On a chilly damp Saturday afternoon I headed under the Mersey to Birkenhead where I started in the Richmond:
Outside this one looks a bit down at heel, the inside is much better, plain but pleasant. Just one room with proper old wooden floorboards. Some bare brick walls and lots of matchboarding complete the decor. Altogether a rather fine "ordinary" boozer.
About eight other customers were in at two on a Saturday, I imagine they get more later. At least I hope so.
My notes reminded me of sour Guinness in here a long time ago, that's why I chose Carling today, but actually a survey of the glassware in use showed Fosters was more popular.
Just a few doors down the road was the beautiful ceramic frontage of the Windsor Castle, pictured in 2018:
On to the Charing Cross:
Another "ordinary" one, again well cared for and pleasant. A proper two sided boozer with a servery in between the halves. I started in the bar side where pool players and others meant I couldn't have a good seat at a table, so I took my Carling through the doorway to the better appointed lounge side where there were plenty of comfortable seats.
I hesitated writing the last sentence. Is it still a doorway if there isn't a door? There must be an architectural term for a door shaped hole? Immediately adjacent to it are two window shaped holes in the wall without windows.
Wordiology aside, this is a truly great plain pub, long may it continue.
My notes show real ale here, but the three handpumps are purely decorative, I think. One had a John Smith's clip, perhaps I missed an opportunity? I doubt it.
I looked around. Sparkly white lights can be an all year round thing these days, or are they tastefully restrained Christmas decorations?
Access to the gents involves passing close to the pool table, I watched as regulars paused to allow players to finish their shots before entering.
Next, just round the corner is Desi's:
This used to be a Yates Wine Lodge and it still has some of the decor. Dozens of customers were enjoying mostly lager in here, no music, no footie commentary, just multiple cheerful animated conversations.
The large open room has, I think, retained some Yates styling, including a beautiful staircase to the mezzanine seating, and a giant glitter ball (Must be 2ft diameter!) above the stairs. Obviously the actual finish, paint, carpet, etc. has been redone over the years because it all looks very good.
Did I ever tick this as Yates? I don't remember doing so, and a quick check of the database confirmed this, in fact my first and only previous visit was as recently as November 2018. Oddly, I did take a picture of it as Yates back in 2004 but apparently I didn't go in. I wonder why.
My third Carling of the day came in one of the older style glasses, again a survey of the glassware showed that Fosters was favourite here.
Correcting my comment above, I could hear a little bit of racing commentary amongst the conversations.
A few steps down the road is Seamus O'Donnell's. I failed to take a picture today so here's one from 2018:
I remember being frightened by an enormous dog behind the counter here last time, no such problem today and a friendly barmaid soon served me an excellent pint of Guinness.
This pleasant "Irish" pub is well decorated with plenty (but not too much) of Irish "stuff". I note that it used to be the Exmouth Arms, did I ever come here in that era? My memory says no and the database confirms that, so I've only ever sampled its Irish version.
The sounds were gentle muzac mixed with cheerful chatter, the soundtrack of a proper pub!
Next, only a short walk gets me to Mackenzie:
This boozer holds a special place in my affections because in July 2004 it was my Merseyside pub number 1,000. Five hundred odd pubs further on that feels like a long time ago!
Good grief it's cold in here! Just a handful of customers in the one room. I noticed that unusually they don't offer Carling, I had Guinness.
The three other customers are surely not enough to pay the wages of the beautiful barmaid. As I arrived a bloke was leaving and he got a hug, what do I have to do? Perhaps I should have bought her a drink!
I checked my photographs and apparently this pub has lost the capital K that used to be in MacKenzie.
Now I've got a choice: There is exactly one more pub round here that needs ticking so, five pints to the good, do I head home or do I call in at the Garrick Snug. I think we all know the answer:
Wow, this is a really packed boozer complete with karaoke. I managed to find a seat but no chance of putting down my Carling while I wrote this. It's quite a feat to type on a tablet while holding a pint, especially when it's number six; and I didn't spill a drop.
The karaoke fella was very good although he had to do much of the singing himself, no one was volunteering. Eventually someone did, a great rendition of Minnie the Moocher.
Compared with the previous tick, this place was lovely and warm. And packed with happy customers at five o'clock on a Saturday.
When I start singing along with the karaoke it's a good sign that it is time to head home!
Beer of the day: Guinness
Miles walked: 1.2
Maybe coming soon: Kirkdale
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