(Mostly) Sunny Southport

No proper survey this week, for a change I decided to do some favourites in sunny Southport.  But perhaps I'll find some new ones as well?  I started in the Windmill:

I began my afternoon with a fine pint of Okell's Bitter, I don't often drink this classic bitter, usually going for a guest in Rigby's which I think is the only remaining Okell's pub in Liverpool.

This fine pub hasn't changed since I was last here, they serve decent ale and the menu of pub grub standards looks to be good value.

Not many customers at two on a Thursday, but the place was ticking over.  Some are sitting outside in the sun, maybe they are smokers, it was much too chilly out there for me.

Next, what's this?  Auberge:

Shame about the awning!

Inside is a beautifully done out bistro where the friendly staff were happy to serve me a pint of Poretti despite it being past closing time! They had a number of chatting diners so I don't think they expected to actually be empty any time soon.

They have quite a large space, room for plenty of customers, and I see from the posters that live music is on offer sometimes.  Three courses and an Oasis tribute band looks rather intriguing - 32 quid.  (26 June if you fancy it)

There were, as I and the staff expected, still some others present when I finished my pint and departed.

It's always good to get a brand new tick, another "pub" to add to the database.

Next, the wonderful Guest House:

Could this be the best pub in Southport?  I think it might!

I had a pint of, er, in the thirty seconds between buying it and writing this I've forgotten, a wonderful creamy dark one. Even untapped couldn't help me so eventually I got up and walked back to the counter to find out it was Small World's Thunderbridge Stout, from Huddersfield.  Wow, it is an all time favourite this one; so creamy and yet not too sweet.

The pub was ticking over nicely on a Thursday afternoon when the weather had changed from cold sunny to cold and raining.  It had switched back to sun by the time I left. Will I ever get my grass at home cut?

What a beautiful interior this place has, I really love it.  Am I allowed to say something negative?  The tables in the street make the frontage look a little untidy and unattractive, in my opinion.

Next, the Masons Arms:

Another gem, this one; a beautiful and popular compact pub offering real ale.  I noticed as I approached that it is no longer branded Robinsons.

I choose Bowness Bay's Swan Gold which was not very nice, if I'm being fair.  The pub was doing well at four on a Thursday, but I managed to get a table in the side room where there was a big gang of friends playing charades or something.  I must say I couldn't get anything so I wouldn't have been any help in their game.

Next, I headed towards an overdue tick at the Barons Bar, but on the way I spotted Occulo Lounge:

What did this impressive building used to be?  [Research once home shows it was a book shop previously, and I'm guessing a bank before that.]  Now it's a rather wonderful bar, the decor is quirky and gorgeous.  The "Lounge" chain includes one on Bold Street and a number scattered around Merseyside, some of which I need to visit.

I had a pint of cider for a change, Henry Weston's was good and served in the correct glass.

Not many customers at five o'clock, some were eating but most were just drinking.

Like every tick today it was quite cold in here, clearly they have all set their heating by the calendar and the unexpected cold spell has caught them out.

Now, there is one place rather overdue for a tick around here so let's try and visit the Scarisbrick Hotel and their Barons Bar.  The hotel was closed the last couple of times I tried, but not today.

This used to be a good real ale destination but sadly no more.  Six handpumps on the counter but no clips, so I had a Guinness from the limited keg selection.

The room remains a rather good, if fake, space but I was sorry to see the loss of the cask ale which made this place attractive.

At five on a Thursday I was the only customer in the room, although there were other people in the front lounge which is served via a hatch from the same servery.

Time to go home, I think ...

I'm going to be tied up with other things for a few weeks so there won't be any reports here, stay tuned for eventual updates.

Pub of the day: Guest House
Beer of the day: Small World Thunderbridge Stout
Miles walked: 1.6
Merseyside pubs visited in the last five years: 1,009

A Couple In Town

No survey today but as I'm in town maybe a tick or two.  I started in the Scholar:

I assume this one is aimed at students.  In any case, it is a pleasant spacious place with a small bar area at the front and a larger space behind with long tables for dining and a stage at the far end.

At two on a Friday there were just two of us drinking lager in the bar area, and no one at all in the big room.  Mine was the house Scholars Ruin, a bargain at only £2.50.

The decor is standard bare brickwork - I think it might be wallpaper in the big room?

What have Google done to my keyboard?  That's no good at all.  Of course, the Germans have a word for it - Verschlimmbessern - To make something worse by trying to improve it.

The other customer departed leaving just me and the barman.  I hope more people come later, if not this place won't last long.

On my way up here I spotted a "new" target in the Grand Central Hall complex.  Places in there seem to come and go, and many of them have had limited lives and limited opening hours, but this one was open as I walked past so let's give it a try - Belle's:

I'll have to check my records to see what this used to be, perhaps with help of Streetview.  Ah, wait, you can see Bar Celona in the mosaic under the windows.  And I should have recognised the Gaudi styled frontage.

Now it is a rather pleasant place with attractive decor, aiming at the cocktail and champagne end of the market.  On Renshaw Street?  I wonder how many bottles of Dom Perignon 2000 they sell at 450 quid.

On a Friday afternoon I was the only customer, and I don't think my pint of Belle's Biere will boost the profits much.  The other two lagers are 1664 and 1664 blanc so I think we can guess where the house lager comes from (Google's AI says Northampton.)

The barman busied himself getting everything ready for the (hoped for) Friday evening rush.

I don't think I've paid for my beer yet, will I remember on the way out?  I did.

Heading for home now, but I can't walk past the Crown when they've got Oakham Citra on.

Quite busy at three o'clock but plenty of seats in the back room for me to enjoy my beer.  Some of the other customers were eating, but I think this is still mainly a drinkers' place.

There's not much I can say about this lovely pub that I haven't already said.  With both Citra and Bass on regularly, the ale selection seems to be getting better and better.  And it's so convenient when waiting for a train; or, if I'm being honest, missing a train deliberately to call in for a pint.

As I said, not a formal pub survey today, but you can't argue with two overdue ticks, and a pint of Oakham Citra.

Pub of the day: Crown
Beer of the day: Oakham Citra
Miles walked: 1
Merseyside pubs visited in the last five years: 1,006
Maybe coming soon: Cains Brewery Village