The Cavern Of The Curious Gnome in Cheshire West and Chester

Very different vibe, great Belgium beer, friendly staff and the food was perfect.

What a great find. If your thing is beers from around Europe this is your utopia.

I never be come to here on before. I need breakfast on last morning. I leave from guest house on last morning. No problem

A great but quirky pub located above a Paysan. It can get busy, but well worth a visit. They have a great selection of beers and a wide price range.

As close to a bruges bar you will get in this country. Extensive choice of beers and great cheeseboard/snacks or frites and chicken. With lively atmosphere.

Brilliant place. A vibrant bar if you can find. Staff were excellent, friendly patrons. A good choice of beers. We called for 1 drink and had a few.

One of Chester's hidden gems that must be checked out if you love beer. Huge variety of Belgian and European beers available, either on tap or in bottles. One of the most uniquely themed bars you'll come across. Great beer selection, great selection of tunes on the jukebox, and fantastic staff. No wonder it's one of my favourite places to go to in Chester!

A must visit good range of Belgium beer plus others

Superb beer selection and specialising in Belgian and European beers. Lots to choose from along with a good cask and can or bottles in the fridges. Could be missed if you didn't know it was up the stairs in paysan, was busy but well catered for.

Excellent beer hall. Good selection of ale and beer on draught. Cheese board and bread tastes fantastic alongside a few beers.

So pleased we found this bar. Super friendly staff, great choice of international beers and wines. Great atmosphere.

Such a cool spot with inside and outside seating. Downstairs you drink wine, upstairs you drink beer. Bathrooms are nice. Bartender was great. Really helped us pick the best wine for us even though it was busy. I recommend a stop here.

Good selection of beers fast service. Nice early evening beer.

Charming enough place to drink upstairs made my wallet quite a lot lighter

Good beer and wine bar, busy and full of atmosphere. Good choice of wines and beers. Worth a visit.

Blink and you think you are in Belgium. The best Belguum beer themed pub in UK that I've been to.

Love this place a little on the pricey side but worth a visit

Great selection of beers and all sorts strengths! Not the easiest to find this quirkiest of bars. Lovely cheese board for a snack

Really nice selection of beers. Free jukebox with great selection.

Curious but not so curious place. Very popular, so people can't be wrong.

Lots of lovely beers in a darkened cavern. Get yourselves upstairs and sip the night away.

Brilliant selection of draught beers for people that care about quality beer. If you can find it, then maybe you too can enjoy this hidden gem.

Loved this quirky place. Only criticism was does not sell any Ciders, not even in bottles. There were 6 of us in our party and 2 drink cider

We love it here! Quirky and cosy

Best place in Chester. Amazing array of interesting beers, excellent atmosphere and the chicken and chips is something else. Better still, you can leave the missus downstairs at the wine bar.

Barman pleasant. Beer choice very good. Not too busy on Monday at 4pm.

It's a struggle to find because you have to go up a level in the old town then through a wine bar and up the stairs but it is well worth the hunt. Only 4 cask ales (quality by the way ) but the choice of Keg is phenomenal. Food looked fabulous but wasn't hungry, will definitely call in again, now I know where it is.

Atmospheric and chill place to grab a drink and well seasoned and tasty rotisserie chicken. Staff were very friendly, especially in the wine bar downstairs. Brilliant Belgian beer selection. Half rotisserie chicken and chips was £11.95(?) but had we gone two days prior they had one of their surprise £5 chicken and chips deals which they announce on socials.

My new favourite place in Chester! What a great pub and selection of beers.

Ask for the (secret?) beer that's not listed on the Trappist page of the beer menu: Tynt Meadow. It's the first Trappist beer to be brewed in England since the reformation! A great selection of beers here, a friendly welcome, and a comfortable and unpretentious environment. There was such a great playlist on during my visit that I had to keep putting down my library book to listen. Yes, solo travellers are welcome, as well as groups. If you're an oversea visitor, note that this is pub rules - you buy your drink at the bar, and carry it to your table. If you just sit down and wait, you court disappointmen. 🍻

Great selection of beer. Literally hundreds. Good bar snacks. Lively atmosphere

Saw this place on tripadvisor and wanted to go. Found it very hard to find it and were a little disappointed with the lack of gnomes. I did feel like going out and buying some to leave there. I loved the toadstool bar stools and it was funny to see men sat on them Please note they only sell beers here - but in the bar downstairs you can buy other drinks and take it upstairs to the gnome bar.

Great place to drink with friends, and plenty of space to sit.

Great place to spend a good afternoon enjoying some great, and well kept, beers. Staff were spot on, knowledgeable about the brews and other drinks that they have on offer, as well as prompt service at the bar... which always makes the experience flow. It is also pleasant to see a business that is happy to share their own opinions about the wider world, and not just the great beers that they are pouring. So as a Russian speaker and general Russophile, I give you a big thumbs up.

Group of 6,love the atmosphere. We didn't eat but will next time 😁

Great bar, knowledgeable friendly staff. Amazing selection of my favorite beers and a statement that has nothing to do with politics, it's how most people feel.

Excellent place with great slogans, which are very enjoyable to read while drinking and eating, particularly because they are all correct.

Bangin beers, awesome service, very friendly gnome.

Great place and great food. Bar staff are really friendly and the beers are pretty amazing too. We always pay a visit when we are in town.

Great beer, great atmosphere, great people. Great political slogans!

Great beer, fantastic staff, a perfect place.

Best beers, good service! Just so much political slogans.. pub need be out of political

political slogans in the pub. pubs should be out of politics. there are tourists from different countries here

Great selection of continental beers, draft and bottled. V extensive wine list. Serve small plates of cured meats and cheeses which looked fabulous. Will call next time in Chester.

Very good cheeseboard with really nice breads. Fine selection of Belgian beers. Disappointing selection of cask beers - only golden beers available (with 4 pumps they should offer a choice)

A real privilege drinking ale in here. Not just a classic bar but 4 cask pumps are pouring undoubtedly the best beer I’ll probably drink this week. Well worth seeking out and if you manage to secure a table - do not venture anywhere else❗️

Quirky hidden gem in Chester. Upstairs from Paysan (you'd miss it if you didn't know about it). Lots of attention to detail and if you're a fan of Belgian beer, you'll love it here!

Great gem of Chester for European beers Fantastic bar a little bit hard to find as up on the Third floor but well worth repeatedly visiting

Wednesday 30th August 2023 This place is well hidden, but it its well worth hunting out if a lover of real ales and the been in places weired This place is a great barn of real ale and Peice to talk Good staff and a pleasant time had Well done all involved

Superb place if you enjoy good beer and wine as they stock a vast range of both. Downstairs is the winebar while upstairs is where you'll find the beers on sale. There you'll find great Belgian beers like Chimay, Trappiste Rochfort and Westmalle. Well worth a visit when in Chester.

A great choice of beers, on draft and bottled. I really liked it here and look forward to returning!

Situated above a wine bar/restaurant, the pub upstairs offers a wide selection of real ales. If you want wine you have to go downstairs. A very good ambience with toadstool seats at the bar. We'll worth a visit.

Brilliant hidden place,if you don't know where it is you probably won't find it,grab a comfy toadstool at the bar if you can! A wide range of ales available,lots of quirky decorations.If you can visit,give this unique bar a try-you won't be disappointed!

Great beers and quirky deco and atmosphere. I wanted to love it but £7.20 for two thirds of La Chouffe?! I probably won't be back at that price.

The lure of the gnome always draws you back. Step into Daddy Gnome's realm and enjoy a few belgium beers with Gerald the gert big gnome marra. Put some tunes on the juke box and vacate the pains of modern life. MAKE SURE YOU GET A CHEESEBOARD!!!

Great selection of continental beers

Central location, quirky decor, cool music and great beers. It's a must! Definitely recommend it. The usual hidden gem!

This place is the best in Chester! I love it.

As a bit of a Belgophile there was lots here that was spot on - the extensive beer selection in a clear menu on each table; draft Belgians, a rare treat; proper glasses; quirky ‘La Chouffe’ themed decor; even the crates and barrels stuffed in every available corner were nice. But inevitably, despite getting all this right, they miss out on half of the Belgian bar experience with typically reluctant UK style bar service. The place was empty both times we went - why didn’t the guy come to our table where the menus were? They would have in Belgium even if it was packed. And he would have during Covid. Why not now? He had to come out to collect empties after we left anyway. I just don’t get it… generally he was running around looking too busy doing more important stuff than making sure the customers were a priority. And whilst not rude by any means, he could certainly benefit from a bit of genial Flemish charm and warmth. We just felt in his way, and didn’t linger which I can’t help thinking is a real shame, as we went in without about as much enthusiasm and good will as you’re ever going to get for a place like this and plenty time to kill. This would be a five star place for me if they sorted this real weak link out. As it is, I’m not super keen to return, sadly.

Amazing and quirky place. Great selection of beers and the rotisserie chicken is brilliant. Would highly recommend for anyone looking for something a little bit different.

ace . met up with family. cool place .x x

Great place for a drink and a chat.

Loved this place, good vibe, loads of great beers to choose from and knowledgeable staff. We sampled the wine, that was good too 😁

Bar at top of building lots of stairs for a person with a stick, went for some real ale not worth the climb, toilets downstairs none upstairs not disabled friendly

Lots of room, on 2 levels Large selection of drinks Friendly staff Great food

Great out of the way pub fantastic choice of beers

This is fantastic quirky bar, with a very impressive selection of beers; bottled and draft! Go into the Deli / wine bar / cafe place called Paysans and then up the stairs. The beer menus (one projected onto the wall and another in book format) are great and very informative. Draft beers from Vocation to La Chouffe. The choice of bottled Belgian beers is one of the very best I've ever seen. Not to be missed if you're in Chester.

Loved it here. The beer list is mighty impressive with Belgian beers featuring heavily, some well known and some not so. Drinking La Chouffe on tap surrounded by all the beer paraphernalia was just like being back in our favourite bar in Bruges.

Really nice bar. Great selection of beers.

Quirky place but it has a good selection of ales. I would recommend the apricot lager

What’s not to like? Cracking Belgian / Real Ale bar with good ambiance and straightforward simple selection of snacks. It’s inside the Paysan wine bar up the stairs. Love it👍

Really nice wine and beer selection, nice atmosphere as well, definitely recommend

Superb beer selection and ambience in Chester's historic Rows.

their website states they do no take phone calls ( strange) They also do not respond to emails of which I have a query about potentially being overcharged,

Great choice of beers. Mostly Belgian, but German and others present too. Choice of about a dozen on draught, with many more in bottles.

A unique bar that specializes in Belgian ales. The atmosphere is unique, the options plentiful, the staff friendly, and the prices competitive.

Brilliant place, great beer and wine. Spent a few hours in there after watching scarborough get a late equaliser against chester UTB

Fantastic place amazing selection of unreal beers best bar in the UK for for access to too quality german and Belgium beers on draft and bottle

New bar for Ic and Flic and me. In CAMRA 2023 Beer Guide. On left side heading down Bridge St to river. On upper deck find Paysan wine bar. Enter, pass bar, up stairs and voila. Beer only bar..4 real ales and lots of Belgium beers. Bring wine etc up from Paysan. Where toilets are. Excellent bar. Ic had a pint of Chapter " Taller than a horse" pale ale for £4.90. Very good.

Loved the name so planned to visit whilst in Chester. Read some reviews saying very hard to find but we actually found it by accident. It’s on bridge street rows inside paysans upstairs. What a curious place. Tried 3 draft beers we’d not had before. Free jukebox

Very quirky and fairly difficult to find but definitely worth finding, good range of well kept ales

Great place for Belgium beer, a sharing platter cheese board and parsnip crisps. Well worth a visit. So different. Got to give this place a go

A curious name for a curious bar. If beer, wine and great sharing platters are for you then look no further! No bookings taken and first come first serve is the name of the game. Just like popular pubs used to be. A huge selection of drinks to sample and if you fancy donating a shoe as a deposit then quak your Evening away. Shoes available back at the return of a most excellent glass!

Nice quirky bar selling a great selection of belgian beers. A little difficult to find but once you're in its a very nice place with a great atmosphere. Could do with being a bit brighter inside at night as it was a bit dark to see all the different beers on offer. Would still go back no problem at all as I love all the different drinks on offer. Just been back again in the day and had a great time. This is a must for any craft beer fan.

Unique bar with a great selection of quality beers from across Europe. We couldn’t find it so went into the wine bar and had a bottle of wine with some cheeses etc. I asked the waiter where this bar was , “It’s just up these stairs”. Lovely wine and cheeses downstairs. Went back the next day but was closed.

Great night out. Good range of beers. From reasonable price to expensive.

Great venue. Paysan wine bar is the lower floor and Cavern of the Curious gnome is upstairs. Great cask beer selection x 4 hand cranks and huge selection of bottled beers. Busy venue

Within & the floor above Paysan…. Brilliant range of rare beers, try to call in as often as we are in town, nice chilled out atmosphere, good music, decor and friendly knowledgeable staff to help you make your choice.

A fun bar in an interesting building with a great selection of beer. But challenging to find. You won't see it from street level!

Interesting upstairs bar above a wine bar with real ale available

Recommended by a friend great place to enjoy great trappist beers 🍻 on the down side £11.60 Rochfort 10 If a was a tourist which I am not still no excuse . Shame on you

Top drawer bar. Excellent selection of beer in a beautiful building.

It felt a bit odd to have to get to The Cavern Of The Curious Gnome through the Paysan wine bar downstairs, but it was definitely worth visiting it. Lovely décor, convivial atmosphere and great beers, our only complaint would be that it is popular...

Fantastic pub with a wide selection of local and continental beers

Sat overlooking kitchen and omg the potato peeling kitchen girl was absolutely amazing. Never seen a spud peeled so fast

Always a good selection of real and craft ale

Lovely atmosphere and amazing choice of ales

If you like a craft beer and a atmosphere, I can recommend this place enough. Hou would never find it in a million years hidden above a wine Bar even if you where stood outside you'd struggle to see it find one of Chesters hidden secrets and get in for a sneaky craft bear. If you found this review I promise glory is at the end of the treasure map. #Easteregg

This was the second or third time we have visited. Good selection of beer and mid week was a great place to escape the World Cup. They give a discount for CAMRA members, I didn't think to ask if they took the vouchers? The wine...

Good place to relax with friends