Up Close: Chester's The Deva Tap - where craft beer meets quality pub food
Tucked away on Brook Street lies an independent pub offering fresh food and unique beers.
Five months ago, Dave Hill took over ownership of The Deva Tap - relaunching the pub alongside head chef Carl Simon, who he has worked alongside for a number of years.
Noted for stocking specialist beers from independent breweries, the boozer has worked closely with CAMRA in the past - a campaign which champions real ales.
The selection of quality beers from independent breweries is one of the pub's strongest selling points, says Dave, who has worked in pubs since he was 18.
Find out more about The Deva Tap at their website here.
His background is one of bar ownership, having run gastropubs and other bars over the last 36 years and also working as a hospitality and venue manager for Chester Racecourse.
"We're completely freehold, so we're not tied with anything. You will not get the likes of Fosters or Carling - that's a swear word here.
"We go for independent breweries, special beers - beers that you're not going to see around Chester," said Dave.
"It gives us that unique little selling point. We work quite closely with CAMRA, which is a campaign for real ales, and we've been in it now for eight years.
"We've also got Silver King here, which is the only gluten-free cask ale. We are the only pub in Chester who has that gluten-free cask ale.
Browse the menu in full here.
"I'm constantly working with the breweries and trialling new beers.
"So we've got that little exclusivity of beers that you're not going to get in another pub around Chester."
Once Dave took over the Deva Tap after its previous owner decided to retire, he knew he had to change some things.
Starting with entertainment, four 80-inch TVs were fitted around the pub - showing a range of live sports for the first time.
The team then tackled the menu, with the steering wheel passed over to trusted head chef, Carl, who wanted to focus on redefining 'pub food' by bringing it back to the basics of quality, home-cooked meals.
"I think one of the common mistakes which is made with pubs these days, especially with how the culture has gone, is a lot of pubs have gone into being chains and stopped offering fresh food," he said.
Having started his culinary career at 14, Carl has worked all over the world, honing his skills and learning cooking secrets from a number of countries.
Book on to Sunday lunch at The Deva Tap's website here.
He added: "It's not your run-of-the-mill pub food - it comes with its own twist, that's its selling point.
"We offer classics with a twist."
Creating inventive options for customers is important, the pair say, pointing to Chester's competitive food and drink scene.
They do this by offering classic pub food alongside good beer, but ensuring the food is high quality and always homemade.
"One of the things we've maintained is having a completely fresh menu - despite being a really casual pub dining experience," Carl added.
"We've tried to just make a nice balance between the sort of beer-style food and gastro-style food."
The Deva Tap prides itself on offering a variety of gluten-free and options - alongside creating a menu which pairs with the alcohol on offer.
Famous for its Sunday roast, the pub will rarely shy away from hosting themed events or offering a space for groups and clubs to meet up. With each holiday or special event, Carl will create a menu to match the theme.
Find The Deva Tap's website here.
Weekly events include poker night on a Tuesday, quiz night on a Wednesday and open mic night every other Thursday.
The "very" dog-friendly pub is also gearing up for a complete refurb of its beer garden - which proves very popular once the sun comes out.
You can book or find out more about the Deva Tap here or contact the team at 01244 959425.
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