Aintree, Fazakerley, Walton

Today's survey is something of a mopping up exercise, I'm aiming for a few odds and ends and if all goes to plan I will walk past umpteen pubs to find the overdue ticks.  I started in Aintree at the Queens:

Gosh, that's a spectacular paint job, I think it was plain beige last time I was here, in 2019.  They've also got some kind of festival on this weekend according to the banners, with a large marquee and bands.  Will it be packed out as a result?  Not at one o'clock, there were only three customers in the two sided pub.  The decor is plain-ish and attractive, the interior has two sides arranged around an Island servery.

Unusually they don't have Carling so I resorted to Foster's instead.  Is there any difference? 

I could hear a soundcheck outside, the band sounded rather good, especially doing the wonderful Local Boy In The Photograph.  Should I stay and see the festival?  No, there are pubs to tick. 

More customers came in as I drained my ugly Foster's glass.

Now on to a pub which was unaccountably shut when I was doing Longmoor Lane last year, let's see if I have better luck today at the Prince George:

Yes, it's open, and what a beautifully cared for pleasant boozer it is.  I really can't praise the immaculate interior enough. 

About a dozen customers at two on a Saturday, mostly on lager but I could see one cider.  I had my usual Carling.  With one obvious exception all the drinkers know each other.

The sounds in here were a TV music channel mixed with conversation.  Later the music was replaced by horseracing.

My next destination is technically not a required tick.  I visited Jaxons in 2021, but after a period of closure it is now the oddly named Terra Preta.  I think I'll give it a visit to see how it has changed.

The cask has gone, as I expected, but this is still a great craft ale and coffee shop, with an interior that looks better than I remember, but I can't be sure of that. 

From the eight taps I selected Erdinger which was very good of course.

The place was ticking over gently although there was plenty of room for more customers.  Not enough people to keep the two staff busy, I think.  My vague recollection of Jaxons was that it was packed and I had to squeeze into a corner, but I can't remember what time of day that was. 

As I enjoyed my cloudy German brew a question wandered in to my already beer-addled brain:  If your Weissbier sells slowly what stops it dropping clear in the keg?  Will the cloudiness really stay in suspension for ever, or does the barman have to kick the keg occasionally.  Of course this is the opposite of real ale when bumping the cask results in a cloudy pint and they have to wait for it to settle again, perhaps adding more finings.

The cakes on the counter, including a raspberry and white chocolate doughnut, look very tempting, but I resisted! 

Now my mission is to walk past about a dozen or more pubs ranging from meh to great which are not due for a tick, these were Black Bull, Tiny Tavern, Cove Bar, Wetherspoon, Vale, Rooney's, Windsor, Joey Orrs, Orrell Park Bar, and L9 Lounge.  My goodness, there really are a lot of pubs around here!  Eventually I reached the never before visited Von's Bar:

Well, what a great shop conversion this is, with pleasant decor and filled with happy chatter.  No Carling so I had Madri.  Am I allowed in 2025 to say that the cheerful friendly barmaid was coloured.  That's still pretty unusual in Liverpool pubs nowadays, I don't really know why. 

Sky sports news was on one of the TVs, silently, Everton are holding out against Man City on one of their last games at Goodison.  My friend Simon, mentioned previously in this blog, managed to get a ticket for today, I hope he's enjoying his last match at the old ground.  One problem with silent Sky Sports News is that the 0-0 score kept popping up with a pundit waving his arms around commenting, but I've no idea what had happened except that it doesn't include a goal.  Still 0-0 at half time.

This is a rather fine pub, customers of ages from five to seventy-five (both a guess of course) were enjoying their Saturday afternoon out.

One of the passed by pubs listed above is actually overdue for a visit, so let's finish in the Orrell Park Bar conveniently located opposite the station:

D'oh.  I got to the door but it was locked.  Time to head for home, I think, annoyingly I've missed a train by about a minute but them's the breaks, as they say in America.

Only three and a half required ticks today but that'll have to do.

Pub of the day: Prince George
Beer of the day: Erdinger Weissbier
Miles walked: 2.1
Maybe coming soon: Anfield, Norris Green

Harrington Street

I headed into town to do some shopping, but of course I'm going to tick a pub while I'm there.  Last week I learned of the existence of Scruffy Murphy's on Harrington Street, a location hitherto unknown to me, so why not head there?  Of course if I've missed one there might be more so I took a stroll along the street.  There is a new one coming, the Echo says it is to be called Harringtons, located in the former Ethical Glass but the builders are still in so it wont get ticked today; they hope to open in May.  Then there is the Baby Croc and the Crocodile, which I had in the wrong order on my map.  And finally, in the former Pen & Wig and Aphrodite's, another place unknown to me:  Abbey Road.  Let's start there:

A rather well done modern bar, I think.  TVs for sports, two pool tables and a table football one as well in the comfortable back room with booths around the walls.

My Carling was only three quid, it was slightly delayed by problems with the card machine which didn't want to work so my offer of cash instead was gratefully accepted by the friendly barmaid.

I scanned the food menu, burgers, pizzas, wraps and the like, it looks rather good.  For eighty quid you can have one of each burger - I think that's seven - along with sides and if you finish it in forty minutes it's free and you win a bucket of beers for you and your mates.  I've always fancied a career as a competitive eater but, despite being something of a greedy pig I don't think I would be very good at it.

When I arrived, the sole customers were one group of half a dozen woman who were noisily enjoying a boozy lunchtime.  Soon, they were silenced by the delivery of a lot of food!  As I drank my beer two more people came in for a game of pool, and then more customers arrived.  Eventually the music was drowned out by cheerful chatter. 

Next, the Crocodile:

Why haven't I been in here since 2012?  I was somewhat stunned by the beautiful historic interior of which I had no memory at all.  I wonder how much of it is modern-ish fake but I don't really care because I like it a lot. Some of the "cut glass" windows are clearly modern replacements but there was also some old-looking leaded glass panels.

A number of customers were keeping the place ticking over as I enjoyed another Carling.

Next door across the courtyard is the Baby Croc, I think it's only there for live acts?  Not open now, anyway, so it stays on the never visited list.

Next, the original reason for my coming here, Scruffy Murphy's:

Down stairs from the street is a large beautifully done out basement bar.  Definitely no excess of Irish decor, the whole place is tastefully decorated.  

There were more customers in here than I expected, probably two dozen or more, and the main sound was multiple conversations.  Plenty of room for more, though, and I took my Guinness (what else?) to a small table.

I noted a small stage area, I guess they do live music sometimes.

I scanned the menu.  The food comes from "sister venue Abbey Road" where I've just been.  I guess someone has to dash along the road - Don't order if it's snowing!

When I was wondering where to have my one pint on today's shopping trip I was surprised to find that I haven't recorded a visit to the Wetherspoon Welkin for over five years, making it overdue for a tick.  All thoughts of my shopping mission forgotten, I headed there next:

Ah, now I remember why I rarely come here.  This pleasant Spoons on two floors was packed out, as always, and after queuing to be served for a minute or so I took my pint of Jaipur on a tour of the whole pub before finding one free table upstairs by the toilet doors.  I have had a number of pints of this favourite ale during their "on in every pub" promotion, but this is the first one to be served in a branded Jaipur conic.

You know what a busy Wetherspoon is like, families with kids having lunch, groups of blokes out on the ale, solo drinkers and the occasional pub surveyor.  

Four required ticks, including two brand new ones, that's pretty good for a day when I wasn't intending a survey at all.  I still managed some of my planned shopping on the way back to Lime Street for the train home. 

Pub of the day: Crocodile
Beer of the day: Jaipur
Miles walked: 1.6
Maybe coming soon: Walton, Aintree, Anfield

Carling All The Way

A couple of trains quickly carried me to Old Roan, from where it was just a short walk to my first target, the Packet Steamer:

That's not a very attractive picture, is it?  I don't think I'll get a job as a photographer any time soon.

One always feels a little doubtful going in to a Beefeater, what will their attitude to drinkers be?

No problem here, turn right inside the door to the side with the counter.  All the tables in this side have only drinks menus, no food.  (Although, if you "wait to be seated" at the door you may be handed a menu and sit here, if you wish.)

In this comfortable pleasantly decorated pub there weren't many customers at one on a gloriously sunny Saturday afternoon, although having said that there were more outside. 

The cask ale I recorded in 2019 has disappeared, so I started today with my usual Carling. 

Next, not far down the main road is the Bakers Dozen:

Another pleasant "plastic" food-oriented pub, this time a Hungry Horse.  Once again, no problem getting a Carling for a non-diner.

There were two handpumps on the counter but they didn't look like they had been used for some time, purely decorative I think.  Cask ale has disappeared since my 2019 visit.

This one seemed busier than the Steamer, although that might be just the noise level due to some children.  Not that they were annoyingly noisy, just giving the place a more occupied feel. 

Next, a one mile stroll continuing along the always-busy Dunnings Bridge Road to another chain dining pub, the Netherton.  Not exactly a stroll as it turned out because the roadworks were carefully configured to avoid inconveniencing drivers, and so made me cross the busy road three times.  We can't delay car owners, can we?  Anyway, finally I reached the Netherton:

My notes from 2018 record poor real ale but today the handpumps are nowhere to be seen, so I had another Carling.  Again, busier than the previous tick - it's nearly three o'clock by now - but still not full at what I imagined would be a peak time.  Maybe evenings are better? 

Outside this would appear to be a classic inter-war roadhouse, I wonder when it was built.  I asked ChatGPT, my new best buddy since it (he?, she?) solved a software problem for me yesterday, but it didn't know. 

I scanned the menu.  Fish and chips at £9.29 is pretty good value nowadays. 

Another mile's march to Cooksons Bridge:

After three "plastic" dining places this is a more of a proper boozer.  One pleasant comfortable room filled with chatter, the classic soundtrack of a good pub. 

Two decorative handpumps on the counter but no cask so I had Carling number four.  All four so far have been in the proper glassware, by the way.  That's four consecutive pubs where real ale has disappeared since I was last here.  That's the way things are, I fear.  

This really is a great boozer, everyone who comes in seems to know the bar staff, and has a chat while their drinks are poured.

The music beneath the chatter was quite a good selection, lots of Kate Bush and not just the obvious ones, and then favourite Closing Time by Semisonic.

My next target is something of an architectural gem, if it is still open and still unspoiled.  It is also another mile or so to walk, will my ankles stand the strain?  The Jubilee Inn:

Wow, this is a historic pub and no mistake.  It has been redecorated over the years so only the multi room layout remains.  That is not to fault the decor which is very good, just not original. 

The front room was busy, I retreated to one of the other spaces with my Carling, it was very quiet, in fact I was on my own until two other blokes came in.  One was vaping creating a, I hate to admit it, pleasant strawberry waft.

I looked around.  Over the years one or two of the leaded windows have been broken and replaced with plain glass, but most survive.

I'm going to ask ChatGPT again, this time it knows the answer and it says that pub was built in 1935.  It replaced two older pubs nearby as part of a redevelopment initiative.  Back then there was a general push for so called "improved" pubs and breweries often had to agree to close two or more existing pubs to get permission to build a new one like this.

Well; five required ticks and a long distance walked.  I'm tempted to treat myself to an Uber home.  Otherwise it's another mile to walk to the station.

The Uber price went up three quid between when I wrote that and when it was time to go, so I decided to walk.  I got to the station with 30 seconds to spare for a train in to town.

Pub of the day: Jubilee Inn
Beer of the day: Five pints of Carling
Miles walked: 5.3
Maybe coming soon: Undecided

Childwall and Broad Green

A couple of buses took me to Childwall on a day when the town centre is to be avoided at all costs.  I started my research in the attractive Childwall Abbey:

Inside the historic building the pub interior has been remodelled more than once so I don't think it counts as "historic", but it is pleasant and comfortable, which is what we want, after all.

It was ticking over gently at two on Aintree Saturday.  I selected a fine pint of Bombardier from the small range of cask ales.  The customers were a mix of drinkers and diners, plus one or two checking in for the hotel.

If I'm going to nitpick, the soundscape in here was slightly too loud music and racing commentary which could have done with being turned down and off respectively.  Not too bad, though, a comfortable pub all told. 

I noted that a number of tables were reserved for diners later.

Next, the Halfway House:

This one hasn't changed at all since my 2020 visit, it is still a pleasant comfortable two sided pub which also has a restaurant area at the back.  A little busier than the Abbey, perhaps, but not packed, despite Everton being on the tellies.  (They finished one all while I was there.)

Three handpumps were in operation. (By the way it was zero in the bar side, make sure you go in the lounge.)  Unusually, it wasn't three "standard" brews, they had Wainwright and two I've never tried before.  I chose York Brewery's Calmer Chameleon which was a very good pale fruity one. 

A special mention of the barmaid/landlady who was exceptionally cheerful and friendly with all her customers, including me.  This is quite a rare skill and deserves to be praised.

People were coming in to watch the National later, 16:00 I think, and also phoning up to book tables at that time.

Next, it's not far to the Fiveways:

Now a Wetherspoon, of course, but I used to come here regularly many years before they took over.  They didn't really change the interior of this 1930s roadhouse very much, it's just as great as it was when I drank here in the 1990s.   Compared with the previous ticks this one was very busy, but once I joined the throng at the counter I soon got a delicious pint of Jaipur, selected from the wide choice of cask ales.

I see something on the Wetherspoon website suggesting Jaipur is going to become a standard offering, although I'm not sure because in classic Wetherspoon website style, clicking on the story gets a page about Kronenbourg 1664.  They really need someone better to run their web presence, but I don't think they could afford me.

Although the pub was very busy I managed to find a quiet corner in one of the little side areas to enjoy my ale and write this.

Once again I am wondering why my shares are going down when every Wetherspoon I visit is busy.  I ticked a few in Greater London last weekend, and all seemed to be doing well, or in some cases packed.  Even the one at Camden Lock which I described as an "oasis of calm" was still doing a good trade in food and drink.  I don't think I've used that phrase before to describe a spoons but compared with the touristy bedlam outside it certainly was! 

So far, three decent real ales, I've got a feeling that isn't going to continue, but you never know...  Next, a short walk along Queen's Drive took me to the Rocket.

As I strolled here, I paused for a moment for a look round.  It is an overused phrase, perhaps, but there was literally not a cloud in the sky.  That must be good for the racegoers.

I arrived two minutes into the big race.  The pub was very busy but not so much that I couldn't get a Carling and a seat.  Actually, perhaps the National being under way meant the counter was a little less busy.    The majority of the customers here seemed to be watching, there was a collective "ooh" when one horse fell.

I see they still offer a Sunday carvery, I was impressed when I tried this back in 2008.  The menu looks rather good, it would appear to be an independent pub rather than a chain, and the menu is unique to here.

The hubub stabilised but didn't really die down once the race was over, I was trying to decide how many people were here just for the National, what will it be like next Saturday?  I don't know.  What if it's raining?

Irrelevant aside:  I have always been very fond of the Carling glass, something about the waist and the ribbed grip makes it a favourite.  Friends suggested I should pinch one from one of the many pubs I drink Carling in, but I decided last week to buy two from Amazon.  They will often be used for pints of water!  Stealing glassware is an awkward question; in my collection I have a GR stamped ten-sided pint which my father said he pinched from Alexandra Palace.  So I don't really have the moral high ground, do I?

Finally, just a short walk away is the Turnpike so I let's tick that one as well:

I'm not sure whether that picture is artistic or just rubbish, I suspect the latter.  I had intended to take another shot once I was in the car park, but my mind tends to wander after four pints, so it was forgotten.

Another busy but not packed pub.  The three handpumps offered just Doom Bar but I'm afraid I bottled it and had another Carling, so I won't know if this one does drinkable cask for another five years! 

A busy pub at five on a Saturday, only a few TVs so most people weren't here to watch sport.  Plenty of "sizzling" food was being sold.  Just like the last one, this pub seems popular, friendly and well run, what else could one ask for.  As I sank my pint lots of food came out of the kitchen.

Five required ticks, three quality cask ales and I avoided the transport chaos that is the Grand National, I call that a success.  Just across the road is Broad Green station for a train home.

Pub of the day: Childwall Abbey 
Beer of the day: Jaipur, but Calmer Chameleon gets a special mention for a great pun.
Miles walked: 3.2
Maybe coming soon: Litherland

2025 Book

While I was enjoying the pubs and other attractions of London and Kent at the weekend, my proof copy of the 2025 edition of the Merseyside Pub Guide was delivered.  It is now on sale.

This year's edition lists 2,041 locations of which I have visited 1,534, and is up to date to 19 March 2025.

You can order a copy direct from the printers by clicking here, or it is available from Amazon and other popular distributors.

New Ones and a Gem in St Helens

 I headed out on a sunny Thursday for a train ride to St Helens, starting my researches in a new (ish) one, the Tipsy Tap:

A rather fine shop conversion, this one.  It was ticking over nicely at two on a Thursday with a dozen or so customers. 

The decor, mainly bare brick walls and wood effect floor, is well done.  Two different sports channels were occupying multiple televisions, all silent, and the only sounds were gentle muzac and multiple conversations.  I looked round from my seat; this is quite a big place with a number of side areas and rooms, so plenty of space at busy times.

My pint of Landlord was, perhaps, a little tired; maybe the first out of the pump today.  Drinkable, anyway. 

On my walk to the Tipsy Tap I had passed by a place previously unknown to me, the Barrow Street Lounge, so it would be foolish not to attempt a tick there:

This one is a little odd.  A large shop conversion - It's got two front doors so maybe two shops.  Inside all the walls are painted black, but decent lighting means it is not excessively gloomy.  Four pool tables, three darts boards and one of those boxing machines indicate the people they are aiming to attract. 

At half two on a Thursday there were two playing darts, two playing pool and that was about it as far as custom was concerned. 

I sat in a little booth and enjoyed a pint of Guinness.

The sounds in here were, again, background muzac and chatter.

Two brand new ones, what next?  How about a wonderful pub overdue for a revisit?  The Cricketers.  But once again, my plan was disrupted, in a good way, because as I headed in that direction I passed the former Punch Tarmey's which my records said had become a night club called Kingdom, which had then closed.  Not so any more as I found a bar called Buzzby's:

The layout inside looks the same as Punch Tarmey's, but the decor is now American themed. 

Just two or three other customers at three o'clock as I enjoyed my first Carling of the day.  

I'm still persevering with Untappd at the moment, but this is the second place today that isn't on there.  I realise that it isn't really the market they are aiming at, but surely it would be better to list everywhere that sells beer? Oh wait, it is there but as Punch Tarmey's, they are only five years out of date.  Oh well, I got a tick here, anyway.  I wonder how many pubs I've logged in total?  Ah, you have to pay to get that figure.  Stuff that.

OK, on to the Cricketers, at last:

This fantastic pub is as wonderful as ever, and remarkably busy compared with the previous ticks.  I eyed up the wide range of handpumps and selected King Rat, a slightly stronger version of all time favourite White Rat.  It was lovely, 5.0 on Untappd.

In this great pub the music was mostly drowned out by multiple conversations.  Most tables were occupied but I managed to find a free one. 

I must say it is surprising to find a boozer with so many customers at four on a Thursday, clearly they are doing everything right. They won pub of the year more than once, obviously it is well deserved.  I wondered why this place is so successful;  other pubs offer quality real ales but aren't as busy as this.  I don't know what their secret is, but long may they continue! 

Just down the road is the Golden Lion:

This was a plain traditional boozer where I tasted a pint of Double Diamond many years ago, at a time when it had become rare.  Is it open on a Thursday afternoon?  Is it open at all?

Sadly, it would appear to be finished, just one of the many "ordinary" boozers that have been lost over the last few years. 

Two new ones, one unexpected tick and one absolute gem, I think that's enough for a Thursday, I'll head home.  The further pubs I had intended to visit, Black Bull, Eccleston Arms, Bird I 'Th Hand and so on, will have to wait for another day.

Pub of the day: Cricketers Arms
Beer of the day: King Rat
Miles walked: 1.9
Maybe coming soon: Childwall, Litherland

Mostly Upton

I began a Friday jaunt with a long bus ride towards Greasby.  Respect for the dead is all very well but mile after mile of main road at ten miles per hour is a bit much, I feel. 

Eventually I reached the Gravesberie Inn:

From the standard Greene King offering of Scrumdown, Landlord, Abbot and Old Speckled Hen I selected long standing favourite Abbot.

A couple of days ago I commented to some friends that the quality of the real ale in pubs has improved and I haven't had a pint of vinegar for a long time.  Obviously this was tempting fate, and the Abbot here was very sour.  Yeuch, I said, perhaps a little too loudly, I think everyone in the pub knew my opinion of the beer.  It was replaced promptly without objection with a Landlord which was excellent.  The barman, who hadn't served me but was advised of the problem by the barmaid, didn't just turn the clip round, he grabbed a screwdriver and detached it from the handle.

One odd thing about this incident was that at no point did anyone taste the offending beer.  I know the customer is always right but throwing away ale just because of one complaint seems a bit foolish.  The cynic in me thinks perhaps they already knew it was off and hoped to sell some to people who don't like complaining.

Anyway, this is a nicely done food oriented pub with a large area devoted to drinkers.  A bit bog standard identikit in its decor, but pleasant nonetheless.

Not busy at two on a Friday but ticking over gently, conversations mixing with golf commentary.  There's only one thing more boring than golf on the telly, and that's actually playing it!  Oooh, contentious! 

Next, a long stroll through residential streets to the Saughall:

I've always pronounced it soch-all but it occurs to me that that might be completely wrong. 

Oh dear.  Three handpumps, one clip turned round.  Have you got any cask, I asked, but the answer was no.  OK, I'll have a Carling.  Er, I think that's gone as well.  He disappeared out the back for a moment and returned to tell me it's bottles only, except for this Paradise No. 3.  I decided to risk it and it was very sweet and fruity, I really liked it.  Untapped tells me it's brewed by Thwaites.  This is, of course, a Thwaites pub.

Sadly, something tells me this could be my last time here:  Half two on a Friday, no lager, no Guinness, no bitter, no cask, and no customers.  Except me. 

Leaving aside the total lack of trade, this is quite a pleasant pub; the same golf on the telly but this time silent, thank goodness.  Pleasantly decorated, knocked through but retaining two sides.  Each table has a number and condiments, but I wouldn't fancy ordering any food.  Who's going to cook it; is there a chef poised in the kitchen?

The barman "busied" himself playing darts, there wasn't anything else for him to do.  Except get on to the brewery and order some beer!

On to the Willows, surely not as dead as the Saughall:

And indeed not:  At three o'clock there are more than a dozen blokes enjoying, mostly, lager, and filling the large open space with chatter.  No indication of any food offer, this is certainly wet-led and, compared with the last place, it's doing OK.

Depending on how fussy you are, there was quite a lot of swearing in the chatter, but it was all cheerful so I'm not complaining. 

I remembered last time I did the next walk the sky was black and there were rumbles of thunder.  No such problems this time but it was grey and windy and not the sunshine the forecast had suggested.  On to the Overchurch:

As I circled the pub to get a photo I decided it wasn't open.  But remembering that I had thought exactly that last time I was here, in 2019, I headed to the closed door, pushed and it opened.  Inside I found one plain clean and tidy room with about a dozen customers chatting.  This is a proper traditional boozer, long may it continue. 

Again, the golf was on the telly, I presume that's the only sports event this afternoon, silent again I'm pleased to say, with just one customer watching closely. 

There is another side to the pub, the lounge, but I think it's not open now, certainly there's no one in there.

The good news now is that the only "required" tick near here is a purveyor of great ales, and it's also the best place to go for the bus back to Liverpool, so on to the Bow Legged Beagle:

Ah, now this is the pub of the day.  Two dozen or more customers and they're not all blokes, there are old women, young women, and little kids as well. 

Four handpumps but I didn't look further than Peerless Oatmeal Stout, a long term favourite of mine and it was gorgeous as expected.

There was some music playing but it was drowned out by the cheerful chatter all around the room.

I studied the walls, they have run out of room for pump clips, I wonder what they do with new ones.  In front of me I could see favourites White Rat and Big Bog's Peat Bog Porter.  Are they still going, I haven't seen Big Bog for some time?  Those were just in the panel beside where I was sitting, there were many other clips to consider. 

As I enjoyed my wonderful stout I eyed up the counter.  They've got Budvar, Erdinger, and a number of other keg taps I can't recognise from here.  Hang on, why don't I just read the blackboard:  Oooh, somebody's Peanut Butter Milk Stout, a sour cherry one, and a strawberry, so tempting all of them but I'm already on pint number five so I think I should head home. 

Did this used to be a bank?  (Checks Streetview:  Yes it did.)  The back corridor and the gents have impressively large safes in their walls, both branded Chubb.

By the way, for those who are keenly awaiting the delayed new edition of the Merseyside Pub Guide book, it is now with the printers and I hope to receive a proof copy shortly.

Pub of the day: Bow Legged Beagle 
Beer of the day: Peerless Oatmeal Stout
Miles walked: 2.8
Maybe coming soon: Litherland

This Could Really Be The Last Time

Everton were at home so I headed once again in that direction as there are still a few desirable ticks in the area.  This time I turned away from the ground on to Stanley Road, to begin with a look at the Pitch Pine:

This still looks like it could be an operational pub, but actually I don't think it's been open for many years.  Nearby, the William Shakespeare is certainly long closed:

On to a pub which I marked as closed back in 2010 when I found it boarded up, but recently I learned it has been saved, so in to Swift's:

My first time in here since '03!  A rather fine pub with two sides, one counter.  The decoration of wood planks and mustard coloured plaster is really well done, and they've kept (or replaced) an ancient fireplace.

Ticking over well at two o' clock, although this is probably too far away to have much of a match day crowd. 

Whoever 'saved' this pub has done a fantastic job, a very pleasant interior without spending millions. 

I checked my notes from 2003, they just say "plain clean and tidy", it was probably one of many pubs round here that I did in one crawl, including the Pitch Pine.  On getting home I decided to examine my records:  It was, in fact, a record breaking Thursday evening survey with friends, when I had a half (probably) in no less than ten pubs:  Banjo, Bedford, Cabin, Coopers, Knowsley, Melrose Abbey, Pitch Pine, Swifts, Victoria, and William Shakespeare.  Coopers?  Ah, yes, I must have stopped off at the one on Lime Street Station on the way home.

Back towards the ground now, along with everyone else, and on to County Road.  My database says that there's just one pub on this thoroughfare that is overdue for a visit, and I think it might be under threat once Everton go.  So, in to the Clock:

At five and twenty to three the pre-match crowd was thinning out and the staff were busy clearing the tables stacked with glasses and preparing for the five o'clock rush.

The pleasant interior has two rooms with the servery between them, and there's also a serving hatch on the corridor between the front and back rooms, whence I obtained my second Carling of the day.

Soon, the hubub of conversation faded out as everyone headed for the ground. 

Aside:  A friend of mine who used to be a season ticket holder until he moved two hundred miles away, had always visited a few times a year to see his beloved team play.  He wanted to do so today but couldn't get a ticket; I guess every match will be a sell-out from now on as people say goodbye to the old ground.  On the plus side, he's got a ticket for the new stadium next weekend, so I'll still get to see him for a few beers. 

By five to three we were down to about a dozen customers or fewer, and the main sound was the clink of glasses being collected. 

Next, the miniature gem that is the Abbey, last visited seven years ago:

What is it about this place that makes it so attractive?  I don't know.  The ceramics outside and the traditional interior combine to make it very good. 

Oddly, the barmaid asked me if I was staying in with my Carling.  As if I would want to freeze outside with a plastic glass! 

The interior was presumably little rooms originally, but it's now knocked through into one pleasant space. 

Everyone else seemed to be related, and most of them had Chinese takeaways to eat.  I suddenly felt very hungry!

Now, I'm faced with something of a dilemma:  I can walk on to one or two required ticks, if they're open, in the Anfield direction or I can take probably my last opportunity to say goodbye to the Spellow and the Winslow, with their pre and post match memories from thirty years ago.

The temptation of a brand new tick won, and I headed to Taggy's:

Will an LFC themed bar be open when they're not playing?  Things didn't look good as I approached but the (red, of course) front door was ajar and I entered to find a handful of customers in a very pleasant comfortable bar, the first time today I've taken my coat off. 

No Carling so I had Carlsberg instead, and sat in comfort with Sky Sports News telling me Everton were still 0-0 at half time.  I had heard a loud roar as I walked up, but clearly it wasn't a goal. 

A number of people arrived to check in to accommodation, which is clearly an important part of the business here. 

I would be interested to see what this place is like on a home match day, presumably it'll be packed, it's rather clever of the management to handle different days successfully.  There is also a large beer garden at the back which can absorb a match day crowd.  Once the residents were checked in it was just me in the lounge.

Too far to go back to Goodison now so onwards, perhaps there's one Anfield boozer overdue for a tick, Dodd's Bar, but I'm not sure it exists any more, having been merged into the Sandon complex, which is all shut today.  So I walked on towards West Derby Road and the lovely Belmont:

Not a required tick as I was last here in 2021, but a convenient toilet break located on a bus route home and also a rather excellent traditional boozer always worth a visit. 

Only about half a dozen customers in at five on a Saturday, which is not very good.  

I noticed they've got that mysterious "Caines Lager" on tap, nothing to do with Cain's I suspect. 

A steady stream of customers wandered in and out, they all seemed to know each other which must be the definition of a good local. 

So, four required ticks, one of them brand new, is that enough?  I think so! 

Pub of the day: Clock
Beer of the day: Carling
Miles walked: 3.6
Maybe coming soon: Upton, Litherland

Ainsdale and Birkdale

On a warm and sunny Thursday you find me on a very long bus ride to Woodvale.  During the seventy minute trip (!) I was able to observe umpteen pubs; I noted surprisingly few changes; one closure and more interestingly, one I have recorded as closed but the doors were open - Swifts in Kirkdale.  Eventually the bus passed Woodvale airport (Despite flying from Speke many times I never landed here, although it was always my emergency fallback if I couldn't get back in to Liverpool.) and I got off and took a short walk for a long overdue visit to the Sparrowhawk:

I must say I feel a little underdressed in my t-shirt although nowadays everyone dresses down to some extent, even in a dining pub as posh a this one. 

In the beautiful multi-roomed interior every square inch of wall is covered in miscellaneous pictures, perhaps to excess?

I took my pint of Sparrowhawk Pale, brewed by Facer's in Y Fflint, and found a table without place settings in the end of the room allocated to drinkers.  I noticed they also had Facer's Plum Porter, I should have tried that to see if it was as wonderful as Titanic's original.  The Pale was very good, anyway.

At two thirty the lunch time rush was over, the customers were mostly finishing their meals or just coming in for an afternoon drink. 

A stroll of a mile and a half brought me to a new one, In Den Engel:

Here I found a pleasant plain shop conversion with one wall occupied by a fantastic range of bottles of (mostly) Belgian beers.  On the counter were keg taps, again mostly Belgian, and also three handpumps, so I'm afraid I wasted my chance to have all time favourite Rochefort 10 (I see they've also got a Rochefort Triple, I've never heard of that one.) and had a gorgeous pint of Titanic Plum Porter. 

A group of four departed shortly after my arrival, leaving just three customers at ten to four.  Then the other two departed.  The landlady appeared, wiping tables and asking if I minded the open door.  I was still quite warm after my walk so I didn't. 

I had chosen a seat facing the wall of bottles and I have to confess to being tempted to just stay here and have some favourites or some new ones.  Especially as it is another mile and a half to the next target.  If this bar was walking distance from my home I would ask them for a stock list and then tick them off, two or three a day, until I'd tried them all!  That might mean the end of the Merseyside Pub Guide!

What about this weather!  Having switched this morning from winter coat to summer jacket for the first time in 2025, I then undertook a mile and a half of walking with the jacket over my arm, and I was still quite warm when I reached the next target, the Pines:

This pleasant shop conversion has just two handpumps, but that's more than enough and my pint of Vocation's Chop and Change was a very tasty hoppy pale one.

The place was pretty busy at five with umpteen regulars who all know each other chatting amongst themselves and to the barman who was kept busy with lots of orders. I bagged a small table, and there were one or two other free tables but lots of the blokes were standing and plenty were sitting outside as well.

Not everyone was on the beer, I saw bottles of wine and what looked like some kind of gin and tonic being consumed as well.  Customers, male and female, ranged from older than me down to only just legal drinkers.  So this is a great bar for all the locals and it's deservedly doing well.

My original plan for today was to start here and finish at the Sparrowhawk, until I realised this bar and the one round the corner don't open until four, so I reversed the route.  So, round the corner to the Grasshopper:

I entered to find a tiny shop conversion with at least six handpumps, I've always been a fan of Derby's Shiny Brewery so I selected their Disco Balls, a tasty pale one. 

No chance of a seat in this busy room but wait, there's a door through to the other half where there were plenty of free spaces.  Some blokes were enjoying playing darts, with definitely more fun than skill involved.  That's the way to do it! 

As I enjoyed my ale I got chatting to the darts players, they were celebrating a birthday and it was great to have some conversation covering pub guides, how to run a bar, darts skills and multiple other topics.

All too soon it was time to head for a train towards home, so I departed.  Happy birthday John.

What did I say about the weather?  It was raining as I walked to Hillside station.  Four excellent cask ales, one new tick, that's a good result for a Thursday.

Pub of the day: They were all great, I think perhaps In Den Engel just because it's new.
Beer of the day: Titanic Plum Porter 
Miles walked: 3.4
Maybe coming soon: Litherland, Upton

Southport Again

The sun's shining bright, let's head to Southport again.  This time I'm going to start at Connolly's:

The roadworks outside precluded a good picture, I'm afraid. 

Last time I was here, back in '04, it was called the Coronation.  Since then I had recorded it as closed, but here it is in a new guise; a rather fine Irish pub, happily lacking the excessive "Irish" decor. 

There were two handpumps on the counter but the clips were turned round  so I had a Guinness.

My attention was caught by a notice on the TV screens offering free Guinness.  For the first six minutes of Ireland games in the Six Nations.  I wonder what the T&Cs are?  Presumably you have to finish one before you get another.  I think I would see this as a challenge, I reckon I could down two and demand a third before the six minutes were up, although with umpteen other customers also ordering it might not work.

This is a rather fine pub, warm and comfortable.  The barmaid was chatting to the regulars, the whole atmosphere was friendly - I like it. 

I wandered on.  Metro used to be a hotel bar which actively invited non residents, but today it was shut.  On to the Scarisbrick Hotel:

There are three bars inside, at least one of which offers real ale, but the whole complex is closed for maintenance work, that'll teach me to try Southport in February!

Onwards along Lord Street to a new one I had noted on my last visit, Casablanca:

I entered a long narrow shop conversion very well decorated with a green colour scheme, with lots of plants everywhere.  (Probably all plastic?)  I really liked the overall effect.

The barmaid, who was chatting with a friend at a table out front, followed me in and soon poured a Wainwright Gold from one of the two handpumps on the counter.  I noted it was fake cask but who cares, it tastes good enough.  Oooh controversial, that'll get me drummed out of CAMRA!  The pump clip had "brewery conditioned ale" on it to make things clear.  The other pump offered Hobgoblin IPA with no such warning, so was it real?  I doubt it.

No wonder all those places are closed, no one else was in here and I had the place to myself as I enjoyed my pint which, incidentally, came in a Wainwright glass. 

After all those failures I had to replan my survey, Corridor is overdue a revisit so let's try there:

Eight or nine customers makes this place a lot less empty than the last one.  In 2018 I enjoyed some good real ale, today there were no visible handpumps and in fact for a moment I thought there was no draft beer at all until I realised there was a row of keg taps behind the servery.  I selected Guinness from the range of standards.

Another place where the decor is very good, here it's understated with a touch of faux-industrial lighting. 

Most of the other customers were eating, but I couldn't reach a menu from where I was sitting so I can't comment on the range. I didn't want to get up and grab a menu because then they would think I was going to order food.

Where next?  Just round the corner are two never visited places so let's have a look.  Le Grog doesn't appear to be open:

But Sacrebleu two doors down is:

Continuing today's theme, this one is very well decorated, bare brick and blue painted wood panels down the walls, with a remarkable plain smoothed concrete floor. 

I selected the lovely Neck Oil from the standard range of taps. At five quid it was the most costly beer so far, but that's hardly expensive. 

The friendly barman seemed to know all the customers (except me, of course) which is often an indication of a good pub. 

I watched the barman pour a Guinness Zero from a can.  If I selected no alcohol beers perhaps I could manage more pubs in a survey?  I have resolved to try Guinness Zero next time I see it on draught because I'm told it is the best no alcohol beer available.  Not from a can, though. 

Next, there's a more traditional pub I haven't been in for over five years, so why don't we finish in the Masons Arms:

So this is where everyone is!  The tiny boozer was pretty full, so having got my pint of Plum Porter, gorgeous, I had to stand for a few minutes until a corner became available and I could sit next to the warm fire in a tiny side room.

What can I say?  A classic boozer, a Robinson's house, beautiful inside and deservedly doing a good trade at five on a Thursday.  

They even had Old Tom on draught, maybe I should have selected that for its rarity, but I went for a favourite instead. 

People went out and people came in, the pub continued to be full, so even in February a quality boozer can get enough custom.  Well done! 

Five required ticks, one of them brand new, and finishing with an absolute classic - Another great survey.

I'm hoping to be at Wigan Beer Festival on Saturday, the usual offer is available: If you recognise me I'll autograph your copy of the Merseyside Pub Guide book!  (If you bring one.)  By the way, talking of the book, the 2025 edition has been delayed but I hope to get things moving in the next couple of weeks.

Pub of the day: Masons Arms 
Beer of the day: Plum Porter
Miles walked: 1.6
Maybe coming soon: Litherland, Upton

Valentine's Day

It's too cold for a long walk, and tomorrow is forecast to be wet, so let's do a few in town. 

I started just across the road from Lime Street Station, in Boom Battle Bar:

I must say the exterior as you approach the entrance is hardly attractive, but it's better once you get in.

This is another of those games places, like Gravity Max I sampled last year.  At one on a Friday it was understandably empty, with just four other customers I could see, two playing pool and the other two disappeared round the corner carrying darts.  Also in the large space they offer shuffleboard, golf, basketball shooting, axe-throwing and so on. 

The former car park or storage area is part of the St John's Centre, quite a clever use of otherwise redundant space I think.  Black painted walls and ceiling and a concrete floor, all lit with distracting neons, gives the place a gloomy feel at this time but I imagine at nine this evening it will be lively and fun.  It's unlikely I'll be coming back to find out, though. 

My Guinness cost £6.50, standard pricing for this sort of place, I guess. No one comes in here just for a drink, I think! 

So, in conclusion, probably a great place for a good night out with a group of friends, but not really my sort of bar!

On to Bundobust.  Bugger!  I forgot to take a photo. 

I climbed up the stairs and went through the doors to find a colourfully decorated shed of a canteen.  I was pleased to see a couple of handpumps on the counter next to an impressive array of craft keg taps.  Only one handle was in use, Galaxy & Simcoe is a Bundobust badged brew which means Thornbridge make it which pretty much guarantees I'll like it, and it was very good. 

Something of a snag at the bar, the credit card machine wouldn't work because the WiFi was down.  I offered to pay by cash but they don't take it, so two friendly apologetic bar staff had to work to get the gizmo back on line.

I selected a table by the window so I could look out over Bold Street.  There were lots of people going up and down but here and the noodle bar and shops over the road seemed very quiet. 

Some of the walls are covered in old doors.  Now that's a decor style I haven't seen since the Tut 'n' Shive chain back in the nineties which even used doors for the ceiling.

As I enjoyed my delicious hazy pale there was a very slow trickle of customers.  Everyone else seemed to be eating which is, after all, what this place is really about.

This pub has unisex toilets.  At least I really hope it does because if not, I used the ladies! 

With two new ones under my belt, how about a classic?  The Grapes:

This pub has undergone quite a few changes since I first came here in the nineties.  A "Porter's Ale House" with no cask, a rather scruffy dump with great real ale and, most recently, a pleasant clean and tidy pub with the same excellent cask. 

The gorgeous real ale continues, I selected Four Star Daydream stout from Black Lodge which must be about half a mile from here, a really creamy smooth stout.

A slight delay getting served because three girls had ordered five pints of Guinness which took some time with the fill-stand-topup process.  I'm assuming there were more of them round the corner, or maybe it was a heavy afternoon's drinking and they wanted two pints each! 

This pub was ticking over gently at three on a Friday afternoon.

I've always been fond of this place, although some of my friends were rather put off by the "scruffy" era, and I can't really blame them, it was a dump for a while.  It is amusing to see that the "Porter's Ale House" signage has survived in the presumably 90s stained glass panels.

I think another classic is called for, so let's try Ye Cracke:

Recent reports have suggested the real ale offer here is not as good as it used to be, in fact I came here a few years ago with some friends and we walked straight out.  Let's see...  

"Only" three cask ales on, but my Skinful from Beartown was spot on so what more could one ask.  The friendly landlady commented that it was Valentine's Day, I complained that I hadn't got any one to take out, she said it's a ripoff and the restaurants put their prices up for the day.

As I sat down the place was fairly quiet, with just a handful of customers.  Suddenly the sound level increased massively, and a pub crawl of about twenty blokes came in.  Needless to say it took quite a while for them all to be served, and the noise level remained high.  Good for the pub's takings, of course, and I was pleased to see that a significant proportion of them were on the cask ale.  Just a few lagers and Guinnesses.

One more on the way back to the station?  It's only a quarter to four.  I tried new ticks Tom Thumb and Outpost but neither are open yet.  Hmph.  It's starting to rain, I'm off home.

Pub of the day: Grapes
Beer of the day: Four Star Daydream
Miles walked: 1.9
Maybe coming soon: Litherland, Upton