I am finding it really difficult to organise a cluster of four or five 'required' pubs at the moment, so once again I found myself wandering randomly in Liverpool, although I did have a couple of potential targets in mind. At the top of Bold Street is a place that has been in the guide forever but has never been ticked. So, in to Cafe Tabac:
Not really a bar, definitely more of a restaurant, but they were happy to provide me with a pint of Greene King's Hazy Day, a rather fruity IPA. Other customers after me were also drinking.
One barmaid and one waiter were constantly busy and I had to wait my turn. The pleasantly decorated place is much bigger than the frontage might suggest, with two large back rooms behind the compact front space.
Gentle muzac and happy conversations formed the soundscape here, with the occasional addition of a whoosh from the coffee machine.
At two on a chilly grey Thursday afternoon trade was steady.
Now to a location last visited two years ago when it was called Antisocial, but it has been taken over by the unstoppable 1936 Pub Co since then, so I want to try the Shandon Bells:
Antisocial was a modern-styled bar with contemporary decor. Wow! A total transformation! Old furniture, antique woodwork, Irish tat everywhere. They seem to have spared the 1936 sledgehammer here, apart from removing the false ceiling to reveal pipes, cable trays and air conditioning units.
Less cask ale choice than most 1936 locations, but four is plenty and my Weetwood Best was very good. In keeping with the theme they've got Tayto crisps and even the muzac is Irish. Come to think of it, cask ale is hardly an Irish thing, I'm glad they decided to provide some.
Quite a lot of people were in here although there was plenty of room for more. Not too bad for a Thursday afternoon.
By the way, the rather odd concrete frieze you can see in the picture is, apparently, famous and you can occasionally see architecture students taking pictures of it.
Next, how about Love Lane Brewery:
Pretty deserted at half three, I could only see three other customers, I assume they'll do better later.
Three handpumps on the counter offering Higsons beers which are, of course, brewed here nowadays. I selected the gorgeous Oatmeal Stout which was smooth and creamy. I had another great dark one yesterday in Huyton Wetherspoon: Peerless' Dark Nights - I don't think I've tried that before, it was very good.
A slow trickle of customers came in but not enough, I fear, to pay for the heating, let alone the staff wages. I'm trying to remember what it was like in 2022, I seem to recall a much busier place, perhaps that was a Saturday? Studying my own blog I find it was indeed a busy Saturday afternoon last time I was here; and that was my first visit.
The rather good decor in the main hall here includes naked air ducting in the double height area, plus a mezzanine floor with more seating.
Next, somewhere I haven't ticked since 2018 so it's well overdue. Black Lodge Brewery Tap Room:
This is nothing like last time I was here. Have they moved in the intervening years? Yes, they have, back in 2019. Does that mean it's two separate locations in the database?
A typical brewery tap, plain but comfortable. Except it was freezing in here. One might have expected the brewing operations to give off at least a little warmth, but apparently not!
Two handpumps on the counter, and my pint of Shake Hand was rather wonderful, a fruity flavoured pale ale. Cask special £4.00 says the sign on the counter.
Just two other customers but to be fair it only opened twenty minutes ago. One of them left before half past four.
I've spent time in chilly pubs many times over the years, but this one is the worst. I'm sorry my mobile phone doesn't have a thermometer like expensive ones do. I'm going to guess five degrees. I didn't just keep my coat on, I also wore my woolly hat. If I'd brought some gloves I would have put them on as well! This is the first time the ale has been over chilled because it is at room temperature!! Brrrr!
It's a mile to Lime Street, should I walk or maybe an Uber straight home? At least a taxi will probably be warm! No, I'll walk.
Google Maps routed me along Wapping, which means I have to pass the Baltic Fleet. Impossible, of course, I can't pass without going in! No picture today, here's one from a much less chilly day in 2023:
Not exactly warm in here, but certainly better than the previous call. Coat on but woolly hat off!
The place was packed, I had to tour the ground floor before bagging the last free table, what a contrast with all today's other ticks.
I had something called Strand Stout from Botelai Brewing, another gorgeous oatmeal stout. I wondered where it comes from, turns out it's all the way from Bootle!
This is not as much of a real ale Mecca as it used to be when they brewed in the cellar, but my stout was great so I'm happy. And a pub as busy as this is clearly doing things right.
Same question as last time, do I walk back to Lime Street, or get an Uber home? I think it's walk, again.
So, only 2 'required' ticks today, but five good places and some excellent ales. What more could one ask? Well, to be honest, a bit more heat would have been very welcome.
Beer of the day: Higsons Oatmeal Stout
Miles walked: 3.2
Maybe coming soon: To be decided.
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