Mostly Heswall

Another sunny October day saw me taking multiple trains en route to Heswall.  I started with a glance at the Glegg Arms which is no longer a pub:

On the other side of the roundabout is the Devon Doorway:

Inside the attractive building with thatched roof is a very well appointed up market restaurant.  However, one side of the room is allocated to drinkers and the waitress guarding the door transformed into a barmaid when I said I only wanted a drink.

There were three handpumps on the counter, but all the clips were turned round, so I selected Neck Oil.  Ouch, £7.10!

At two on a Wednesday the restaurant was surprisingly busy, although having said that everyone was concentrated in the front room and the larger dining area behind appeared empty.  Just four drinkers in the non-dining part.  My table didn't have a food menu so I can't comment on that.

Next, I headed into the middle of Heswall where I had a number of overdue ticks on my list.  This meant I had to walk past some good places (Beer Lab, Bow Legged Beagle, Hydes' Harry Beswick, and so on.)

Eventually, just across the road from the Wetherspoon I reached Otto Lounge:

This pleasant modern cafe/bar in one large room is very well decorated in an eclectic style. The art deco lampshades suspended from modern cable ducts is a weird combination.  Nearby the lighting is from heavy duty faux-industrial units. The giant windows along the front wall create a fine open feeling.  I really like the overall effect. 

I was supposed to choose a table before ordering, but "that one there" sufficed and I soon had a pint of Cruzcampo.  "Only" £5.45 this time.

Another place busier than I expected, the room was filled with mixed chatter from a number of groups.  Including a gang of new mothers, complete with offspring.  I imagine when I was six months old holding such a get together in a bar would have been frowned upon, luckily we live in more enlightened times.  Although if the current puritanical lot in charge had their way we'd soon go back to the dark ages.

Resisting a visit to the spoons over the road, I headed on to Barcode:

There's something special about this micro pub.  With no pretensions to cask ale, it is a perfect example of an "ordinary boozer" with a friendly barmaid chatting with the cheerful regulars and serving pints of Carling, Madri, and so on.  I felt I'd moved from posh back to the real world.  Do I sound like an inverted snob? 

Good grief, my Carling was £2.50, what a contrast with the previous two places!

I tried to listen in to the chatter, but we're too far from home for me to follow.  When they refer to the Big House it's not the Vines, but somewhere nearer here. 

Next, on to the Harvest Mouse.  I walked up the road.  I paused; am I going the right way, I should be able to see it by now?  And then I discovered it has lost its sails:

No, it is not a windmill, it never was a windmill.  It was built in 1980 as a destination pub.  I've not really forgiven them for that dishonesty and I have to say it's a greater disappointment that it is not even a fully equipped fake windmill now! 

Never mind. Inside is a pleasant contemporary dining pub, with Flaming Grill branding.  I selected Landlord from the small range of cask on offer and it was spot on. 

By now it is four in the afternoon, perhaps a bit early for the dinner rush but nonetheless there are plenty of people in here.  A poor choice of table meant I couldn't spy on who was eating or drinking.

Finally, a long walk to Irby, where my recent visit missed a newly opened pub because I didn't know about it.  To save my feet, perhaps there is a bus?  Yes, in just a couple of minutes; can I visit the gents and get to the stop in time?  I did, so it was an easy ride to Crafty Tavern:

A standard conversion of two shop units, I think, with two hand pumps on the counter.  I chose Plum and Raisin Porter from Spitting Feathers, which was very good but not the all time great I was hoping for.  Was it past its best?  Probably not, just a little less plum and raisin than I would have liked.

Sadly, I was the only customer, no wonder these places don't have longer hours.  I had a good chat with the barman about local pubs, and my guide. He suggested I should have a table at a beer festival and sell copies of the book.

Eventually one other customer arrived, choosing a bottle of something Belgian from the fridge.  Was it Delerium Red?  If so, gorgeous!  Before I'd finished my pint he chose another bottle, no idea what but it wasn't a common one or at least it wasn't one I recognised, clearly a man of taste! 

Time for another bus to take me towards home.  A very good day's research including one brand new one.

Pub of the day: Crafty Tavern
Beer of the day: Landlord
Miles walked: 2.5
Maybe coming soon: Kirkdale, Birkenhead

Birkdale

On a warm sunny October Thursday I headed to Birkdale, hoping for some overdue revisits and some new ones.  I started in Bar'Nista:

This is a pleasant cafe/bar in a shop conversion.  What makes it special is the handpumps on the counter.  Only one had a clip so I had a pint of Courage Directors, I must confess I didn't know they still brewed it.  Very nice, anyway.  It came in one of those strange Hobgoblin glasses.

Plenty of customers inside and out, the majority on wine I think, although I did overhear a request for an Irish coffee.

Next, Barrique:

An even posher wine bar, this one, but three taps behind the counter so I'll allow it.  I chose the house lager which was tasty.

Again, some people were enjoying the unexpected sunshine and sitting outside, as well as half a dozen indoor customers. 

The decor is rather attractive contemporary, with some white tiling and a partly mosaic floor.  

I perused the menu.  The most expensive wine I could see was £110 for a bottle.  No thanks! 

Along one wall were some intriguing dispensing machines: You need to load a card at the bar and then insert it and select one of sixteen wines.  You can see the bottles inside the machine.  Does it really get so busy in here that they can't just pour you a wine at the counter? There was another identical machine to dispense whisky but it didn't have any bottles in so it's presumably not in use today. 

While this is certainly not "My sort of place" (TM) I must say it was pleasant and comfortable, what more could one ask for?  The answer, of course, is cask ale.

A short walk into the suburban streets took me to the Upsteps:

At four on a Thursday I found a busy lively locals' boozer, I almost had to elbow my way to the counter as it was surrounded by seated regulars.  I ordered a pint of White Rat, the barmaid started pulling a Wainwright.  A dilemma for me, last time I corrected a barmaid she was right and I was wrong, and embarrassed.  I risked it and she quickly abandoned the wrong one and pulled me an excellent pint of White Rat.

What a brilliant pub this is, cheerful busy atmosphere, quality ale, comfortable interior pleasantly decorated. 

The background music mixed with multiple conversations as I enjoyed the pint of the day.

Back to central Birkdale where there is one more overdue tick right beside the station, but first how about a new one, the Tea Rooms:

Birkdale seems to be the home of the cafe/bar shop conversion, and this is another one - Tea Rooms calls itself a wine bar but with five taps on the counter it certainly qualifies for the guide.  One high ceilinged room with, I'm sorry to report, more staff than customers at five o'clock.  Two of the staff departed just after I wrote that, their shift must end at five I guess.

I selected long term favourite Erdinger from the selection of international brews, of course it came in the proper glass.  The food menu, pizzas and focaccia looks rather tempting, but I'll wait until I get home and get a pizza delivery, I think. 

Finally, next to the station is Birkers, last visited in 2017:

This rather odd "shed" in the station yard is a great boozer.  One high ceilinged room with an island servery in the middle, and comfortable seating all around.  Most of the regulars were sitting at the counter but I retreated with my Carling to one of the tables. 

The decor has been "enhanced" by various Halloween related cobwebs, ghosts, skeletons, and so on.  At least it prevents early Christmas decorations!

The menu of wings, burgers, and pizzas looks good and good value. 

At half five on a Thursday I could see twelve customers, all sitting at the counter except for one eating and me.

Gosh!  Three brand new ticks AND two quality cask ales, that's a rather good haul for a Thursday afternoon!  I'll see you at the Rainhill Beer Festival on Saturday - If you want an extremely rare* signed one, bring your copy of my book and I'll sign it! (You'll have to recognise me first, though.)

(* At the time of writing, only one signed copy exists.)

Pub of the day: Upsteps
Beer of the day: White Rat
Miles walked: 0.8
Maybe coming soon: Kirkdale, Birkenhead

More Drinks!

Ooops!  A lack of proper planning saw me on the train to Tranmere with some noisy football fans.  To be fair, they were noisy but well behaved.  I considered changing my plans and going somewhere else but decided to stick with it.  Off the train at Rock Ferry, all the fans dived into the Bedford while I turned the other way.  My first intended target was close to the ground but before that I had to walk past the Rockvilla.  But it's changed name, to More Drinks!

The auctioneers sign outside doesn't bode well, but it's open now so I'll visit even though I was here only three years ago so it is not technically "required".

Just as last time this is a rather well done plain boozer, with rough wood panelling and some bare brick creating an attractive interior. 

There are two distinct sides to the pub, but the back of the servery seems to have been glazed so I think one has to come into this side to be served.  This side has a couple of rooms off, altogether a rather good layout.

I ordered a Carling before I spotted the intriguing handwritten tap label "Wirral Wobbler".

About half a dozen regulars were joking and chatting.  There's something special about this pub that I can't identify:  Perhaps it is the happy atmosphere, with friendly barman and regulars creating a pleasant ambience.

Some free food appeared on the counter as I neared the end of my pint - I resisted. 

A query arose at the pool table, and the players consulted the barman for adjudication.  He said "if you're paying EPA rules it's no, Birkenhead rules yes" which rather amused me.  I think I've come across these "Birkenhead Rules" in another pub some time ago.  (Purely as a nosy observer, not a player, I hasten to add.)

I headed on to the Sportsmans Arms:

As expected, this place was full of footie fans, gradually leaving for the ground.

Oh goodie!  White Rat is on.  The friendly barmaid apologised for serving cask in a plastic glass, I told her it tasted the same.  (To be honest I do prefer glass, but I'm not going to complain when they're serving one of my favourite ales in fine nick.  And it was only three quid.)

I had to stand initially, but fairly soon got a seat and table, as time moved on towards kick off and the crowd thinned .  By three there were only half a dozen of us left, and the bar staff busied themselves collecting glasses (er, plastics?) and empty crisp packets, and cleaning the tables.

I've been impressed by this pub before, pleasantly decorated and well maintained, offering quality cask in what would otherwise be a bit of a desert, they seem to have the formula exactly right.  I couldn't see any indication of the food they used to offer, but perhaps that's just because of the footie? 

I moved on, passing the long closed Black Horse where I last supped in 2012.  Did I get the giant chimney in my picture?  I thought chimneys like that had been forgotten by 1931 when this place was built.

A loud cheer indicated Tranmere had gone one down.  Only a short walk away is the Beehive:

I really like this historic-looking building (1930s again?) and I was pleased to find that the pub is still operating.   Inside I found a dozen or so regulars.

I read somewhere that Moretti has overtaken Carling as the biggest selling draught beer in the UK - Not here, I could see umpteen Carling glasses, and I added one to the total. 

The interior here is plain but well done and well cared for, the colour scheme is the fashionable shades of grey.

Once again, free food was on offer, sandwiches and chicken nibbles I think.  Again, I resisted temptation.  The mixing desk and lights at the end of the room suggested a noisy Saturday night ahead but at half three the only sounds were chit-chat and racing commentary. 

Next, into the back streets in search of the Imperial:

Something of a classic, this one, with some historic features such as an ancient fireplace inside although I suspect much of the decor is sixties?  I'm not sure though, the leaded glass above the counter seems genuine thirties or older.  I need an architecture expert to analyse this one for me!  The building must be early twentieth century I think, so maybe the interior is too.  A very pleasing boozer anyway.

Once again the sound was the animated chatter of one or two dozen regulars, I think the sport on the telly was silent. 

I'm off, before the football lets out.  This turned out to be a wise decision, the rumbles of thunder while I waited for the bus were followed by a very heavy hailstorm as I travelled into Birkenhead.

Pub of the day: Sportsmans Arms
Beer of the day: Ossett White Rat
Miles walked: 2
Maybe coming soon: Kirkdale, Birkenhead