I was looking at my interactive map of pubs and was startled to see umpteen targets all along Mathew Street. So it's time to tick a few... I started with a walk the length of the street to check for changes, I found Flares has disappeared, Eric's and Hardy's aren't open this early (before one) on a Thursday, and Wall of Fame looks suspiciously like it has closed down. Anyway, I started in the Cavern Pub:
No change in five years in this pleasant, if somewhat chilly, basement bar, not to be confused with the famous Cavern Club. (I notice next door there's now a Cavern Restaurant as well.)
A few tourists admired the large collection of music memorabilia displayed all round the room, while I swigged my pint of Cavern Club lager.
As tourists trickled in (The ones sitting near me had American accents.) I found myself wondering if they thought this was the Cavern Club. Although, since that one is not actually the original I don't suppose it matters much if they are in the wrong place. As long as they spend their tourist money in Liverpool!
Next, I crossed the road to the Cavern Club itself:
What!!?? Five quid to get in?! I think if there is an entry charge it doesn't count as a "pub" under my rules.
So, next door is Sgt Peppers:
Another "no change" report, this is a pleasant warm and comfortable one room modern place.
The live musician, who sounded rather good, was playing to an audience of five of which I think I was the only one listening at all. No one* applauded. Isn't it a little soul destroying to perform to a disinterested audience? Having no talents in that direction I can't comment from experience.
* I don't want to reopen a discussion I had on here years ago about how to write no one/no-one/noone but I was reading an old Bill Bryson book this morning and he hyphenated "no-one" so it would appear the answer is not as clear cut as I thought.
The rain seemed to be getting heavier as I enjoyed my Carling; the good news is I haven't got any long walks today. Next, King John:
I've always been rather fond of the (totally fake) baronial style decor in this one, organ chest, suits of armour and so on.
They have the 4 handpumps on the counter and one even had a clip turned backwards but somehow I suspect any real ale offering has long gone.
If I may switch into pub collecting nerd mode for a moment, Eric's, King John, and Rubber Soul are all part of the same interlinked complex, and if you want the gents in Eric's you end up in here. So you might consider it one pub, but in order to keep my score as high as possible I'm claiming three distinct operations. They are very different in character, after all. I resisted the temptation to carry my half finished Carling through to Rubber Soul and claim both ticks - That would be cheating!
Next, of course, I need to tick Rubber Soul so without using the street I headed through.
Warmer than King John, probably because the doors between the room and the street are shut, this is another comfortable pleasant bar, this time with faux industrial styling.
Slightly busier than next door, there were about a dozen customers in here. Various sports were on the tellies but I couldn't see anyone watching.
I tried to send a highly technical email to a friend concerning data on one of our servers. I'm not sure if it went, the mobile signal is weak in here, and I'm also not certain that, after three and a half pints, its technical content was valid anyway. I'm sure I'll find out tomorrow!
Two more required ticks on Mathew Street, so let's try Kabannas Kabin:
Last time I was here it was called Strawberry Fields, nothing much has changed it is still a pleasant enough bar attached to cheap accommodation. I think it's perhaps not technically a Youth Hostel any more, do they even exist in 2025?
My Carling was delayed while the barman changed the keg, so I'm guessing they don't sell much, but it was fine, and only two quid. That can't be right, can it, that's half what it is in JDW?
Someone came in and got a price for a "dorm" so clearly it's still a youth hostel style place, probably quite a bargain slap bang in the tourist centre of town, on Mathew Street.
A large group of "youth" appeared at the end of the room, presumably staying here, none of them bought a drink, anyway. Suddenly, they all headed out again and the room was quiet once more.
The friendly people behind the counter were skilfully dealing with confused travellers, I got the feeling it's ten out of ten for the staff here.
Just one more required tick on Mathew Street, so I think I must visit Legends:
For the first time this afternoon I found a bar with a decent amount of custom. It was by no means full, but I could see perhaps twenty other drinkers as I started my sixth pint.
As seems to be the theme today, no change since I was here in 2020, this is still a comfortable sports-oriented bar, although having said that I couldn't actually see any sport from my seat in the corner. I was just under an air conditioning unit which was emitting a welcome stream of warm air, I've been feeling cold most of today's trip. (It's my age, I think.)
The sound in here was good music mostly drowned out by cheerful chatter. The ideal soundtrack for a pub, in my opinion. Having said that, the Wetherspoon formula without the music is as good if not better.
Six pints, six required ticks, Mathew Street cleared, that'll do. And it's only half past three! See you next week - In November.
Just to be clear, I walked past a lot of pubs and bars on Mathew Street, purely because I've been in them in the last five years. This doesn't in any way suggest there's something wrong with the places I skipped.
Beer of the day: Carling
Miles walked: 1.2
Maybe coming soon: Southport
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