The Wicket Gate
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Quick info
About The Wicket Gate
The Wicket Gate is a pub on Front Street in Chester Le Street, set across a downstairs bar and an upstairs area that opens onto a rooftop beer garden. The kitchen runs an all-day brunch alongside breakfast service and serves cheap pints at the bar. Walk-ins set the pace throughout the day, with the upstairs space and rooftop terrace drawing the after-work and weekend crowd. The pub follows a traditional neighbourhood format, with the upstairs refurbishment giving it a split-level layout that works for casual drinks and group meet-ups alike. The rooftop garden adds an outdoor option above the street, rounding out the pub's indoor and outdoor offer.
Good to know
- ParkingPaid parking lot
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, restroom
- Good for kidsGood for kids
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Menu & Prices
79 dishes- Large Breakfast
- Traditional Breakfast
- Small Breakfast
- Large Vegetarian Breakfast
- Vegetarian Breakfast
- Small Vegetarian Breakfast
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention greasy sausages, soggy hash browns, rooftop beer garden and cheap pints.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention greasy sausages, soggy hash browns, rooftop beer garden and cheap pints.
Customer Review Summary
Breakfast draws the most comment, and mostly criticism. Reviewers describe a large breakfast with greasy, herb-heavy sausages, oil-soaked hash browns, barely warm eggs and only a few teaspoons of beans. Others praise the atmosphere, cheap pints and the rooftop beer garden, though one reports people vaping in the upstairs outdoor area despite the no-smoking rule, with staff not intervening.
Customer Review Summary
Breakfast draws the most comment, and mostly criticism. Reviewers describe a large breakfast with greasy, herb-heavy sausages, oil-soaked hash browns, barely warm eggs and only a few teaspoons of beans. Others praise the atmosphere, cheap pints and the rooftop beer garden, though one reports people vaping in the upstairs outdoor area despite the no-smoking rule, with staff not intervening.
Featured reviews
- Fred Hindle
“Sitting in upstairs outside area which is meant to be no smoking or vaping. Numerous tables can be seen vaping clearly but non of staff doing anything about it. Smell spoilt after noon out for a drink in the sun with my wife.. Something needs to be done urgently please”
- Anthony Peel
“Breakfast us bang on,food is poor,cheap pints,alcholics dream”
- William Craig
“The rooftop beer garden is a hidden gem, which needs your attention !! 😉”
- Jeff Davison
“Updated 08-08-2026 Went to Chester Le Street Monday 1st and had a large brekkie while I was having tyres fitted to car. Big drop in quality, sausages are full of herbs to cover poor quality meat, tasted very greasy. Hash browns gone the same way, all I could taste after eating a couple was cooking oil. eggs barely warm, plate barely warm (was told not to touch it was hot! ) toast was almost brown, beans OK, bacon Ok. Went to Houghton Le Spring today (Sat 8th) as they're usually better, same poor quality and greasy sausages and hash browns (don't know why I expected them to be any better!). eggs, beans, bacon and plate all warm/hot and toast def toasted properly. So better than Chester but still not good, I do like the all-day brunch but given the poor quality of the sausages think I'll just not bother again. Updated 18-06-21 Popped in for breakfasts this morning, place was about 1/4 full. Breakfasts were disappointing. There's been an increase in the prices and both breakfasts only had about 3 teaspoons of beans. Front and rear doors were open so food went cold fairly quickly. Previous review. First time back after the refurbishment, didn't see a huge change but only used the downstairs area for breakfast. While this Spoons has always been slightly lower in food quality than the Bishops Mill in Durham today's breakfasts were pretty poor. Lot's of cooking oil on everything, hash browns remarkably soggy and soaked with oil. Sausages not as good as they used to be and small amount of beans compared to Durham. I think we'll go the extra distance to Durham in future.”
- Dave Bromley
“Very busy pub, bit of a bugger to find if you are visiting.”
Highlights
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great wine list
- Rooftop seating
- Popular for solo dining
- Happy hour food
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Paid parking lot
- Outdoor seating
- Takeout
- Dine-in
- Good for kids
Show more amenities
- Food at bar
- Casual
- Onsite services
- Beer
- Food
- Solo dining
- Offerings· 5
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Happy hour food
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Accessibility· 1
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Highlights· 4
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great wine list
- Rooftop seating
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Dining options· 2
- Seating
- Table service
- Atmosphere· 1
- Trendy
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
Location
Bars near The Wicket Gate
- The Lambton4.17830.2 miReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
ethan bar staff, chester-le-street high street location, quick meal food
- The Sticky Wicket4.12460.5 mi£10–20ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
private party exclusion, dirty wicket burger, pizza
- 2 miWheelchair accessible
hotshot parmo, chicken burger, motorhome overnight parking
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Wicket GateWheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating · Good for kids | 4.11,914 | — | £10–20 | greasy sausages, soggy hash browns, rooftop beer garden |
| The LambtonReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.1783 | 0.2 mi | — | ethan bar staff, chester-le-street high street location, quick meal food |
| The Sticky WicketReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.1246 | 0.5 mi | £10–20 | private party exclusion, dirty wicket burger, pizza |
| The Dun Cow, Bournmoor, County DurhamWheelchair accessible | 4.2519 | 2 mi | — | hotshot parmo, chicken burger, motorhome overnight parking |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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