The Oakfield at the heart of Chester Zoo
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The Oakfield at Chester Zoo

4.6
·491k reviews·,

A historic manor house restaurant within Chester Zoo, serving elevated pub food with unique ambiance and special touches for celebrations.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
The Oakfield at the heart of Chester Zoo

The Oakfield at Chester Zoo

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A historic manor house restaurant within Chester Zoo, serving elevated pub food with unique ambiance and special touches for celebrations.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"Dine amidst the wonders of Chester Zoo for a unique gastropub experience with delightful surprises for special occasions."

TIP

Book in Advance

Reservations are highly recommended, especially for special occasions, to ensure a personalized experience.

Dietary Needs? Inquire

Staff can assist with dietary restrictions like gluten intolerance; inquire about ingredients for suitable choices.

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Quick Facts

Closed·Opens Thursday 10AM

Cuisine

Gastropub

Price

Mid-range

Phone

+44 1244 389710

Address

Caughall Rd, Upton, Chester CH2 1LH, United Kingdom

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Unique Zoo Dining Experience

Unique Zoo Dining Experience

Dine in a historic 19th-century manor house set within Chester Zoo, offering a truly unique and memorable meal.

Elevated Pub Food

Elevated Pub Food

Enjoy high-quality gastropub fare with traditional favorites and adventurous options like tacos, all served in a charming atmosphere.

Google Review
Special Occasions

Special Occasions

A perfect setting for celebrations, with staff going the extra mile for birthdays and anniversaries.

Google Review
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

What a place! Heart of Africa 😍💛🦒 A lovely time checking out @Chester Zoo new area and catching up with the team. 22 acres, 57 species, and even a pangolin puppet that I fell in love with. 🦏 Conservation in action, unbelievable.👏 #chesterzoo #zoos #conservation #wildlife #tiktokforgood #chester
@camwhitnall
10.7K likes • 160.2K views

Book in Advance

Reservations are highly recommended, especially for special occasions, to ensure a personalized experience.

Dietary Needs? Inquire

Staff can assist with dietary restrictions like gluten intolerance; inquire about ingredients for suitable choices.

Fun day out at Chester Zoo with a review of the Oakfield pub they have on site. We have annual passes so we go frequently for the morning and lunch and not all of the eateries are made equal! #eatingoutwithkids #toddlermum #feedinglittles #toddlerdaysout @Chester Zoo
@feedingbeanandbear
29 likes • 432 views
A day well spent at @Chester Zoo 🐘🦒 One of the best kind of days. All five of us, together. We booked the Afterglow event and it didn’t disappoint, rides, food, music, and so much to explore around the Oakfield. The kids absolutely loved it. Home late with three very tired kids … and two pretty shattered parents too. ❤️ #FamilyDayOut #ChesterZoo #AfterglowEvent #MemoryMaking #FamilyAdventures
@cuddles.chaos.at
13 likes • 811 views

Visit Off-Peak

Consider visiting during quieter times for potentially faster service.

Zoo Ticket Required

A zoo ticket or membership is necessary to visit The Oakfield.

The Oakfield, 19th century Manor House and the birthplace of @Chester Zoo #zoowedding #chesterzoo #wildwedding #weddingflowers #weddingflorist #floralart
@thefeelgoodflorist
47 likes • 719 views

Tips

from all over the internet

Book in Advance

Reservations are highly recommended, especially for special occasions, to ensure a personalized experience.

Dietary Needs? Inquire

Staff can assist with dietary restrictions like gluten intolerance; inquire about ingredients for suitable choices.

Visit Off-Peak

Consider visiting during quieter times for potentially faster service.

Zoo Ticket Required

A zoo ticket or membership is necessary to visit The Oakfield.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

The Oakfield at Chester Zoo offers a unique dining experience within a historic setting, with many praising its elevated pub food and special occasion attentiveness. While some reviews highlight excellent service and a lovely atmosphere, others mention issues with food temperature, portion sizes, and inconsistent service, suggesting a varied dining experience.

"Visited near Christmas in an afternoon for lunch.

The food was really nice - and a little bit more unusual for what you'd normally expect from a 'tourist attraction' type place! The staff were friendly and helpful with assisting with a gluten intolerance that one of our party has.

Would definitely recommend for if you are visiting Chester Zoo!"

Chris Cox

"Mine and my wife's 1st year wedding anniversary today 25-04-25, when I booked the table I told them we got married here a year ago, when we arrived we got a complimentary glass of champagne each and a lovely card. We also got a lovely plate of the team congratulating us.
Wonderful team, definitely making this a yearly anniversary for us. Thank you.

Also food was amazing, cooked to perfection and hostess was fantastic and everyone made us feel 🤗 very welcome"

Kyle Christian

"The food you can pick up anywhere at Chester Zoo is usually pretty good. However, the food at the Oakfield is excellent.

It's probably best described as "pub food", but taken to another level. Really tasty, well presented and served quickly too. Even at peak times, the food seemed to come out fast, which is an added benefit if you're trying to see the whole zoo and don't want to 'waste time' in a restaurant.

There was a range of options available, from a burger, fish and chips, to slightly more exotic tacos and similar dishes.

Coupled with a wide range of drinks, you could spend some time in here and completely forget that you were in a major tourist attraction at the same time.

You do need a zoo ticket to visit, so even if you book a table, you'll need to either be a zoo member, or already have a ticket for the day. There's no way around this.

One slight downside was, when asked how a particular dish would be made gluten free, as per the menu options, our server replied "don't know" and made no offer to go find out. Didn't fill me with confidence, so I'm opted for something safer.

All that said - well worth a visit."

Alastair Shields

What People Like

Unique ambiance and historic setting
Elevated pub food and diverse menu
Special attention for celebrations

What People Dislike

Inconsistent food temperature and portion sizes
Occasional lack of attentiveness from staff

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you need a Chester Zoo ticket or membership to access The Oakfield.

Google Review

Yes, booking is highly recommended, especially for special occasions, to guarantee a table.

Google Review

Yes, they offer gluten-free and vegan options and staff can assist with inquiries about ingredients.

Google Review+1

The Oakfield serves elevated pub food, including traditional favorites and dishes like tacos.

Google Review

Absolutely! The Oakfield is ideal for birthdays and anniversaries, with staff providing special touches.

Google Review

While many praise the service, some reviews mention slow or inattentive service during busy periods.

Google Review+1

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