The Blue Bell 1494 in Cheshire West and Chester

Visited Chester for a concert. So glad we checked out the menu. Food was amazing. Service was impeccable. Next time we are in Chester we will be back. Thank you

Lovely food, lovely atmosphere. Eclectic decor. Thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Great staff. Very attentive. Would highly recommend.

Great Tapas. Good atmosphere and service.

The restaurant was lovely, the tables were not to close together. The service was great and helpful. The food was amazing, I can still taste the chorizo it was delicious. We shared 4 tapas and a paella. Would thoroughly recommend

The food here was very good, the paella was perfect! Lovely beer garden out back too. I would 100% recommend to anyone that loves Spanish style food

Stopped for a small bite on a Sunday evening. The courtyard to the rear and the place in general has a welcoming ambience. Attentive and helpful service by Tom. All staff with a positive attitude. We had a selection of tapas and enjoyed all of them. Thank you.

Just amazing. Service excellent and friendly , surroundings good and wonderful food. Can't wait to go back ! This restaurant has a lovely atmosphere , it also has an outdoor eating area which looks really nice. Weather not suitable when we were there, bit next time!

This tapas restaurant is located in an historic building in the centre of Chester. It is one of the oldest licensed premises in Chester. It has a very pleasant historic interior, a small garden at the rear and a couple of outside tables at the front. We enjoyed all of the dishes. The cheese plate was a very good size and the standout dish was the pigs cheeks. The service was very good.

The dishes all had wonderful flavour and where cooked perfectly in the midst of a slightly chaotic atmosphere, but hey it was something different!!

Cannot fault the amazing Tapas on offer. It was wonderful. The service was excellent, with good knowledge of food when staff were asked. The building is of great character, and a wonderful place to have a lovely meal. We’d definitely return. The food was excellent- best Tapas we’ve had outside Spain.

The worst Tapas I have ever had. Not quite sure how scored so high on reviews. I feel totally ripped off. The croquettes were tiny and only had 3 in fact they wes so small could barely taste them and as for the taste a mushroom on its own would have tasted better. As for the cauliflower in some sort of teraki and mushrooms in sherry the sauces were so strong they were only just edible there was no blending of flavors and overpowered everything did not taste fresh either. The potatas bravas that I had a taste of was also very mediocre and were not exactly moorish. I basically payed £20 ,for a few mouthfuls of barely edible food and to make matters worse was left hungry. I am a foodie and give praise where it is due. I do not recommend eating here.

Food sub par for what they charge. Wouldn't recommend for food. The waiting staff were great though.

Loved it 😊. Visiting Chester and found this Tapas restaurant. Lovely experience,staff a delight and helpful. Food GOOD!!

Amazing little historic building and beautiful food but the main highlight were the staff. Two young men (one Spanish, and one who played for the Spanish cricket team) who are studying at Uni were fantastic to chat with and we really felt part of the restaurant. Would definitely return.

Excellent food, a lovely selection of tapas. Really friendly service from all staff. We didn’t see the resident ghost though!

This is a pleasant restaurant. Spanish themed food in tapas style. Very enjoyable and reasonably priced. Areas for improvement : Let the customer try the wine before serving a full glass. Basic really. The padron peppers would be better served with rock salt rather than the sweet sauce / vinegar offered The constant Up-Selling of the wine / drinks may upset some customers , proactive service is one thing , the hard sell is another .. I should reiterate, the Blue Bell is a very nice experience and my points above are noted for possible improvements , we'll see..

It was okay, staff are lovely and friendly on greeting. We got seated on a walk in. Wish the staff in the dining room upstairs would have done a checkback on our food as 2 out of 3 dishes was just lukewarm but nobody came to check and we were hungry so ate it. Food needs seasoning and we've eaten here previously and found the same issues. Lovely surroundings though and good choice on menu.

Enjoyed a fabulous evening with family last night. Staff were so welcoming, lovely atmosphere & building. Food outstanding.

Absolute all rounder, 10/10. Impeccable service and food Will recommend to every man and his dog!

Absolutely phenomenal food and impeccable service. Staff are so lovely, so attentive and friendly. Every dish we had was absolutely gorgeous, so much so that we went 2 nights in a row! Cannot give a single flaw to the food or the service. All the waitresses/kitchen staff/front of house staff are an utter credit to themselves and maintain the authenticity of the most beautiful restaurant. Our new home from home. Only negative point is that we took so long to try!

They don't have a clue about Spanish food 🙄

I was so excited to celebrate my birthday at this newly discovered Spanish restaurant. After doing some research, reading reviews, and checking out their menu, I was really looking forward to indulging in classic Spanish dishes like paella and churros. Unfortunately, my experience didn’t live up to my expectations. I started with a sangria, though I mistakenly chose the cava version instead of red wine. The drink itself was just okay, with only apple and orange as the fruits inside—nothing special. However, the tapas were a highlight. The gambas were so delicious that we ordered another round, and the bread with oil was also a hit. The manchego with marmalade was good, while the fried calamari was just okay. The chicken with paprika, cauliflower, and tortilla weren’t anything memorable. Then came the biggest letdown of the night—the paella. We knew in advance that it would take about 30 minutes to prepare, as it was noted on the menu and the server informed us as well. However, when it finally arrived, it was disappointing. The seafood on top looked plain, white, and seemed steamed or boiled, rather than being properly cooked into the dish. The portion was small, and the rice was sticking to the pan in a way that made it seem not freshly cooked. Comparing the dish to the beautifully presented paellas they post on social media made it even more frustrating. To end the meal, we ordered churros, which were at least served fresh and hot. However, the sauces were a disaster—one of them looked like mushroom gravy and had no taste at all, which I assume was meant to be dulce de leche. Overall, I left the restaurant feeling disappointed and regretful for choosing this place to celebrate my special day. The food didn’t match the hype, and the paella was a major letdown. I wouldn’t come back, nor would I recommend this place to others.

We have been going to the Bluebell for quite a few years now. We have NEVER been disappointed. The food and ambiance is top rate and the staff always go over and beyond to accommodate us. A perfect place place to meet with friends. Thank you.

Fantastic food and great service.

We have had the pleasure of eating here on our previous trips to Chester. We decided to treat ourselves again tonight. We booked, and on arrival understandably disappointed to not be able to sit downstairs. We were given a table upstairs, surrounded by empty tables. There were two other groups in there. I asked if it was possible to move to another table, one that offered a little more ambience. I was told no, then told we could move a little closer, but not to the empty tables in the nicer bits. From asking to move we noticed a change in response. Our food arrived and it was as we expected good. We didn’t get offered water, despite glasses on the table. We didn’t get asked if our food was okay until we had finished eating, despite waiters walking past us to ask if another table’s meals were okay. I don’t like adding negative reviews, I tried to share my views directly but the host appeared uninterested. When we left the tables were still empty. The young woman said the Chef stopped at 9 the host told me that all the empty tables would be filled! This was 9 pm! Food is great but £70 is a lot of money for us. This was our treat, date night. On a side note didn’t expect Black Sabbath. Just all very disappointing we didn’t just go for food we went for sentimental memories. We left feeling rubbish

The food is always incredible… and the service even better!!! Georgia took the time to advise us on the menu and made the meal an incredible experience. Easily the best service I’ve had in the UK.

Bluebell is such a special restaurant! Food is amazing, location is perfect and the service/staff is unbeatable! Their server Georgia is a sweetheart. Such a gem in Chester. Cannot recommend this place enough!

We visit Chester every Christmas and always eat here. The food is glorious and the service is warm and friendly. The Affogato was divine. Great ambience. If I lived in Chester I would probably always eat here as the food is so delicious.

Perfect little find with excellent quality food

Visited Chester this weekend for Christmas markets decided to eat at the bluebell the staff are really friendly and service was really good we had 6 tapas between 2 and a nice bottle of red wine the food was delicious We had a table upstairs the restaurant felt cosy and had a nice atmosphere I would highly recommend

We go to this tapas every time we visit Chester as its one of our favourites. And tonight didn't disappoint the service was fantastic, staff are so friendly and helpful. Food was amazing 10/10 as always. A beautiful meal, good value and extremely tasty dishes well done to the chef. We shall definitely be back soon

We always come to bluebell when we come to Chester for the delicious food, but this time we brought our newly rehomed dog with us - all the staff were so lovely to him, giving him water and fusses & one lovely waitress brought him a little bowl of meat. Not only was our food amazing, but the treatment of my dog really solidified that this is one of my favourite places to eat in the country. Thank you Bluebell ❤️

We had a meal for six people on a very busy Saturday evening. The food and service were very good. We thought the dishes could have been brought out a little more slowly as there was no room on the table and consequently we felt a little rushed. Overall however we all enjoyed the meal and thought it good value for money with a wide and varied menu, good service and atmosphere.

Really lovely tapas place. Great food, great atmosphere, friendly staff. Will definetly be coming again. Particularly reccomend the sesame cauliflower

4 of us had a great time Monday evening Great service from the team, all very friendly, helped to make our evening so good Food was served quickly. All dishes were delicious Would definitely recommend

Came to the Bluebell to celebrate my wife’s 60th. It did not disappoint, we were recommended to dine here as the paella’s were excellent. Five stars are not enough, it tasted great and the portions were superb! The staff were so nice, not over the top, but just right! Thank you for making my wife’s birthday a real treat.

Amazing food and service. Who knew cauliflower could taste so good 😋. Really good value and great atmosphere. We shared 5 plates between 2 of and were completely satisfied.

Fabulous tapas even at 9:30 in the evening! Friendly staff and a great atmosphere. We chose it after the Ghost Tour as it's haunted!

Amazing food, we booked for a birthday and the staff went above and beyond. Will not cost Chester without coming here

This was our second visit to this wonderful restaurant. The ambiance is just fantastic because you are dining in such a cosy, traditional setting with fantastic, friendly staff. The food was delicious! The extra touches during our visit such as the anniversary drink were so thoughtful. We will definitely be back. Thank you once again.

We visited the Bluebell last night having previously enjoyed our visits there, hence our return. The waiter who took our order offered us a bottle of wine on 'Special Offer' at £20, we took up his offer. Thoughout the meal, he continued to ask if we would like another bottle of wine at £20, which we declined as we had sufficient. When the Bill arrived, we had been charged for 2 bottles of the same wine, 1 bottle at £20 & 1 at £25. This was pointed out to the waiter who said he would amend the bill to remove the extra bottle of wine. When the new bill arrived, it was showing the wine as £25, again we pointed this out to him and he said it was his mistake, he shouldn't have sold us the wine at £20 as it was a promotion from the previous night and it was actually £25! My Husband pointed out that had entered into a 'verbal' contract with us to sell us the bottle at £20, and we would only pay the price the wine was orginally offered at. And in what I can only describe as a contrived effort at emotional manipulation, the waiter proceeded to say ' what you are saying is I'll have to pay the £5 out of my own pocket' . At no time did he offer to bring the manager on this. We paid the figure we were expecting to pay and left. You could have cut the atmosphere with a knife as we left as not one member of staff said goodbye !

Having had a recommendation we decided to try the bluebell. As soon as we walked through the door we knew we were going to have a great experience!! The staff was so friendly and efficient we even had a little tour of the building. The food was AMAZING!! The wine was great to and all finished off with desert and espresso coffees what a treat we had. Thank you bluebell I'm sure we'll be back. Anna & racheal

Nice tapas fairly priced, We found the restaurant interior to be dark and dingy lacking any atmosphere. maybe good on a nice bright day for lunch when you could sit outside n the courtyard

Cheers Alex for being the top of your to do list 😃 lovely food, couldn't recommend it highly enough.

Sensational food. Honestly there is no place better. The staff are friendly and on point you have to visit the blue bell if your in chester. Amazing

An absolutely brilliant find in Chester. Great food and fantastic service. Tom and Alex were the best hosts, thank you!

Myself and my partner just finished a brilliant meal here. The food was amazing and we can’t recommend it enough, and our server, Alex, was a pleasure to talk to and the perfect host! If anyone is thinking of making a visit, make it a must during your time in Chester!

We stopped here for Tapas after a day at Chester races. We sat in the heated garden which was lovely. Great service and excellent tapas. The Pink fizz on the Fizz Friday deal was delicious!

Went for my husbands 40th ! Was 12 of us. Welcoming as soon as we walked in, lovely staff, amazing food can't wait to go back.

My wife and I ate at The Bluebell for the first time for her birthday in August. The tapas was delicious with plenty to chose from on the menu. We even ordered more when we saw what was coming out of the kitchen! The staff couldn't do enough to ensure we enjoyed ourselves. The only slight issue (not an issue as such) we found was the music didn't really fit the restaurant, maybe Spanish music would be better suitable, certainly not a deal breaker though. We would definitely recommend and will return soon.

This place never disappoints, we come to Chester once or twice a year and always make sure we eat at the Blue Bell. Excellent food and service. A couple of drinks and nice tapas for £62 you can't go wrong

Work treated us to dinner. Tapas were delicious & so was the sangria. Service was very good and fast, even though we were quite a large party.

The staff are friendly and fit - literally as they go up and down the stairs a lot! The food was delicious, fresh and authentic. Would definitely recommend the pig cheeks - melt in your mouth tender and served with a smooth peppery carrot puree when we were there.

31/08/2024, an absolute gem of a restaurant, the delicious food couldn’t have been served by better staff, all charming, courteous and helpful.

Excellent tapas. Good choice of vegetarian dishes, quick service. Enjoyed everything we chose. Ate outside in the little yard. Definitely recommend. Great choice if your on holiday in Chester.

Dined at the bluebell for a special occasion, but unfortunately was completely let down by the standard of food. Out of 6 tapas dishes ordered, 3 were sent back to the kitchen because of poor quality or for being undercooked. The pork meatballs were pink in the middle. The calamari was textured like rubber. The fries were not as described. I can't fault the waiting staff, they were on point with all the feedback provided and were apologetic for the situation, removing unsatisfactory dishes from the bill. Overall though, I was extremely disappointed, given the restaurant is so highly rated and was recommended by friends. It poses the question; was the chef on holiday?

Would definitely recommend Blue Bell for tapas, the food is amazing and manager Jess really does make you feel welcome, the service is outstanding! We will definitely be going back next time we’re in Chester

I’d specifically chosen this place to eat as one of my colleagues was allergic to dairy, and the menu featured ‘DF’ (dairy free) options. However, despite ordering DF options and confirming that DF was applicable to my colleague before ordering, upon receiving her order she was advised that some of her DF options may not be dairy free at all, so there were a lot of plates (specifically bread) that she couldn’t eat and went to waste. Upon delivery of the food, we asked for confirmation about some of her order being non DF (because it was hard to believe that we hadn’t ordered responsibly) which was confirmed by the chef. So ordered an extra side of chips for her. There was no apology or offer to remove the offending items or for a refund. We chose to sit outside as it was a lovely evening, but the outside area and furniture could do with updating. It was all a bit ‘tired’ and rickety to say the least. Lovely staff and good service, food was okay, but I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone who has a dairy allergen (her throat would close up - not ‘just’ an upset tummy re dairy intolerance). I don’t often leave a bad review but thought this was worth noting for allergy reasons. Very disappointing, and embarrassing as I thought I’d done my research on the allergy side of things.

Very dog friendly! Delicious tapas, 3 for £20 with a drink. Honey coated cauliflower, chorizo, squid ... all very good. Would go again.

Yummy food. We ordered 3 tapas each plus 2 sides to share and it was about the right amount of food! Sadly left no room for dessert. Sangria was lovely. Lots of vegetarian and gluten free options. Friendly staff, and well done to the man who was being trained to take orders etc - you did great!

I can’t be more happy that I decided to try this place today. The food was exceptionally good. The staff is friendly and you get the vibe of sitting in a tiny tapas in the middle of nowhere. Amazing decor and the prices are great for the ambience they offer. Now I know where to go when I want to eat the tastiest food in Chester.

Lovely paella, friendly staff, lovely atmosphere and environment. And for 2 of us 32 pound wasn’t bad either.

Lovely food, friendly service and all at a good price.

Delicious tapas food in a casual atmosphere. Friendly staff in a building that is more than 500 years old!

Dined 3pm on Saturday. Wonderful food, bettered by the service. Loved every minute. Chorizo croquettes and Goats Cheese were exquisite. ❤️

Table for 2 on a Saturday evening. What an amazing time we had. Rachel was our main waitress and she was super, couldn't have been anymore friendly and helpful with everything we asked for. Food was amazing as this was our 3rd time here. Will be visiting again. Thanks bluebell team !

Smaller venue than we expected but nothing wrong with that. We had booked online in advance and were surprised how few people were there (think football may have had a hand in that). Staff were friendly and service was spot on. Food was fantastic. I have a fish allergy but my wife doesn't. She ordered the Calamares Andalucia and the staff made sure it was away from me and she got a separate set of cutlery to avoid cross contaminating the rest of the food. The portion sizes were fine for the two of us, we ordered around 8 dishes and each dish was great. Would definitely return next time staying in Chester.

Beautiful food and ambience. The staff were the stars, 2 young ladies constantly on the go with friendly helpful attitudes. Great value for money, absolutely faultless.

Second visit and really enjoyed food again. Good choices for vegetarians too. Friendly staff and gorgeous building and cute courtyard. Can’t wait to visit again soon.

Lovely evening here with a group of friends tried lots of tapas dishes and all excellent . Service was. Also excellent. Could not fault any part of it .

Highly recommended! Best place in Chester for real spanish food! Lovely service as well,we will definitely be back

We had a great meal and would definitely visit again! We found a few of the portion sizes on the smaller side particularly the calamari & pardon peppers. If you want plenty or to share you may need multiple portions. Every dish we had tasted amazing and authentic. Great service and great music played throughout. Save space for churros!

Superb Tapas, we particularly enjoyed the Cauliflower dish and the Green Beans. The massive Green Olives were also extremely tasty and high quality. Service was excellent, friendly and timely. Well done folks !!

Came with a friend last week, and the food was fabulous! Really lovely staff and a really nice buzz about the place. The outdoor area is a great little spot. I’d highly recommend

Having been to the Bluebell a couple of times last year as had an amazing time with delicious food, My Husband i and choose to celebrate out special 20th Wedding anniversary there yesterday 17/04/2024 OMG what a disappointment, the worst £70 on food (no drinks in that ) i have ever ever spent and ruined what should have been a memorable evening.. on top of that extra dishes were added to our order that we didn't order and the waiter said well they are on your bill you may as well have them, EEERRRRR NO. the mushrooms were nothing like last year and utterly disgusting ( they were my favourite dish) the squid in the paella was so tough it could have been used as car tires. and to top the whole affair of both myself and my Mum are coeliac, staff were made very aware of the fact everything needed to be gluten free BUT obviously not as we both had very bad effects of being glutened over night and still throughout today. NOT HOW I WANTED TO REMEMBER MY 20TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, very disappointed to say the least

Thank you Janice for finding us a table on Saturday 13th. We had a brilliant yummy meal with Tom serving us with a fun but helpful manner a great assist. Thank you to all tbe lovely staff - we keep coming back

Told the waitress one of the tapas was to salty, we only took 1 bite she said sorry and never removed it from the bill. The oil was old which was used to cook the churros . Apart from that the beer was cold .

Came with my partner recently and was a great experience. Service was incredible from the very start, Jess our primary server is fantastic, brilliant, knowledgeable and such a friendly persona, made the time spent here set apart. The food in the kitchen, informed cooked by Chaf Nathan was lovely, great specials ! The lamb dish was sublime and all food was tasty and very relaxed. Brilliant value for money and the Sangria is a must whilst you tuck in ! Will definitely be back !

Sat in the courtyard as we didn’t have a booking, but it’s well sheltered from the wind and the patio heaters keep you warm Decor is pretty cool and relaxed Staff were all friendly and exceptional from start to finish What lets this place down is that regarding value for money, you can find chain tapas restaurants offering better The chefs special of the bravas was practically criminal for what was being charged The calamares was substandard in both quantity and quality The mixta paella, however, was OUTSTANDING in flavour - even the rice was nice and crunchy There was even a fair amount of seafood, chicken and chorizo….but of the rice, you probably get three mouthfuls and that’s it! Why skimp on what is probably the cheapest of all the ingredients?? It didn’t even cover the surface of the pan, the portion was that meagre - completely baffling Fix the size of portions and it’s a 4 star establishment, cos the service is great But I have to make a fair comparison to the many other tapa’s establishments I have been to

The Bluebell dates from 1494 (~530 years) and was nearly demolished in the 1960s to afford road widening. It survived. Come visit!

First rate tapas selection ranging from basics to some very sophistcated flavours . Our party was warmly welcomed by the staff and we were well served by very pleasant mannered staff. If you have a few drinks, who wouldn't, then take care because its a proper old building and the floors are about as level as the pyrenese and there are some crafty low oak beams waiting to smack you on the swede. All part of the character though.

We’ve been here before and the tapas food doesn’t disappoint. Good portions and flavoursome. I actually had the paella this time and although visually it lacked inspiration, it was very tasty . My wife had the tapas and she thoroughly enjoyed it. I especially liked the cheesy garlic bread. She thought the cauliflower with infused honey was very good. Servers Laura and Tom, do a great job and seem to have a good rapport with customers. If you’re in Chester, I’d recommend you check out the Bluebell.

Absolutely delicious tapas and sangria. Staff so welcoming and friendly. Had a really lovely night. Will return on my next visit to Chester.

We love tapas but never previously discovered this restaurant, the staff were excellent, great menu, can you believe a bottle of Prosecco was half price on Friday! Truly unbelievable anywhere in Chester, a must visit if your in the area, I would advise booking to avoid disappointment

Wonderful tasty tapas lunch. Great atmosphere and very friendly staff. Will definitely be back soon. The rioja was gorgeous

Another lovely meal , food delicious, service excellent, we visit quite often and today it was better than ever especially the Cauliflower dish, Churros always a highlight for us!

Thank you Lauren and staff for making us feel so welcome, we had out two dogs enjoyed tapas and lovely glass of wine outside, will definitely return especially loved the excellent white wine.

Tasty tapas and comfy setting for friendly catch up. Plenty of gluten free choices and really liked the garlic bread option of having half cheese and half tomato - saves having to choose just one! Staff were very polite and made us feel comfortable. Thank you.

Tasty food, with a really cute and cosy atmosphere. Been several times now and while there has been a bit of fluctuation in how good the food is we have never left disappointed.

What a quaint little pub with beautiful tapas! There’s a wide variety of foods to choose from, all beautifully presented and served by really friendly staff. I’d highly recommend this for a lunch with friends or an evening get together!

We loved our lunch on a wet January lunch time. A great welcome, tasty tapas and lovely service. The building is really quaint too.

Due to issues with staff in the kitchen, we waited 45 minutes before receiving our first couple of dishes. We found the dishes tasty, but disappointingly small compared to other Tapas Restaurants and had to order more bread to compensate. Staff were very friendly and bubbly, although obviously overstretched. In short, our overall opinion is not the best value for money.

Great tapas, lovely sangria !!!

We visited for lunch on a Saturday. A friendly welcome and we were seated quickly. The inside is lovely - a really pretty old building. Service was friendly and attentive. We ordered 6 tapas plates plus bread between two of us and it was perfect - everything was cooked beautifully and well presented. Would highly recommend a visit.

Amazing place for meal out, wonderful food in a lovely old building, and amazing staff

We came for a family meal. The food was excellent- full of flavour and generous portions. The wine was excellent and a very fair price for the quality. What made our visit was the staff - they were helpful, friendly and really made us want to return. Thank you!

Lovely place, great food, but disappointed there was only one fish dish left. Service was friendly and helpful. Would recommend a visit anytime.

Disappointed to find all the fish dishes except the prawns were off along with the most interesting chorizo dish. However, the rest of the menu was very good. Slowish but efficient and cheerful service. Really tasty dishes made for an enjoyable evening, finished with some churros with an especially tasty deep chocolate dip. We will return.

Lovely food, quaint little pub, great staff(we had 3 serving us, all really lovely but only got jess's name... she was lively and fun and great with customers). Food was served quickly and hot. Reasonably priced too.

Went last night for a Birthday meal and drinks for a party of 10 (oh and 1 dog), fabulous meal and all the staff were brilliant, nothing was too much trouble and they all made us feel so welcome with their happy smiling faces. We eat out quite a lot and this was our first visit to The Bluebell and needless to say we will definitely be back again. If you are looking for a family pub with excellent food and a very friendly atmosphere , do not hesitate to book as you will not be disappointed. Thank you to all the staff again.