Under the river and along to Bromborough, where I started by looking for the remains of the Archers, one that got away, I'm afraid. I discovered it's completely gone now, replaced by a housing block called Archers Corner. Here's a picture from 2012:
On to the main target of today's trip, the Bow-Legged Beagle:
The third member of the chain, I think, and this one has made it to the Good Beer Guide this year, moving it to the top of my target list.
Inside the former butcher's shop I found rough bare brick walls in a corridor bar with a small counter half way along. The barman kindly handed me some paper towel as I peered through misted up spectacles at the four handpumps. The decision didn't take long once I spotted Ossett White Rat, one of my favourites. It was lovely, as expected!
The place was ticking over nicely, at three on a Friday, gentle conversation forming the soundtrack along with a wide ranging selection of music at a comfortable background volume.
I scanned the fridge full of colourful cans from various craft brewers, and my fondness for puns was tickled by "Reptile Dysfunction"!
Next, I ignored two nearby pubs visited in 2019 and headed along to the Merebrook, not ticked since 2012:
I seem to have selected the bar side here, a plain but pleasantly done room with fake parquet flooring. Quite a lot of customers of all ages were enjoying a Friday afternoon in their local boozer, with chatter significantly louder than in the Beagle. Racing and women's soccer were on the tellies, but I couldn't see anyone watching.
No sign of any handpumps, so it was Carling for me.
I've no idea what custom was like here two years ago, but it didn't seem like the pandemic was causing people to stay away. Sadly, many pubs were struggling pre-covid, and so if ten percent of people decide not to come out it could push some places over the edge. It will be interesting, and possibly very depressing, to monitor closures in 2022.
One of the regulars said "goodnight and god bless" to everyone as he left. Seems a bit early, it's not yet four o'clock and it's not even dark!
After studying their web site I decided the nearby Dibbinsdale is now a restaurant, and so doesn't need a re-visit, leaving just one more overdue tick on this side of the Wirral, but it's a long walk from here and I'm afraid laziness and the fact it had started raining caused me to wimp out and go home!
Miles walked: 1.75
Maybe coming soon: Aigburth, Garswood
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