The Red Lion, perched on Northgate Street in Chester, traces its roots to the 17th century as a bustling inn near the city walls. Rebuilt in the Georgian era, its red-brick facade and low-beamed interior welcomed soldiers, travelers, and locals along Chester’s Roman roads. Named for England’s heraldic lion or a nod to its roaring hearth, it’s dodged time’s decay to remain a cozy pub. Its weathered past growls with Chester ghost stories that linger in its snug corners.
The inn thrived as Chester linked trade routes to its medieval core, its bar a refuge during the Civil War and beyond. Steps from the cathedral and Northgate, it soaked up centuries of revelry and strife—some say with patrons still raising a glass. The Red Lion blends Chester’s rich history with a haunted hum, drawing fans of Chester ghost stories and historic haunts.
One chilling tale tells of The Soldier’s Toast, a 1640s trooper who died here mid-drink, gutted in a brawl over cards. His faint clink of tankards echoes near the bar, and a whiff of ale trails—patrons feel a shove on rowdy nights. Another story spins The Landlord’s Curse, a gruff owner who vanished in 1780 after cheating a guest, rumored buried under the cellar. His angry mutters drift from below, and barrels roll—staff spot a shadow by the trapdoor. These Chester ghost stories roar through The Red Lion, its warmth edged with spectral claws.