re all human and don’t get it right all the time. I can honestly say that the steak in my lunchtime sandwich...

We were visiting family in the area and they had booked a table for a Sunday evening. Soon as we walked through the doors the staff were very helpful and attentive and the atmosphere very welcoming. Our eldest son is autistic so eating out can...