Prost! Celebrate Oktoberfest in Chester #Chester Food and Drink Month

Briony Wilson
23rd September 2021

You would be forgiven for thinking that Oktoberfest happens in October – but this much-loved, annual beer party actually kicks off on the 18th September, and continues until 3rd October. Originating in Munich, Oktoberfest is now celebrated throughout Europe, and feels like the perfect excuse to Raise a Stein to those fabulous bars and pubs who create their very own versions of this epic, Bavarian-style festival within their own venues. Tune in to our socials from the 18th September to join the party.

Oktoberfest Chester Comes To The Townhouse Secret Garden

The Townhouse Secret Garden is set to recreate the legendary Oktoberfest right in the heart of Chester. The venue will be transformed with full Oktoberfest decorations. Waitresses and waiters will be dressed in traditional Dirndl and Lederhosen, and they will be serving only the very best German beer.

Oktoberfest Chester will officially launch on Friday 25th September, and events will run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday for three weeks until 10th October. Guests will be able to book a four-hour session, either 12pm – 4pm or 6pm – 10pm. With authentic German beer steins and German sausages cooking on the BBQ, Chester Oktoberfest will bring the fun spirit of the famous Munich festival to Chester. There will also be live entertainment to really get the party started.

Tickets to the event will cost £75 per person and include access to the four hour event with unlimited beer and unlimited freshly cooked sausages during each of the sessions. There will be live entertainment, and you get to keep your souvenir Oktoberfest two litre stein to take home. Numbers for each session will be limited and guests will need to book in advance, so the venue can ensure everyone has a seat.

To book your tickets please call or email Chester Townhouse – 01244 567300 or [email protected].

 

The Cavern of the Curious Gnome – a European beer adventure all year round, but especially good at Oktoberfest time!

Upstairs at Paysan, you will find a very special place. It’s a little like falling down the rabbit hole, only you end up in a magical land of fabulous beer, which is far from make-believe. The Cavern of the Curious Gnome transports you to a year-round festival of superb European – and particularly German – beers and lagers, and the giant gnome is always on-hand to make the best suggestions. There’s plenty to choose from on draught, including Schneider Weisse and Früh Kölsch, as well as one helluva bottle selection, featuring Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel, Schneider’s Bayrisch Hell, Edelstoff and many more. Sit yourself down on a toadstool and enjoy this fairy-tale journey to who knows where …

Paysan and The Cavern of the Curious Gnome, 61 Bridge Street Row, Chester, 01244 641704, www.paysanwine.co.uk

 

Commonhall Social – the perfect Oktoberfest venue with a stunning, Scandi-style beer garden

When it comes to bloody good beer, Stew and the team at Commonhall Social certainly know their stuff! These guys have an ever-changing selection of local craft beers and ales, meaning they have something new for their beer-loving guests to try on every visit. This epic venue comes alive with its legendary Oktoberfest celebrations, complete with Bier, Lederhosen and Bratwurst! There is a new kitchen team in place, who are working hard on a special, seasonal menu, to accompany those fabulous beers perfectly. So it’s time to don your Lederhosen and head down to Commonhall Social, where the beer is cold and the sausage is hot, to enjoy their very own version of Oktoberfest in their fabulous, Scandi-style beer garden.

10 Commonhall Street, Chester, 01244 313258, www.commonhall.co.uk

 

The Chester Fields – an alternative way to celebrate Oktoberfest season!

Mark ‘Jarvo’ Jarvis at The Chester Fields is well known for doing things very differently, which is probably one of the reasons why I like him so much! This guy absolutely loves Oktoberfest, and has spent many an eventful trip to the real-deal in Munich over the years with his best friend Alex. So when it came to planning something a little left-of-centre for post-pandemic, Bavarian-esque shenanigans, of course he opted for a rum tasting party extravaganza with 17-strong sea-shanty band, ‘The Old Time Sailors’, performing live – of course! This one-off rum party takes place on Thursday 16th September and tickets will probably be on sale by the time you’re reading this (some sort of swashbuckling seaman’s menu will be included too), but be quick – this one will definitely be a sell-out! And for a more traditional Oktoberfest offering, you’ll be able to order a Käsekrainer (salty German sausage filled with gooey cheese) and a Bavarian beer in the bar for around £10.00 all-in for the month of September, and probably October if you like it that much. I’ll see you at the bar!

Sandfield Farm, Chester Road, Chester 01244 303100, www.thechesterfields.co.uk

 

Getting Smashed this Oktoberfest, but with zero hangovers!

And now for something completely different! The rise of zero alcohol drinks is pretty full-on right now. Maybe lockdown has played a part – but there has definitely been a sharp shift in the amount of people looking for great tasting, good quality alternatives to their usual alcoholic tipples, whether drinking at home or out with friends. Choice however has been limited and taste and quality in short supply, but all that is changing with the arrival of the Smashed range from Northern based Drynks Unlimited. Smashed is a zero alcohol, craft beer and cider range which has taken the on-trade by storm – and you can find them in a long list of Chester venues including The Chester Fields, Artezzan, The Old Dukes, The Suburbs, The Yard, Liquor & Co, Craft & Company, Burger Shed 41 and Urbano 32, with many more following this growing trend.

The thing is – they taste just like beer and cider! The Smashed head brewer is a very clever guy, as these products are brewed with the alcohol in, which is then extracted, leaving just great tasting lager, pale ale, apple cider, fruit berry cider (and my personal favourite) citrus beer, which I can honestly drink all night long, (plus it’s great with food). So if you fancy enjoying the Oktoberfest festivities this year but without the horrid hangovers – then you need to get Smashed with me!

Go to www.drynks.co.uk to order online

 

The Deva Tap

I feel like The Deva Tap is an all-year-round Oktoberfest! They always have superb-quality craft ales available, the food is the best drinking food going and the new heated and covered outside space is the perfect place to enjoy a few pints and a delicious German sausage (or two!), along with your fellow beer-loving chums. What more could you need? This fabulous, independent real ale and good food pub sits just a few minutes-walk from the city centre and is a great (and very welcoming) venue to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Here is a list of the seasonal beers which will be featuring at The Deva Tap this Oktoberfest: Krombacher Pilsner 4.8%, Paulaner Oktoberfest 6.0%, Paulaner Ur Dunkel 5.0%, Paulaner Hefe-Weiss 5.5%, Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest 6.0%, Lowenbrau Oktoberfest bier 6.1%, Spaten Oktoberfest 5.9%, Hofbrau Oktoberfest 6.3%. Add to that a special menu of currywurst, schnitzel and pork knuckle, served with potatoes and sauerkraut, and you’ve got yourselves one epic Oktoberfest destination!

121 Brook Street, Chester, 01244 314440, www.thedevatap.co.uk

 

The Brewery Tap – from Farm to Stein!

A stunning medieval hall – is there anywhere more atmospheric to enjoy Oktoberfest 2021?
The Brewery Tap is a proper pub in every sense of the word, and there is nowhere else in Chester quite like it. Life at The Brewery Tap revolves around the bar, and this genuine bona-fide real ale pub serves a full array of award-winning beer, so much of it from its very own local brewery just outside the city centre …. What a wonderful setting to enjoy proper beer and fabulous pub food using the very best local produce! Pork, salad, vegetables, fruit, and honey served at The Brewery Tap arrive directly from the Spitting Feathers Brewery down on Common Farm. Where better to enjoy your very own Chester Oktoberfest every every day of the week! Let’s hope they’ll be using their delicious rare-breed pork in their own Chester version of a currywurst too! Get yourself sitting down at one of their wonderful wooden pub tables and raise a glass to the best real ale this Oktoberfest!

Gamul House, 52-54 Lower Bridge Street, Chester, 01244 340999,
www.spittingfeathers.co.uk/the-brewery-tap

 

OKTOBERFEST CHESTER is just one of the campaigns featured as part of Chester Food and Drink month, which is organised in conjunction with We Love Good Times and kindly sponsored by The Townhouse Secret Garden, QBunk and Destination Chester. For more information about the sponsors and the Chester Food and Drink Month 2021, please head to

https://chesterfoodanddrinkmonth.co.uk