Frozen Thursday

I am finding it really difficult to organise a cluster of four or five 'required' pubs at the moment, so once again I found myself wandering randomly in Liverpool, although I did have a couple of potential targets in mind.  At the top of Bold Street is a place that has been in the guide forever but has never been ticked.  So, in to Cafe Tabac:

Not really a bar, definitely more of a restaurant, but they were happy to provide me with a pint of Greene King's Hazy Day, a rather fruity IPA.  Other customers after me were also drinking.

One barmaid and one waiter were constantly busy and I had to wait my turn.  The pleasantly decorated place is much bigger than the frontage might suggest, with two large back rooms behind the compact front space.

Gentle muzac and happy conversations formed the soundscape here, with the occasional addition of a whoosh from the coffee machine.

At two on a chilly grey Thursday afternoon trade was steady.

Now to a location last visited two years ago when it was called Antisocial, but it has been taken over by the unstoppable 1936 Pub Co since then, so I want to try the Shandon Bells:

Antisocial was a modern-styled bar with contemporary decor.  Wow!  A total transformation!  Old furniture, antique woodwork, Irish tat everywhere.  They seem to have spared the 1936 sledgehammer here, apart from removing the false ceiling to reveal pipes, cable trays and air conditioning units.

Less cask ale choice than most 1936 locations, but four is plenty and my Weetwood Best was very good.  In keeping with the theme they've got Tayto crisps and even the muzac is Irish.  Come to think of it, cask ale is hardly an Irish thing, I'm glad they decided to provide some.

Quite a lot of people were in here although there was plenty of room for more.  Not too bad for a Thursday afternoon.

By the way, the rather odd concrete frieze you can see in the picture is, apparently, famous and you can occasionally see architecture students taking pictures of it.

Next, how about Love Lane Brewery:

Pretty deserted at half three, I could only see three other customers, I assume they'll do better later.

Three handpumps on the counter offering Higsons beers which are, of course, brewed here nowadays.  I selected the gorgeous Oatmeal Stout which was smooth and creamy.  I had another great dark one yesterday in Huyton Wetherspoon:  Peerless' Dark Nights - I don't think I've tried that before, it was very good.

A slow trickle of customers came in but not enough, I fear, to pay for the heating, let alone the staff wages.  I'm trying to remember what it was like in 2022, I seem to recall a much busier place, perhaps that was a Saturday?  Studying my own blog I find it was indeed a busy Saturday afternoon last time I was here; and that was my first visit.

The rather good decor in the main hall here includes naked air ducting in the double height area, plus a mezzanine floor with more seating.

Next, somewhere I haven't ticked since 2018 so it's well overdue.  Black Lodge Brewery Tap Room:

This is nothing like last time I was here.  Have they moved in the intervening years?  Yes, they have, back in 2019.  Does that mean it's two separate locations in the database?

A typical brewery tap, plain but comfortable.  Except it was freezing in here.  One might have expected the brewing operations to give off at least a little warmth, but apparently not!

Two handpumps on the counter, and my pint of Shake Hand was rather wonderful, a fruity flavoured pale ale.  Cask special £4.00 says the sign on the counter.

Just two other customers but to be fair it only opened twenty minutes ago.  One of them left before half past four.

I've spent time in chilly pubs many times over the years, but this one is the worst.  I'm sorry my mobile phone doesn't have a thermometer like expensive ones do. I'm going to guess five degrees.  I didn't just keep my coat on, I also wore my woolly hat.  If I'd brought some gloves I would have put them on as well!  This is the first time the ale has been over chilled because it is at room temperature!!  Brrrr!

It's a mile to Lime Street, should I walk or maybe an Uber straight home?  At least a taxi will probably be warm!  No, I'll walk.

Google Maps routed me along Wapping, which means I have to pass the Baltic Fleet.  Impossible, of course, I can't pass without going in!  No picture today, here's one from a much less chilly day in 2023:

Not exactly warm in here, but certainly better than the previous call.  Coat on but woolly hat off!

The place was packed, I had to tour the ground floor before bagging the last free table, what a contrast with all today's other ticks.

I had something called Strand Stout from Botelai Brewing, another gorgeous oatmeal stout.  I wondered where it comes from, turns out it's all the way from Bootle!

This is not as much of a real ale Mecca as it used to be when they brewed in the cellar, but my stout was great so I'm happy.  And a pub as busy as this is clearly doing things right.

Same question as last time, do I walk back to Lime Street, or get an Uber home?  I think it's walk, again.

So, only 2 'required' ticks today, but five good places and some excellent ales.  What more could one ask?  Well, to be honest, a bit more heat would have been very welcome.

Pub of the day: Baltic Fleet
Beer of the day: Higsons Oatmeal Stout
Miles walked: 3.2
Maybe coming soon: To be decided.

Eccleston

A few days of rain had changed to chilly sunshine so I headed off by train and bus to Eccleston.

A moment of concern as I turned the corner to see an area of wasteland surrounded by temporary fencing - I have previously gone to pubs which have been demolished without my knowledge - But I soon realised that the pub I was looking for was still intact next door to the building site, phew!  On checking Streetview I found that piece of land has been derelict and fenced off since at least 2009!  Anyway, in to the Seven Stars:

This comfortable two sided Greene King Flaming Grill pub seems unchanged since the last time I was here, in 2020.

Two handpumps, just one clip, but my GKIPA was very good, if slightly over chilled.

Here in the dining side I could see reserved signs on most of the tables, but they were all for the evening so didn't affect me.  The other customer departed as I sat down, leaving no one visible to me, but I could hear voices so the place wasn't totally empty at one on a Saturday.  If the reservations turn up it will be pretty busy this evening.  Ah, of course, it's Valentine's day.  And I'm pub researching alone, as usual.

The sources of the conversation departed leaving just the barmaid and I in the lounge side.  But before I'd finished my drink plenty more customers arrived; families, couples and groups of lads.

Next, on to the Griffin Inn:

Another one unchanged since my previous call, a very nicely done food oriented pub.

Once again I risked the sole pump clip, and once again I was rewarded with a decent pint:  This time it was Wainwright and it was even at the right temperature.

At half past one custom was sparse, but the place was certainly ticking over, I could see the occasional food delivery from the kitchen.  No sign of any table reservations but I imagine it'll be busy later.  Thirty quid for a three course Valentine's dinner.

Heading for the gents I discovered the restaurant area at the rear was very full, they are clearly doing a good trade here.

On to the Stanley Arms:

This one is in the middle of nowhere if you are not in a car, but at least these country roads are equipped with footpaths.  A rather fine multi roomed place, much busier than the previous two ticks.

For the third time today I risked the only clip, and got a decent pint of Landlord.  The barmaid had some trouble pouring it, I think it might be near the end of the barrel, but it tasted fine so maybe not.

Real fires were keeping the attractive interior lovely and warm, I found a free table at which to sit, most were occupied.

The quiet background music was mostly masked by gentle conversations and the rattle of cutlery.

I was right about "middle of nowhere", my phone has no signal here!  On the other hand my tablet, on a different network, is doing fine.

As I reached the end of my pint I decided maybe it was "end of barrel" after all, not quite up to standard.  I looked around and couldn't see anyone else drinking the cask.

Now a longer walk through the countryside.  The sound of shooting from across the fields added to the rural atmosphere.  Eventually I reached the Game Bird:

This building has been mostly modernised inside, but I noticed some old looking leaded glasswork which might be original in what is surely a 1930s roadhouse, probably built when the East Lancs Road was.  (1934)

My good run of cask had to end eventually, and there were no handpumps in this Hungry Horse place, even though it is another Greene King brand.  So I reverted to Carling.

Again, one not really accessible except by car.  How did the two young girls playing pool get here, surely they're not old enough to drive? The rest of the family arrived to watch the end of the game, resolving that mystery.

The place was pretty busy with customers of all ages, I must say umpteen years ago when kids weren't allowed was better.  The parents should stop them running around but after a few pints they can't be bothered.  In fairness, no such problem in here today, all the little ones were all behaved.

Where next?  The nearest "required" pub is miles away, a bus stop is also at least a mile, so I think it is time to fall back on Uber to take me home.  My choice was supported by the darkening skies I could see from the window.  It's it going to rain?  Or snow??

The Uber driver startled me by being already in the pub car park!  No snow.

I'm otherwise occupied next Saturday, so maybe a survey during the week or maybe a week off, we'll see.

Pub of the day: Griffin
Beer of the day: Wainwright
Miles walked: 3.4
Maybe coming soon: Don't know yet.

A Thursday Wander in Town

I took a random wander around the, er, what is it called?  The entertainment district?  Ropewalks?  Anyway, on a cold windy and wet Thursday afternoon most places were closed.  Eventually I found Merchant:

On entering I spotted a counter where someone was ordering a pizza.  For a moment I thought this might not count as a pub but looking the other way I could see a proper bar counter.  I soon selected Neck Oil for my first drink of the day.

The decor in here is distressed brickwork and plaster, I think they might have borrowed 1936's sledgehammer!  (Or maybe this place belongs to them?)

Anyway, a pleasant enough ambience although it could do with a little more heating.  At two o'clock it was very sparsely populated, just a handful of customers.  The ones I could see were eating, I think I was the only drinker.  Needless to say there wasn't much use made of the garden area.

Where next?  There are lots of places around here worthy of a visit, but on a Thursday afternoon my chances are low!  I'll wander randomly and see what I find...

Almost Famous:

This place is clearly aimed at diners and their menu of burgers looks extremely tempting. However, they are happy to serve drinks at the counter, and I chose the house lager.

There were very few customers at two thirty.

The decor in here is hard to describe, the word fun comes to mind.  I was also pleased to find it was comfortably warm, the previous tick was decidedly chilly.

By a supreme effort I resisted having one of the very desirable burgers.  I don't think I've ever seen a menu with the word bacon so many times on one page!

Quite a lot of walking around failed to find any more places open that I wanted to visit, so onwards to the Pilgrim:

A bit of a questionable tick, this one.  I've been here with friends on a number of occasions since the ever expanding 1936 Pub Co took over, but there is a better choice of real ales upstairs in the Mayflower, so I haven't actually drunk downstairs in the Pilgrim since 2021.  I failed to note which ale I selected, but it was a very good pale one.

This place hasn't really changed over the years, a pleasant cellar bar with booth seating.  The only change 1936 have brought is an improved cask ale offer.  I think the upstairs part was for concerts and functions, now it's the Mayflower.  To be honest, if you can only do one I'd recommend going upstairs, but both are worth visiting.  (And to maximise my stats, I count them as two different pubs.)

Anyway, this one was remarkably busy, certainly compared with today's previous calls.  The background music was mostly drowned out by cheerful chatter from a number of groups.  Once again, the 1936 lot are doing well.

After my extensive wandering I think I've found all the ticks I can so is it time to go home?

Pub of the day: Pilgrim
Beer of the day: Whatever I had in the Pilgrim.
Miles walked: 2.1
Maybe coming soon: Eccleston