Busy Pubs on Breck Road

A train and then the frequent 14 bus quickly took me to Breck Road, and the large 70s building that is the Brunel:

For a moment it looked closed at half past three on a Tuesday, but one door was open and through the window I could see fruit-machine lights flashing.
Inside I found an enormous U-shaped room wrapped round the two-sided servery.  Most was in darkness with just the smaller side near the entrance lit.  This was plenty of room for me and the sole other customer.  Surprisingly there were two handpumps on the bar offering Wainwright and Doom Bar but I guessed they were not in use and plumped for a lager.  Racing on the telly was presumably for the other drinker and/or the barman.  The decor was plain standard boozer, well maintained, clean and tidy.

Just a short step down the road to the Royal.  It was already too dark for a picture, so here's one from 2004.  I'm pleased to report that it has a more tasteful colour scheme now:

Another plain clean and tidy interior in this two sided pub.  As to the clientele, in marked contrast to the Brunel, the place was quite busy.  Plenty of blokes watching the racing, plus some other regulars, of both sexes, enjoying noisy chit-chat.
The background sound changed from music to racing commentary to silence and back again, but the main noise was chit-chat and laughter punctuated by the occasional clack of pool balls from the other bar.  A proper lively local, buzzing at four o'clock, and it's only Tuesday!

Next, the Lutine Bell, once again the picture is from 2004:

Another plain down market place; one clean and tidy L-shaped room, dimly lit and gloomy despite the mustard yellow walls (except in the LFC corner), but like the last place it was lively with excited chatter from the regulars.  I could have sworn some of them were the same people as in the Royal, but perhaps not.  No racing here, in fact all the tellies were off with just the Kinks playing on the jukebox in the background, interrupted occasionally by left-overs from the 5th of November exploding in the street outside.  (For the derivation of the pub's name, see the guide entry linked to above.)

Finally, a few more steps along Breck Road to the Windermere.  Perhaps the most down market of today's pubs, but still perfectly clean and tidy; the days of the true shit-hole have long gone, thank goodness.  (e.g. the unlamented Brewers Arms, Croxteth, which was really horrible.)
One room, with bench seats along the wall - And a fella asleep in the corner with a pint of Guinness in front of him, when that happens to me I'll know it's time to give up researching the guide.  Shortly after I typed that, he woke up, took a swig, and went back to sleep!
The handful of regulars kept the chat going, there were Sky News and The Chase on large TVs, not much point without sound or subtitles.  If watching a quiz with no sound wasn't confusing enough they've got one of those backwards clocks by the bar, and that really messes with the inebriated mind.

It's not impossible to photograph a pub in the dark, and on departure I propped my camera against the bus shelter while waiting for the bus home: