Southport

Let's head off to Southport on a sunny Thursday; my second visit here this year.  I began my research at George's Place:

This is a tiny shop conversion, mainly aiming at coffee drinkers at half past one, but there are four keg taps on the counter, so let's have a Brixton Reliance.

The very attractive decor features lots of greenery, both real plants and wallpaper, along with rough bare brickwork walls. 

A number of coffees were prepared and delivered, mostly to outside tables, before the busy barman/barista poured my tasty Brixton and brought it to me. 

I'm not sure exactly what it is about this cafe/bar but I really like it.  I was surprised how many people wanted to sit outside, it was way too cold for me out there, and comfortably warm inside.

Next, a short stroll to the smallest pub in the country (Pah!), the Lakeside Inn:

I think I was the first customer just ten minutes after opening time but I'm pleased to be able to report that the Pride Of Pendle was fine.  And only three quid.

This place hasn't changed for years, it remains a small comfortable pleasantly decorated bar serving quality ales, what more could one want? 

However, I would like to renew my objection to its record claims, surely the Nutshell in Bury (St Edmunds, not Manchester) is much smaller.  In fact, George's where I've just been probably had less space in the main room than here. 

Two customers came in, a pint and a wine, then they headed outside.  What is it with people in Southport, it's freezing out there!  Of course, they probably want a smoke.  Then two more, who stayed inside, and then two more.  It's doing quite well for a chilly Thursday, I'm pleased to see. 

A very short walk to another good pub, the Windmill:

Another one unchanged for years, it is a pleasant comfortable boozer with quality cask ales, as it has always been. 

I selected Fuzzy Duck Citra from the three cask ales.  I must say I wasn't that keen on it, something in the flavour put me off.  I don't think there was anything wrong with the cellar or the pour, it's just a beer I don't like much. 

A handful of customers were not keeping the two staff (one in the kitchen) busy.  I checked the menu, nine quid for fish chips and peas is pretty good value.  A big bowl of food came out so I thought a customer was eating but no, it was the barman's lunch.  A few minutes later a new customer called in and ordered a steak.

Now, how about some more new ones?  The Crafty Dog:

A very pleasant shop conversion where the friendly barman/owner poured me a Cruzcampo and then chatted, I being the only customer.  We discussed various topics including pubs in Huyton, pubs in Southport, and the furniture in here, which he had made: A great job; old Singer sewing machine frames with second hand timber tops are a fine addition to the atmosphere.

It hadn't occurred to me before that the continued presence in the news of Southport following last year's massacre and riots might be a reason for a shortage of custom six months later. 

Literally next door is another shop conversion called Kokomo:

Warmer and busier than next door, this one has a lot more customers.  The decor is pleasant but I think I prefer the Crafty Dog on that score.  Clearly, the majority of customers disagree, zero next door and eight in here.

Most of the customers seem to know the barman so are clearly regulars in here.

Two cask ales and three brand new ticks, what more could one want for a Thursday survey.  Why am I out on a Thursday?  Because it's the BBBB (Bent and Bongs Beer Bash) on Saturday; see you there!  As I've said before, bring your book and get it signed, but only if you can recognise me.  (Hint:  I might be wearing a Merseyside Pub Guide teeshirt.)

Pub of the day: Lakeside Inn
Beer of the day: Moorhouses Pride Of Pendle
Miles walked: 1.4
Maybe coming soon: Undecided.

This Could Be The Last Time

Everton are at home with a three o'clock kickoff, so I seized the opportunity to make some long overdue visits to pubs around the ground.  This might be the last time I come here before many of them close for ever.

First, a quick check of the Melrose Abbey to see if any of my Evertonian friends are around.  But it's shut.  Am I too early or has it gone for good?

Next, a short walk to the Melrose which has been closed for so many years that I never managed to tick it:

It was boarded up and rather decrepit last time I looked but it seems like someone is taking care of it now.

Next, on to the first target of the afternoon, the Albany:

One hour before KO this is unsurprisingly jam packed.  I squeezed my way to the counter and soon got a pint of Carling. 

After standing for a few minutes I spotted a vacant table so I could sit down.  It was a great relief to peel off my winter coat; it was like a sauna in here!  I relaxed and wrote my notes.

I looked around and considered 2025 fashions:  Pretty much everyone except me had a black coat.  Jeans were de rigeur as well.

I tried to imagine this place on a non football day.  A rather pleasant comfortable two sided traditional boozer I think, as indeed it was last time I came here, on a Tuesday afternoon in 2018.

Next the Brick:

Originally the Prince Albert, nicknamed the Red Brick, they switched to the nickname for a while but later had to drop the Red when it was painted white.

Busy but thinning out rapidly as three o'clock approached.  One large open room, well cared for, with a tiny stage in the corner.

Lots of people were coming down stairs and heading off to the ground, so there must be a large space upstairs, I don't know if it's another bar or a function room. 

As I approached the bottom of my Carling the pub was much emptier, with about two dozen non-attenders scattered around.  The staff gradually collected in tons of glassware.

Good grief, Everton were 1-0 up in the first minute!  [ Officially, scored at ten seconds ]  I headed to the gents before departure, now it's 2-0!

Just a short stroll down County Road from here to the Royal Oak:

The pre-match empties had all been cleared away in this large pub, basically a big square room surrounding a four-sided servery.

A steady trickle of customers were keeping the place ticking over.

I've got some dodgy memories of this place, the first time I came here was in the evening after a derby match, and my strongest recollection is of crunching across the broken glass to get to the counter! 

On to the Leigh Arms:

For a moment I thought this was shut but that's just one side door, the main door was open.  Inside, a traditional boozer knocked through to create one pleasant comfortable room surrounding the servery.

I'd noticed this last time I was here; the regulars all sit at the counter and chat to each other and the barmaid.  I recall standing back while ordering my pint in order to avoid blocking the regulars' view of the tellies.  I also remember being told not too worry, "we can see the other TV".

Today, I was the only person to sit away from the counter on the bench seats running round the room, to sink my Carling.

I think this might be my favourite of today's boozers, something about the well maintained interior and the cheerful friendly regulars makes it a great pub. 

Everton were now 3-0 up at half time. 

One more before I head for home, the Barlow Arms:

My final call was surprisingly busy, I had to stand at the counter to sink my fifth Carling.  The two sided pub was full of people watching the Liverpool match on TV.  (They were winning 1-0.)

This one, perhaps, doesn't depend as much on Everton matches so may do just as well next season?  Let's hope so.  It is a rather attractive boozer, and the splendid bar back is, I think, genuine.

Time for home.  The big question is, which of today's ticks do I think will still be operational in a year's time?  Frankly, it's too hard to decide, and also I wouldn't want to "jinx" any of these by marking them as potential failures, so I'm not going to say.  However, I do fear that, for many of the pubs around here, This could be the last time, Maybe the last time, I don't know.

Pub of the day: Leigh Arms
Beer of the day: Carling
Miles walked: 1.9
Maybe coming soon: Undecided.

Not My Sort Of Pub?

As it's Thursday I don't want to go miles and then find everywhere shut so let's stick to the town centre.  I started by the Liver Building at what used to be Jurgen's Bar, but is now the Three Graces:

See what I mean about Thursday afternoon - it's shut.  On to the Alchemist:

How irritating:  There are eleven keg taps on the counter, none of which have any indication of what they serve.  I had to ask the cheerful barmaid what beers they had, and chose somebody's (I didn't catch what she said but it came in a Brixton glass) pale ale, which was good. 

The decoration in here is impossible to define in one word, but I like it a lot.  Some faux industrial lighting goes well with the iron girders, glazed cupboards full of soda siphons, and so on.  Not "my sort of pub" but very pleasant.

A smattering of customers at one o'clock, perhaps they do better with the after work crowd?  Mind you, at £6.50 a pint they don't have to sell many!  I browsed the cocktail menu, the average price was a tenner and I saw one at twenty quid.  It had Johnnie Walker Blue Label as one of the ingredients! 

It's all about the "theatre of cocktails" here, I noted a waiter heading to a table with a tray full of stuff that included something in a classic conical flask, like chemistry lessons at school. 

Next, the Old Bank:

I'd forgotten what a gorgeous over the top interior this one has, including marble pillars with gold (coloured) capitals.

Even better, I had also forgotten the handpumps, and they still have three in operation.  I had a hazy one from Sharp's which was a splendid sweet fruity brew.  And only £3.50.

I've got a recollection of seeing a band in here when it was a somewhat tatty room with a stage at one end.  Is that really the same place?  Perhaps my memory is faulty.  No, a check of the records shows that it did have a scruffy era as the First National.  Was it the Funky Monks I saw here?  My notes don't reveal that. 

My next target was Neighbourhood, another former bank, but it wasn't open - Thursday afternoon again.  Two doors down I found Liverpool Gin Distillery:

A very pleasant one room bar with some kind of distilling kit behind a glazed partition.  Industrial decor again, and again very pleasant. 

The barman was in the middle of making complex cocktails for the other two customers, so he advised me to take a seat, and soon after my pint of neck oil (£5.50) was delivered to my table.  A delay getting served can be irritating, but a friendly cheerful barman negates that.

Like the Alchemist this is "not my sort of pub" and yet I feel comfortable and relaxed in here.  Today's plan includes more "not my sort" places, I wonder how much I'll like them? 

My opinion of the barman dropped very slightly when two more customers came in and I noticed he had to study the recipe book while making their cocktails.

Now I'm on Castle Street there are plenty of targets to go at, I think it's first come first served, no, on second thoughts I'll photograph all of them and start at the far end.  So, Black Barrel rum bar:

One small room with a cement floor, bare brick wall and so on.  Probably quite fun if only there were some people in here.  Just the barman and me, so once he'd poured my Neck Oil (£6.00) he went back to his mobile phone.  I don't think my pint will have paid his wages for this hour. 

And it was freezing in here, I didn't take off my coat, unlike all the previous ticks.  I often wonder whether turning off the heat is a wise move, people won't come back next time if it's too cold.

I wonder how a place like this does financially;  I suppose a few rum drinking customers would boost the income massively, but at this precise moment I'll hardly be paying for the electricity, let alone wages.  Perhaps the "barman" is the owner, so he's doesn't get paid as such. 

I looked out of the window, it's throwing it down now.  One more, I think; it would be better for my stats if I do one never before visited, so how about MITO:

Another deserted one, barman and I in a pleasant corridor bar.  Moments later there were two barmen but still only me as a customer.  The decor in here is Italian style, I guess (What do I know?) and it was (just about) warm enough to take my coat off.

There were two keg taps, offering Menabrea Italian lager, and "Jubel Peach Beer" from Cornwall.  I've never come across that before so I tried it and it was gorgeous, a sweet peach flavoured brew.  At £5 for a schooner it's not cheap, but I'm not complaining, it's lovely. 

I studied Streetview and found that this used to be Sanctuary Tap, and the Cactus Bar next door (Not open - Thursday afternoon strikes again.) used to be Rox which I never visited.

Important mental note, I don't think I've paid yet, I must make sure I do so before leaving!  [Update:  I did!]

OK that's five pints (technically four and two thirds) is it time to go home?  It's only half three so maybe one more tick?  OK, let's do McGuffie:

Another tiny corridor bar, and another one that only does schooners.  I chose Estrella from the two keg taps on offer, the other one was Asahi.  £5.00.

In contrast to the previous two places this very narrow corridor bar had quite a few customers in, I counted eight, and the main sound in here was cheerful chatter.  More came in as I wrote that. 

I think this is the smallest of all today's visits, I'm not sure what makes it one of the busiest, it occurred to me that if two more people came in they could occupy all the free tables and it would be "full".

I looked at the long row of bottles on the shelf behind the counter.  Is that absinthe?  Yes it is.  I watched as two cocktails were prepared, was that an egg white in one of them?  What did they do with the yolk, I wonder?

OK, that's definitely enough, time for home...  Most of today's ticks were not my sort of pub but I still enjoyed them.

Pub of the day: Old Bank
Beer of the day: Sharp's Solar Wave
Miles walked: 1.3
Maybe coming soon: Kirkdale

West Kirby

Last weekend I lazily cancelled this survey because I didn't fancy walking in the snow.  No such problem today although it was only two degrees when I set off.  A train and a bus took me to the outskirts of West Kirby, to the Ridger which is now called the Newton Arms:

Outside this is something of a sixties classic, or actually I think it is more modern than that, eighties or nineties?  Pleasantly done out in the open interior, anyway.

Three handpumps but sadly the clips were turned round, so I started the day with a Carling.  I recall problems with the cask on a previous January visit where I ended up with a free pint of lager.  There's no better beer than a free one! 

I sat in a comfortable corner with lots of windows looking out on to the beer garden.  The more I looked round the more I felt this was a pleasant friendly space.  It won't be winning any prizes for interior decor but it is simply a comfortable place to be. 

About a dozen customers were in here at half one, one or two eating, and as I wrote that three more meals came out.  I couldn't see a menu. 

Unusually I could hear football commentary but from my seat I couldn't see any TVs showing it.  Not a complaint, I'm sure I could have moved if I wanted to watch, in fact I was happier without the distraction.

Next, a walk taking me past Leaf which was closed as expected:

This one has had at least four other names since I first drank in the Black Horse in 2004, including Collingwood, Hilltop and Viking.  Leaf, the final version, closed suddenly a couple of weeks ago and I wonder if the pub will live on with yet another name.  Seeing as how this road is Black Horse Hill I would suggest returning to the original title. 

Now, on to the Ring O Bells:

This has been very nicely done up since I was last here, I think.  An attractive dining pub, very busy indeed.  It was only when I got home that I noticed from the pictures that it has lost its Greene King branding.

I selected an excellent pint of Scarecrow from Brimstage, I don't often see anything from them that isn't Trappers Hat, this was another tasty pale one. The pub also had the ubiquitous Trapper's Hat, and the even more ubiquitous London Pride on offer.

I toured the rooms looking for somewhere to sit and after being politely rebuffed at the dining area I eventually found a table in a corner.  It would appear that neither dryanuary nor the cost of living crisis are adversely affecting this place.

A very attractive dining pub, I suggest you book if you're coming on a Saturday afternoon!  The menu looks good, but with fish and chips at eighteen quid it's not cheap. 

A couple of dogs were visible, I hope they aren't allowed in the dining areas!

By three o'clock there were plenty of empty tables as the lunchtime crowd went home.

Just down the road is Hickory's:

This was a sixties/seventies pub called Moby Dick the first time I came here, in 2000, and my notes say it offered a fine pint of Cains Bitter.

Another place mainly aimed at diners but I was welcome to go to the counter and order a pint of Hickory's Pale Ale, which is a great beer, "malty, caramel and hoppy" is what the menu says and it is exactly correct.  I would say that "Pale" is less accurate.  It is brewed by Purity, so it's bound to be good.

The same as last time if I remember correctly, a waitress came to my chosen table to take my order but she was quite happy to let me just have the beer.  They were doing a good trade, mostly diners, but hadn't quite run out of tables.  Waiting staff were constantly moving around.

I perused the food options.  Texas style barbecue, it looks very tempting but I've got more targets to visit so I will resist.  Actually, I'm hoping the next two will be new ticks, that'd be good. 

I walked in to central West Kirby, Google Maps taking me on a very pleasant route via a churchyard and an attractive park with a lake, to the Wild Inn:

A shop conversion is a shop conversion, but this one feels better than average for some reason.  A dark colour scheme is lifted by lots of sparkly lights hanging from the ceiling.

For a change, I selected Shipyard from the seven keg taps, other choices include Erdinger, Guinness and Kirin.  On reflection I should have chosen the Japanese Kirin because I've never had it before, and also because I'm hoping to organise myself a trip to Japan before too long.

Three drinkers occupying one of the booths finished their drinks and departed, leaving just two customers and two staff.  At least I assume the bloke adjusting bar stools with a screwdriver was staff, perhaps he wasn't! 

As I relaxed and enjoyed my beer I thought that, once again, on a very chilly day all today's pubs were comfortably warm.  Is it just good fortune on my part or have things improved compared with a few years ago?  However, it occurs to me that I haven't done a Kirkdale (or similar area) survey on a bitterly cold day yet this winter.  I need to do Kirkdale next time Everton are at home as there are some possibly match day only pubs I need to tick before Goodison closes, so maybe we'll find out...

Just a few steps into the town centre is Black Lodge Brewery Taproom:

This shop conversion has nothing really special to recommend it except, of course, for the quality beers from Black Lodge.  A comfortable one room bar, something of a contrast with their other tap located in a scruffy corner of an old warehouse in Liverpool.  I selected a hand pulled Outside The Frame, a rather fine pale one.

As I sat down the place was remarkably empty but a few moments later there was a queue at the counter, and more people coming in.  It shows how business can randomly go up and down. 

Oddly, a group of six stood in the street outside, some smoking.  Would they come in?  Yes, and suddenly the place was filling up.  Who cares, I've got my table, says he somewhat selfishly.  By the time I'd finished my ale every table was occupied with about a dozen standees as well, and the whole room was full of laughter and chatter.  What a transformation.

The bad news is there is now exactly one "required" tick in West Kirby, but five is enough, I think, so WRO Bar will have to wait. I had predicted that at least one of today's targets would be unexpectedly closed so I could finish at WRO but with no such disappointments that didn't happen.

I have other things to do next weekend so there probably won't be a survey.  Rest assured I'll still be visiting pubs!

Pub of the day: Newton Arms
Beer of the day: Brimstage Scarecrow
Miles walked: 2.4
Maybe coming soon: Kirkdale

Lord Street, Southport

For the first survey of the year I headed up to Southport where there are umpteen targets awaiting my attention.  I walked northwards along Lord Street, noting and photographing (It'll be dark by the time I get back) various targets, until I reached Mavericks:

Here I found a very stylishly decorated bar with an American theme, in one long room.  Being a former shop on a corner, two walls are almost entirely glazed, giving the place an airy ambience. 

About a dozen regulars were enjoying their lagers and I soon joined them with my first Carling of the year. 

Above the counter was a row of eight TVs showing two or three different sports channels.

I'm not sure why but I quite liked this place.  Comfortable, warm (It must cost a packet to heat this room with all that glass.) and friendly.  Our could it just be that this is my first pub of the year!

A number of the places I noted on the way here were close to the pub/restaurant border, so I think it might be time for a game of pub or not pub.  But, often, the decision depends on my mood, and today I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to sit in the corner of a restauranty sort of operation where everyone else is eating.  So I peered through the windows and then rejected (for now) Lord's Cafe Bar and House of Ivy, and carried on to Ra Bar:

No doubt about this place, no food so definitely a pub!  A shop conversion, perhaps two shops knocked through, rather wonderfully decorated with a great stone floor - It must be fake, surely?  But a fake stone floor wouldn't have the occasional hole in the grout?

Once again it was warm and comfortable in here, over the years I have got used to keeping my coat on when surveying on cold days, it costs a lot to heat a pub and at times of financial struggle turning the thermostat down is a good way to save money.  No sign of that today.

A new (to me) Guinness dispense system, it came out of a normal looking font and then the glass was placed on a stand which lit it up while the bubbles rose.  After a minute it was topped up before being handed to me.

The only other customers were one group of blokes sitting at the counter.  I think they were all on Guinness as well. 

That reminds me:  Have you blog readers had the "pleasure" of my rant about the alleged Guinness shortage?  No?  OK, soapbox out!  We were treated during December to multiple reports in the media of a shortage of Guinness.  This included at least three stories on the BBC website.  In all the pubs I have been in over the last five weeks I have never seen any which had run out.  I reckon the whole thing was cooked up by the Diageo (Owners of Guinness) promotions team, and the BBC should be ashamed of being so easily duped into providing free advertising.

I could see two TVs from my seat, both were showing different fires; one in a fireplace, the other in a snowy forest.  I still think a real fire is better, but they are rather attractive nonetheless. 

As I finished my beer a number of other customers came in, keeping the pub ticking over at half three on a Saturday.

Next, over the road to Punch Tarmey's:

Another Guinness in this fake Irish pub, part of the Lords Hotel complex.  Again the "settle" stage of the pour was on a little illuminated stand.  There are a number of handpumps on the counter but no sign of any of them being in use.  Last time I was here I had some decent real ale.

A bit livelier than the previous two ticks, with quite a hubbub of cheerful chatter filling the partially knocked through room.

I can't think of anything else to write about this pleasant friendly boozer.

Now, back across Lord Street and in to the Bold:

This one has been substantially redone since my previous visit, I think, and it is rather fine.  Part restaurant, from which was wafting some great smells, and part bar where a number of groups were enjoying their drinks. 

I wasted some moments dithering over the keg fonts (I couldn't see any Carling) before I spotted that one of the handpumps had a clip.  So naturally I chose that, and it was a tasty pale one, my first cask ale of the year.  Unfortunately I forgot to note what it was, not a good start!

The bar side was quite busy but not so much as to run out of tables.  The muzac mixed with multiple conversations.  More and more people came in as I enjoyed my ale, by the time I left it was getting full.

Well;  two new ticks, four required pubs, all of them warm and comfortable.  The crucial question is can I get home before the threatened blizzard?  [Update, Sunday:  Pah!  What Blizzard?]

Pub of the day: Bold
Beer of the day: Er, the one in the Bold
Miles walked: 1.3
Maybe coming soon: Kirkdale, Litherland