The Lock Vaults on Hoole Lane underwent an extensive refurbishment in 2022 and 2023 which has been recognised by Chester Civic Trust with a 2024 award presented recently to licensee Carl Burleigh by Trust Chair Christine Russell.

The £400,000 redevelopment has been a long process. Carl had driven past the pub for many years seeing it boarded up. His wife worked at NWS which was just down the road. Two years ago he made the commitment to take on the redevelopment of the pub and run it. Previously The Lock Vaults had a mock Tudor exterior and was boarded-up with peeling paint, graffiti and weeds but has been remodelled with a charcoal grey and wood effect exterior, new roof, bi-fold café style windows and brighter lighting.

Inside, brickwork, wood floors and decorative tiles were exposed which, together with old photographs of Chester, give the pub a ‘vintage feel’.

A brighter entrance leads to a lounge area with a working fire and two bar areas, both showing Sky Sports. Carl is hoping to take responsibility for a patch of land by the front of the pub for a pavement café opposite. A pavement licence is being applied for.

The pub is dog friendly. People can often be found sneaking in for a pint after a brief walk along the canal. The Lock Vaults serves pizzas and Pieminister pies and classic pub grub in the evenings. The bar is stocked with three cask ales, three craft beers on tap, and a range of lagers, wines and spirits with a coffee machine.

There is a quiz on Tuesday night, on phones and iPads and karaoke from the 50s 60s 70s and 80s with a monthly DJ. A choir in Hoole will sing Christmas carols on weekends in December.

Carl Burleigh said of redeveloping The Lock Vaults; “The biggest challenges were refitting the cellar and kitchens, installing a new cable to give three phase power and delays on planning permission and installation for the bi-fold windows.”

Christine Russell, Chair of Chester Civic Trust said; “We want to encourage investment into our city and particularly to recognise great projects that breathe new life into Chester and its communities. This is an excellent example of this and we applaud Carl and his colleagues.”

Nominations for the Chester Civic Trust 2025 Good, Bad and Ugly awards are open now , before the deadline in January.

More information: https://chestercivictrust.org.uk/