On a cold and gloriously sunny Saturday I headed out early. Everton kick off at 12:15, so I think it is time to collect a few ticks by the ground. I started in central Liverpool, though, at what used to be Jurgen's and is now Moody Blues:
This half basement place has "crossed Stanley Park" since I visited Jurgen's in 2020 and is now decorated with Everton and music themes. At fifteen minutes to kickoff it was unsurprisingly empty, I bet it was busy an hour ago.
The bar staff were struggling to get the match on the big screen, but with only two people watching I don't suppose it matters that much? On the other hand, this could be a popular place for people who haven't got tickets, but if they don't show the match everyone will go elsewhere. And they won't come back next time.
I departed at kickoff minus five, they still hadn't found the match. I'm guessing it's not (legally) available. My recollection of pubs around Goodison is that most of them had the match on, but thinking more carefully that was twenty or more years ago, and more recently they just had Sky Sports News to keep us up to date. I remember many years ago watching with an Arabic commentary, and half time analysis from blokes wearing, er what's it called ... thawb.
I strolled on towards the ground, but before I reached my next target I spotted an A-board for Fliers:
Just off the main road is this industrial unit which seems to be mainly for indoor golf but given their location it would be foolish not to advertise pre and post match drinks.
Behind the frankly unwelcoming door (I did wonder if it was closed during the match) I found a typical warehouse conversion, perhaps a bit sparse in its decor but comfortable enough, albeit very cold. I didn't see any golf activity, but there were two blokes playing pool.
Half a dozen was the sum of custom at 12:45, they will be hoping for a decent crowd after full time.
The giant and smaller TVs were showing an FA cup match at Macclesfield, which was the same one Moody Blues had found.
So far one overdue tick and one brand new one. What else can we find? I skipped Ten Streets Social, purely because I'd done it a few years ago, and headed into the next door Murphys Distillery which had been closed for a private party when I ticked Ten Streets. I forgot to take a picture so here's one from 2022:
Wrong again - Here they've got the Everton match on, so clearly it is possible! A handful of customers were mostly not paying attention, so I don't think what they paid was worth it.
This place is a very well decorated shed, I've always been fond of rough wood and corrugated iron decor. I should also comment that it was a lot warmer than Fliers, and I actually unzipped my coat.
Everton were 0-1 down at half time by the way. Can I get a couple more new ticks in before the post match rush? My planning this morning found two new ticks opposite the ground, so they are my prime objective. But as I had suspected there might be, there were other diversions - places never heard of, along here and I was soon heading in to Dock Wall:
A modern shed this one, inside it actually looks like it was built last year rather than being a conversion, although I suspect not. A large space with more people in it than the previous three calls added together. The match was on the tellies, and plenty of people were watching it.
This shed was plainly decorated with a long bar counter along one wall. The cement floor and painted brick walls gave it a warehouse feeling, but the warm air and animated chit-chat made it somehow more welcoming, perhaps even pubby, than all the previous places.
I watched the telly briefly. Why aren't Everton in their normal blue? Or is this their new colour?
I marched past the actual stadium and on to the Bluehouse:
A rather well done historic warehouse conversion, this one, with lots of people watching the match, Everton are still losing.
Somewhat to my surprise, the barmaid advised me there was a ten pound minimum on credit cards, I was about to walk out in a huff when she clarified that cash was fine, and my Carling was four quid. It's quite unusual to see a credit card minimum nowadays, I wonder why they do it.
At two o'clock, before full time, the place was doing a great trade, there were not many seats free, so clearly this operation is going well, although having said that, there will be next to no customers on a non match day - If they even bother to open.
I could see the early leavers heading out of the ground, so my plan to get away before the rush had clearly failed. One more place I know about is literally next door so I think I must go into Terrace. (See picture above.)
I thought this might be a giant match day hall, but it was surprisingly small. Everton went 1-1 as I ordered my Guinness. This close to full time it came in a plastic glass. Right outside the ground the place filled up as full time arrived although to be fair it never got rammed. But hang on a moment, this is FA cup so a draw is no good, I can escape during extra time and get to Sandhills station while the match is still on. I wonder what the early leavers do under there circumstances? Apart from regretting their decision, I guess.
What a great crop, six locations, five never before visited and two of those I didn't even know existed. And thanks to extra time I got away before the crowds.
Beer of the day: Guinness
Miles walked: 2.3
Maybe coming soon: Kirkby, Toxteth
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