Everton are at home with a three o'clock kickoff, so I seized the opportunity to make some long overdue visits to pubs around the ground. This might be the last time I come here before many of them close for ever.
First, a quick check of the Melrose Abbey to see if any of my Evertonian friends are around. But it's shut. Am I too early or has it gone for good?
Next, a short walk to the Melrose which has been closed for so many years that I never managed to tick it:
It was boarded up and rather decrepit last time I looked but it seems like someone is taking care of it now.
Next, on to the first target of the afternoon, the Albany:
One hour before KO this is unsurprisingly jam packed. I squeezed my way to the counter and soon got a pint of Carling.
After standing for a few minutes I spotted a vacant table so I could sit down. It was a great relief to peel off my winter coat; it was like a sauna in here! I relaxed and wrote my notes.
I looked around and considered 2025 fashions: Pretty much everyone except me had a black coat. Jeans were de rigeur as well.
I tried to imagine this place on a non football day. A rather pleasant comfortable two sided traditional boozer I think, as indeed it was last time I came here, on a Tuesday afternoon in 2018.
Next the Brick:
Originally the Prince Albert, nicknamed the Red Brick, they switched to the nickname for a while but later had to drop the Red when it was painted white.
Busy but thinning out rapidly as three o'clock approached. One large open room, well cared for, with a tiny stage in the corner.
Lots of people were coming down stairs and heading off to the ground, so there must be a large space upstairs, I don't know if it's another bar or a function room.
As I approached the bottom of my Carling the pub was much emptier, with about two dozen non-attenders scattered around. The staff gradually collected in tons of glassware.
Good grief, Everton were 1-0 up in the first minute! [ Officially, scored at ten seconds ] I headed to the gents before departure, now it's 2-0!
Just a short stroll down County Road from here to the Royal Oak:
The pre-match empties had all been cleared away in this large pub, basically a big square room surrounding a four-sided servery.
A steady trickle of customers were keeping the place ticking over.
I've got some dodgy memories of this place, the first time I came here was in the evening after a derby match, and my strongest recollection is of crunching across the broken glass to get to the counter!
On to the Leigh Arms:
For a moment I thought this was shut but that's just one side door, the main door was open. Inside, a traditional boozer knocked through to create one pleasant comfortable room surrounding the servery.
I'd noticed this last time I was here; the regulars all sit at the counter and chat to each other and the barmaid. I recall standing back while ordering my pint in order to avoid blocking the regulars' view of the tellies. I also remember being told not too worry, "we can see the other TV".
Today, I was the only person to sit away from the counter on the bench seats running round the room, to sink my Carling.
I think this might be my favourite of today's boozers, something about the well maintained interior and the cheerful friendly regulars makes it a great pub.
Everton were now 3-0 up at half time.
One more before I head for home, the Barlow Arms:
My final call was surprisingly busy, I had to stand at the counter to sink my fifth Carling. The two sided pub was full of people watching the Liverpool match on TV. (They were winning 1-0.)
This one, perhaps, doesn't depend as much on Everton matches so may do just as well next season? Let's hope so. It is a rather attractive boozer, and the splendid bar back is, I think, genuine.
Time for home. The big question is, which of today's ticks do I think will still be operational in a year's time? Frankly, it's too hard to decide, and also I wouldn't want to "jinx" any of these by marking them as potential failures, so I'm not going to say. However, I do fear that, for many of the pubs around here, This could be the last time, Maybe the last time, I don't know.
Beer of the day: Carling
Miles walked: 1.9
Maybe coming soon: Undecided.
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