Back in 2016 I assisted as a local guide on a Historic England research visit to Merseyside looking particularly at post war pubs. On their list was the Peacock in Kirkby. I recall that the researchers were a little nervous about going in, but I persuaded them we would be OK - I had an ulterior motive, as I had never been there before. We had no problems despite the two visitors nosing around and discussing layout changes and the like.
For some reason I haven't been back since, despite a number of visits to Kirkby in the intervening years, so it's time for a long overdue visit to the Peacock:
In the years since I was last here it has been redecorated rather well, dark grey woodwork and upholstery and "bare brick" wallpaper creating a very pleasant space. As usual nowadays, everything was in good nick, although I did spot one tear in the bench seat.
About ten customers in total at half one on a Saturday were keeping the pub ticking over. The majority were watching the racing, some nipping out to the betting shop.
As I reached the end of my Carling someone came in who looked very wet. Am I going to get soaked?
The answer was no, just a little damp, as I headed to Kirkby town centre and Brambles Sports Bar:
This place has had a number of different names since I first was here in the 1990s, Butlers, Gino's, and Central, but it has been Brambles for quite some time now.
A somewhat sports oriented place, one long open room, plain clean and tidy. At two o'clock it was quite busy (By 20s standards) and I think I got the last free table to sit at. Sky Sports News and racing were the TV channels, only a few seemed to be watching. Most of the customers were groups of men of about my age, swigging lager and enjoying animated chit-chat. I think there might have been some music playing but all I could hear was chatter and laughter.
What a wonderful example of the popular Saturday afternoon boozer, although of course it would have had five times the number of customers when I began my researches all those years ago. And been full of smoke!
Just around the corner is the Market Tavern:
This one still shows its heritage as a former Wetherspoon (I wonder what it was before JDW, probably a shop?) Clean and tidy but looking a little threadbare in places.
I stupidly missed the solitary handpump offering Wainwright Amber, and had another Carling. Could this be one of those "fake" cask beers CAMRA are so upset about?
Plenty of customers in here although not quite as busy as Brambles and I easily found a table. Once again the soundtrack was chatter. From my seat I could only see racing on a telly. Some cheers and groans indicated that at least some people were watching the race.
By the way and apropos of nothing, this town is known as Kirbee, despite its spelling. Anyone who pronounces the k in the middle reveals themselves as an outsider.
Now what?? To the best of my knowledge I've done all the "required" locations in Kirkby, so do I head off to somewhere else? Or just be lazy and visit some not yet required ones?
OK, I've decided, let's get some "not required" but nostalgic ticks near the station...
I passed the Railway and on to the Carters:
Now we're in nostalgia mode: Before I'd started collecting pubs, before I'd even become a Liverpool resident, I used to go out on a Friday night with some work friends. One lived in Kirkby so we would often begin with a pint in the Carters and/or the Railway before heading to other locations. So these two pubs hold a special place in my heart and I'm happy to revisit them, although I was here less than three years ago.
In 2026 we find a pleasant two sided boozer, impressively busy at four on a Saturday, once again I got the only remaining free table to sit at and enjoy my Carling. And again the soundtrack was animated chatter, this time with some racing commentary just about audible.
Cheering indicated that at least some of the customers were watching the racing. I would have thought that the Everton match would be more interesting to the crowd (0-0 at half time) but apparently not.
Finally, back to the Railway:
(I left this one to last because it's next to the station for the train towards home.)
Completely unchanged here, a two sided traditional boozer. I went in the busy side and it was packed, no chance of a table. So I headed back to the entrance and went the other way. How peculiar, I got a whole room to myself. Why is no one in here? Oooer, something local I don't know about? The big boss of the gang is going to want to know why I'm in his room without permission. Of course not: No self respecting drug lord would consider the rough side of a boozer to be "his room".
No Carling in here so I resorted to Fosters instead. Has it gone dilute yet?
It's very cold in this room, perhaps that's why everyone is in the other side?
Time for home. Next Saturday I will be attending the wonderful Bent And Bongs Beer Bash - Bring your book to get it signed, but you have to spot me first! So I might not get a survey done next week. Maybe Thursday?
Beer of the day: Carling
Miles walked: 2.1
Maybe coming soon: Don't know
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