Harden's survey result
Summary
“Excellent Spanish tapas that’s reasonably priced” – the winning formula at local lads Joe & Ben Wright’s walk-in restaurant, which expanded to take over the site of Joseph Benjamin, the neighbouring bistro which made their name, a few years back. The first link (est. 2012) in a now four-strong chain – there are branches in Altrincham, Salford, and a new outpost in West Didsbury.
Summary
The “great Spanish food” at Joe & Ben Wright’s Chester-based tapas operation has proved a winner over the past dozen years, replacing their popular bistro Joseph Benjamin and spawning offshoots in Altrincham and Salford, while in late 2024 they took over the former Greens site in West Didsbury. The no-reservations policy means “you risk waiting for ages – but at least they have a bar upstairs to wait in now!”.
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.
For 34 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 | £28.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.50 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| 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
British, Modern restaurant in Chester
Spanish restaurant in Liverpool
International restaurant in Liverpool
