I started today's research with a bus ride to Knowsley, and the Derby Arms:
Thirty years ago I used to come here once a week, it was an important part of my fitness regime, after visiting a local gym.
Anyway, a major refurbishment (or two) has transformed it out of all recognition, not helped by my sitting in the "other" end this time. It's a rather nicely done Greene King food-oriented place, with quite a few customers eating at one on a Thursday.
One handpump had a clip, for Old Session Hen (A new one on me, how much further can they stretch the Old X Hen theme?) but a quick tug of the handle showed it wasn't on, so I took a Carling and retreated to a quiet side area and sat in a comfortable chair.
Fish and chips is £13 here which in 2025 probably marks it as fairly cheap, a couple of years ago that would have been expensive.
Next, just a mile's stroll away is the Copper Pot:
This is one of that breed of pubs, the "21st century roadhouse"; in this case it was a new construction opened in 2010, ChatGPT tells me. Located beside the East Lancs Road, I imagine a walk in customer like me is pretty uncommon, everyone else comes by car.
I was startled to see no less than eight handpumps on the counter, and every single one of them had a Pedigree clip. Of course only one was in use, but it produced a decent pint so I'm not complaining.
The interior is exactly what you would expect, pastel colours, fake wood panelling, even an impressive fire surround on one wall. All in all a pleasant comfortable "plastic" ambience.
At two on a now rainy Thursday afternoon there were plenty of diners keeping the place going.
Now, what's the rain going to do? I could go home now, or I could walk on a mile or more into Kirkby where there are a number of required ticks. Ah, wait, bustimes.com to the rescue, there's a bus.
Shortly after I reached the bus stop the rain became quite heavy, lucky I wasn't going the other way because there's no shelter on the other side of the dual carriageway, just a forlorn passenger struggling to keep her cigarette alight under an umbrella.
The bus soon carried me into Kirkby's Southdene area, and the Park Brow:
A classic 60s one, this. There has clearly been some knocking through inside in the intervening years but it still has two sides, only one in use on a Thursday afternoon I think. Well cared for, clean and tidy throughout, as one expects nowadays.
A few regulars were chattering, ignoring the pub researcher on his own in a side area. With a Carling, of course, and only £2.80 if I remember correctly.
The pub was ticking over well and at three o'clock there was a steady trickle of customers in and out, the older ones (including me) on John Smith's or Carling, younger ones choosing Poretti. (Going by the glassware, that is)
Not too far down the road is another sixties classic, the Kingfisher:
The "other side" was out of use on a Thursday arvo, I think, I drank my Carling in the pleasant bar side, with just five regulars.
As I always say - because it's always true - the room was clean and tidy. If I am allowed a criticism, the bench seat along the front wall was too low for me, but I suspect my shorter friends would disagree.
Judging by the pictures around the wall this is a red pub, no sign of the people's club at all. Of course it might be that the other room is blue.
Where next? There are three other required ticks in Kirkby, the most desirable (last visited 2016) being the Peacock which is a mile and a half away. I don't think I can be bothered to walk that far in the rain today, perhaps I should just Uber home?
OK, lazy option chosen.
Beer of the day: Pedigree
Miles walked: 1.4
Maybe coming soon: South Wirral, Southport
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