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