A short bus ride took me to Wavertree for a mopping up operation. I started in the Prince Alfred:
This rather well done out boozer hasn't changed much since my last visit which was in 2018. A handful of cheerful regulars were scattered about the room, their chatter mixing with the quiet muzac.
Irritatingly, as soon as I had written that the barmaid walked round the room turning the volume up on umpteen TVs as there was a Liverpool football match coming up, so the main sound became the inanities of punditry from people I've never heard of. I accelerated my drinking!
The match started, in a stadium with a roof on. Ah, it's in Hong Kong, so just a money making operation. Have I told the story of when I was working in Beijing and Man Utd came to play? The taxi driver refused to take me home from the lab because there would be traffic jams near the stadium and unfortunately my cynical "It's only Man U, no one will come" was only in English so he didn't understand. I dined in a curry house near work and then headed home later, to see on the internet that the stadium was mostly empty so I was right.
Talking of sport, England are now all out for 669 at Old Trafford, I'm hoping to go tomorrow to see them win, but maybe that'll happen this evening.
Next, the Rose Vaults:
This is something of a classic down market boozer, and none the worse for that.
Just a handful of regulars in the pleasant partially knocked through interior. It has something of an Oak Lodges (See this blog passim) layout with a raised seating area in one corner.
While I was enjoying my second Carling of the day, two large speakers, a mixing desk and various other paraphernalia came in, so I assume it's going to be noisy this evening, but right now it is peaceful and relaxed, my kind of boozer.
I looked around from my comfortable corner. Down market maybe, scruffy or untidy certainly not.
India have slumped to 0 for 2, not looking good for tomorrow!
Next, a bit of a walk, passing pubs ranging from the wonderful to meh, because I've done them in the last five years, and on to the Handymans Supermarket which I haven't:
Only two other customers, I was sad to see. I selected a pint of their own Pale, presumably brewed up on the mezzanine, and very tasty it was too. Beer of the day so far (OK, Carling doesn't set the threshold very high!)
I think I might have commented before that having the brewery above the servery is asking for problems: Anyone who believes you can brew ale without the occasional spillage is a fool, I hope they have appropriate drainage systems so the counter doesn't get an accidental shower of wort!
As I think I've noted before, this is a pleasant pub although it could do with some more comfortable chairs! I could see in the back they also have the Liverpool match on a big screen but it doesn't intrude on the peaceful front room. Why has no one got the cricket on? India 6 for 2!
As I neared the end of my delicious pint, a steady stream of people came in. They all knew each other and all the women had cowboy hats and yelled "yee hah" as they met. I'm a little ashamed to say my first thought was of sympathy for the husbands who were going to have to put up with this all afternoon/evening. On further thought, after a couple of beers it'll all be fun and I'd probably be happy to join them.
Just a few yards down the road is the Brookhouse:
I entered this pleasant food-led pub to see that most un-English of things, a queue at the counter. Muttering under my breath, I lined up impatiently and soon had my Carling.
In the corner of my eye I could see the Liverpool match, at the end a Madrid player seemed to be dribbling the ball into an empty goal. They lost 2-4.
Now where? Just a few yards further on is Chamber Thirtysix:
Is this a restaurant or a bar, I wondered? The friendly barmaid asked "are you here for food or a drink" when I approached the counter, so I think that ticks the box, and it can be included in the guide. Only one font, so I had Asahi.
No other customers, just me and the invisible once she had served me barmaid.
I looked out of the window. There's a black phone box on the other side of the road; do they still exist? And why's it painted black?
I did my best to support the place by sitting at the front window, restaurants always look more attractive if you can see other customers. I dined alone in a favourite curry house in London last Sunday, it was empty and they sat me in the front for precisely this reason. (It didn't work, no one came in. Perhaps I should have brushed my hair.)
That's five ticks, one brand new. Time for home.
Beer of the day: Handymans Pale
Miles walked: 1.3
Maybe coming soon: Undecided.
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