Basement 85, Chester

A modest street-level entrance belies the historic character of this cellar bar, which once served as the subterranean vaults of the 1820 townhouse above.

A tile-floor front room acts as an anchor point, opening up to a larger room at the rear. This, in turn, leads through to intimate alcove seating tucked beneath a brickwork vaulted ceiling. A dense collection of framed artwork and prints covers the whitewashed walls, while the furniture offers an eclectic mix of traditional wood dining tables, high-backed chairs and cozy bench seating topped with scatter cushions.

Previous iterations have included the Henry Potts and prior to that the Big Hand Alehouse but, in all guises, despite being tastefully furnished and well-operated in what is an interesting building, it's mysteriously never been a true success. Most folk point to it being the wrong side of the inner ring-road which serves as an invisible glass wall precluding crucial footfall.

Let's hope this latest incarnation finally smashes the glass wall.