Harden's survey result
Summary
“You feel like you’re in Madrid or Barcelona in these really authentic tapas bars” from Joe & Ben Wright – “the vegetable dishes are especially strong”. The three branches – in Chester, Altrincham and Salford– have proved so popular that the brothers closed down their original Chester bistro, Joseph Benjamin, three years ago to turn it into a larger Porta.
Summary
“Great Spanish food” – including plenty of “tasty fresh seafood” – has made such a success of Joe & Ben Wright’s ten-year-old wine-and-tapas spot that they closed Joseph Benjamin, their original bistro next door, to concentrate their resources on it in 2021. It’s a “small (and you can’t book), but lively place with attentive service and a great atmosphere”. The brothers now have spin-offs in Altrincham and Salford.
Summary
Joe & Ben Wright shuttered their long-running bistro Joseph Benjamin close to the city walls in September 2021 to absorb it into their newer wine & tapas bar, Porta, next door. The bistro was well-loved and earned rave reviews in its 15 years, but the brothers clearly felt there was more potential in aligning their business under the Porta brand, which has spawned spinoffs in Altrincham and Salford.
Summary
Joe & Ben Wright’s “reliable” bistro, close to the city walls, is noted for its “good pre-dinner drinks list (several different gins which slip down well)” and “warm and friendly” service. The pair also run a tapas bar next-door, Porta, which has spin-offs in Altrincham and, as of 2018, Salford.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Porta?
140 Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HT
Restaurant details
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £30.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £3.20 |
| Service | 10.00% |
140 Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HT
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑9 pm |
Best Spanish restaurants nearby
Spanish restaurant in Liverpool
Spanish restaurant in Liverpool
Spanish restaurant in Liverpool
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
Spanish restaurant in Liverpool
International restaurant in Liverpool
British, Modern restaurant in Southport
