This Could Be The Last Time

Everton are at home with a three o'clock kickoff, so I seized the opportunity to make some long overdue visits to pubs around the ground.  This might be the last time I come here before many of them close for ever.

First, a quick check of the Melrose Abbey to see if any of my Evertonian friends are around.  But it's shut.  Am I too early or has it gone for good?

Next, a short walk to the Melrose which has been closed for so many years that I never managed to tick it:

It was boarded up and rather decrepit last time I looked but it seems like someone is taking care of it now.

Next, on to the first target of the afternoon, the Albany:

One hour before KO this is unsurprisingly jam packed.  I squeezed my way to the counter and soon got a pint of Carling. 

After standing for a few minutes I spotted a vacant table so I could sit down.  It was a great relief to peel off my winter coat; it was like a sauna in here!  I relaxed and wrote my notes.

I looked around and considered 2025 fashions:  Pretty much everyone except me had a black coat.  Jeans were de rigeur as well.

I tried to imagine this place on a non football day.  A rather pleasant comfortable two sided traditional boozer I think, as indeed it was last time I came here, on a Tuesday afternoon in 2018.

Next the Brick:

Originally the Prince Albert, nicknamed the Red Brick, they switched to the nickname for a while but later had to drop the Red when it was painted white.

Busy but thinning out rapidly as three o'clock approached.  One large open room, well cared for, with a tiny stage in the corner.

Lots of people were coming down stairs and heading off to the ground, so there must be a large space upstairs, I don't know if it's another bar or a function room. 

As I approached the bottom of my Carling the pub was much emptier, with about two dozen non-attenders scattered around.  The staff gradually collected in tons of glassware.

Good grief, Everton were 1-0 up in the first minute!  [ Officially, scored at ten seconds ]  I headed to the gents before departure, now it's 2-0!

Just a short stroll down County Road from here to the Royal Oak:

The pre-match empties had all been cleared away in this large pub, basically a big square room surrounding a four-sided servery.

A steady trickle of customers were keeping the place ticking over.

I've got some dodgy memories of this place, the first time I came here was in the evening after a derby match, and my strongest recollection is of crunching across the broken glass to get to the counter! 

On to the Leigh Arms:

For a moment I thought this was shut but that's just one side door, the main door was open.  Inside, a traditional boozer knocked through to create one pleasant comfortable room surrounding the servery.

I'd noticed this last time I was here; the regulars all sit at the counter and chat to each other and the barmaid.  I recall standing back while ordering my pint in order to avoid blocking the regulars' view of the tellies.  I also remember being told not too worry, "we can see the other TV".

Today, I was the only person to sit away from the counter on the bench seats running round the room, to sink my Carling.

I think this might be my favourite of today's boozers, something about the well maintained interior and the cheerful friendly regulars makes it a great pub. 

Everton were now 3-0 up at half time. 

One more before I head for home, the Barlow Arms:

My final call was surprisingly busy, I had to stand at the counter to sink my fifth Carling.  The two sided pub was full of people watching the Liverpool match on TV.  (They were winning 1-0.)

This one, perhaps, doesn't depend as much on Everton matches so may do just as well next season?  Let's hope so.  It is a rather attractive boozer, and the splendid bar back is, I think, genuine.

Time for home.  The big question is, which of today's ticks do I think will still be operational in a year's time?  Frankly, it's too hard to decide, and also I wouldn't want to "jinx" any of these by marking them as potential failures, so I'm not going to say.  However, I do fear that, for many of the pubs around here, This could be the last time, Maybe the last time, I don't know.

Pub of the day: Leigh Arms
Beer of the day: Carling
Miles walked: 1.9
Maybe coming soon: Undecided.

Not My Sort Of Pub?

As it's Thursday I don't want to go miles and then find everywhere shut so let's stick to the town centre.  I started by the Liver Building at what used to be Jurgen's Bar, but is now the Three Graces:

See what I mean about Thursday afternoon - it's shut.  On to the Alchemist:

How irritating:  There are eleven keg taps on the counter, none of which have any indication of what they serve.  I had to ask the cheerful barmaid what beers they had, and chose somebody's (I didn't catch what she said but it came in a Brixton glass) pale ale, which was good. 

The decoration in here is impossible to define in one word, but I like it a lot.  Some faux industrial lighting goes well with the iron girders, glazed cupboards full of soda siphons, and so on.  Not "my sort of pub" but very pleasant.

A smattering of customers at one o'clock, perhaps they do better with the after work crowd?  Mind you, at £6.50 a pint they don't have to sell many!  I browsed the cocktail menu, the average price was a tenner and I saw one at twenty quid.  It had Johnnie Walker Blue Label as one of the ingredients! 

It's all about the "theatre of cocktails" here, I noted a waiter heading to a table with a tray full of stuff that included something in a classic conical flask, like chemistry lessons at school. 

Next, the Old Bank:

I'd forgotten what a gorgeous over the top interior this one has, including marble pillars with gold (coloured) capitals.

Even better, I had also forgotten the handpumps, and they still have three in operation.  I had a hazy one from Sharp's which was a splendid sweet fruity brew.  And only £3.50.

I've got a recollection of seeing a band in here when it was a somewhat tatty room with a stage at one end.  Is that really the same place?  Perhaps my memory is faulty.  No, a check of the records shows that it did have a scruffy era as the First National.  Was it the Funky Monks I saw here?  My notes don't reveal that. 

My next target was Neighbourhood, another former bank, but it wasn't open - Thursday afternoon again.  Two doors down I found Liverpool Gin Distillery:

A very pleasant one room bar with some kind of distilling kit behind a glazed partition.  Industrial decor again, and again very pleasant. 

The barman was in the middle of making complex cocktails for the other two customers, so he advised me to take a seat, and soon after my pint of neck oil (£5.50) was delivered to my table.  A delay getting served can be irritating, but a friendly cheerful barman negates that.

Like the Alchemist this is "not my sort of pub" and yet I feel comfortable and relaxed in here.  Today's plan includes more "not my sort" places, I wonder how much I'll like them? 

My opinion of the barman dropped very slightly when two more customers came in and I noticed he had to study the recipe book while making their cocktails.

Now I'm on Castle Street there are plenty of targets to go at, I think it's first come first served, no, on second thoughts I'll photograph all of them and start at the far end.  So, Black Barrel rum bar:

One small room with a cement floor, bare brick wall and so on.  Probably quite fun if only there were some people in here.  Just the barman and me, so once he'd poured my Neck Oil (£6.00) he went back to his mobile phone.  I don't think my pint will have paid his wages for this hour. 

And it was freezing in here, I didn't take off my coat, unlike all the previous ticks.  I often wonder whether turning off the heat is a wise move, people won't come back next time if it's too cold.

I wonder how a place like this does financially;  I suppose a few rum drinking customers would boost the income massively, but at this precise moment I'll hardly be paying for the electricity, let alone wages.  Perhaps the "barman" is the owner, so he's doesn't get paid as such. 

I looked out of the window, it's throwing it down now.  One more, I think; it would be better for my stats if I do one never before visited, so how about MITO:

Another deserted one, barman and I in a pleasant corridor bar.  Moments later there were two barmen but still only me as a customer.  The decor in here is Italian style, I guess (What do I know?) and it was (just about) warm enough to take my coat off.

There were two keg taps, offering Menabrea Italian lager, and "Jubel Peach Beer" from Cornwall.  I've never come across that before so I tried it and it was gorgeous, a sweet peach flavoured brew.  At £5 for a schooner it's not cheap, but I'm not complaining, it's lovely. 

I studied Streetview and found that this used to be Sanctuary Tap, and the Cactus Bar next door (Not open - Thursday afternoon strikes again.) used to be Rox which I never visited.

Important mental note, I don't think I've paid yet, I must make sure I do so before leaving!  [Update:  I did!]

OK that's five pints (technically four and two thirds) is it time to go home?  It's only half three so maybe one more tick?  OK, let's do McGuffie:

Another tiny corridor bar, and another one that only does schooners.  I chose Estrella from the two keg taps on offer, the other one was Asahi.  £5.00.

In contrast to the previous two places this very narrow corridor bar had quite a few customers in, I counted eight, and the main sound in here was cheerful chatter.  More came in as I wrote that. 

I think this is the smallest of all today's visits, I'm not sure what makes it one of the busiest, it occurred to me that if two more people came in they could occupy all the free tables and it would be "full".

I looked at the long row of bottles on the shelf behind the counter.  Is that absinthe?  Yes it is.  I watched as two cocktails were prepared, was that an egg white in one of them?  What did they do with the yolk, I wonder?

OK, that's definitely enough, time for home...  Most of today's ticks were not my sort of pub but I still enjoyed them.

Pub of the day: Old Bank
Beer of the day: Sharp's Solar Wave
Miles walked: 1.3
Maybe coming soon: Kirkdale

West Kirby

Last weekend I lazily cancelled this survey because I didn't fancy walking in the snow.  No such problem today although it was only two degrees when I set off.  A train and a bus took me to the outskirts of West Kirby, to the Ridger which is now called the Newton Arms:

Outside this is something of a sixties classic, or actually I think it is more modern than that, eighties or nineties?  Pleasantly done out in the open interior, anyway.

Three handpumps but sadly the clips were turned round, so I started the day with a Carling.  I recall problems with the cask on a previous January visit where I ended up with a free pint of lager.  There's no better beer than a free one! 

I sat in a comfortable corner with lots of windows looking out on to the beer garden.  The more I looked round the more I felt this was a pleasant friendly space.  It won't be winning any prizes for interior decor but it is simply a comfortable place to be. 

About a dozen customers were in here at half one, one or two eating, and as I wrote that three more meals came out.  I couldn't see a menu. 

Unusually I could hear football commentary but from my seat I couldn't see any TVs showing it.  Not a complaint, I'm sure I could have moved if I wanted to watch, in fact I was happier without the distraction.

Next, a walk taking me past Leaf which was closed as expected:

This one has had at least four other names since I first drank in the Black Horse in 2004, including Collingwood, Hilltop and Viking.  Leaf, the final version, closed suddenly a couple of weeks ago and I wonder if the pub will live on with yet another name.  Seeing as how this road is Black Horse Hill I would suggest returning to the original title. 

Now, on to the Ring O Bells:

This has been very nicely done up since I was last here, I think.  An attractive dining pub, very busy indeed.  It was only when I got home that I noticed from the pictures that it has lost its Greene King branding.

I selected an excellent pint of Scarecrow from Brimstage, I don't often see anything from them that isn't Trappers Hat, this was another tasty pale one. The pub also had the ubiquitous Trapper's Hat, and the even more ubiquitous London Pride on offer.

I toured the rooms looking for somewhere to sit and after being politely rebuffed at the dining area I eventually found a table in a corner.  It would appear that neither dryanuary nor the cost of living crisis are adversely affecting this place.

A very attractive dining pub, I suggest you book if you're coming on a Saturday afternoon!  The menu looks good, but with fish and chips at eighteen quid it's not cheap. 

A couple of dogs were visible, I hope they aren't allowed in the dining areas!

By three o'clock there were plenty of empty tables as the lunchtime crowd went home.

Just down the road is Hickory's:

This was a sixties/seventies pub called Moby Dick the first time I came here, in 2000, and my notes say it offered a fine pint of Cains Bitter.

Another place mainly aimed at diners but I was welcome to go to the counter and order a pint of Hickory's Pale Ale, which is a great beer, "malty, caramel and hoppy" is what the menu says and it is exactly correct.  I would say that "Pale" is less accurate.  It is brewed by Purity, so it's bound to be good.

The same as last time if I remember correctly, a waitress came to my chosen table to take my order but she was quite happy to let me just have the beer.  They were doing a good trade, mostly diners, but hadn't quite run out of tables.  Waiting staff were constantly moving around.

I perused the food options.  Texas style barbecue, it looks very tempting but I've got more targets to visit so I will resist.  Actually, I'm hoping the next two will be new ticks, that'd be good. 

I walked in to central West Kirby, Google Maps taking me on a very pleasant route via a churchyard and an attractive park with a lake, to the Wild Inn:

A shop conversion is a shop conversion, but this one feels better than average for some reason.  A dark colour scheme is lifted by lots of sparkly lights hanging from the ceiling.

For a change, I selected Shipyard from the seven keg taps, other choices include Erdinger, Guinness and Kirin.  On reflection I should have chosen the Japanese Kirin because I've never had it before, and also because I'm hoping to organise myself a trip to Japan before too long.

Three drinkers occupying one of the booths finished their drinks and departed, leaving just two customers and two staff.  At least I assume the bloke adjusting bar stools with a screwdriver was staff, perhaps he wasn't! 

As I relaxed and enjoyed my beer I thought that, once again, on a very chilly day all today's pubs were comfortably warm.  Is it just good fortune on my part or have things improved compared with a few years ago?  However, it occurs to me that I haven't done a Kirkdale (or similar area) survey on a bitterly cold day yet this winter.  I need to do Kirkdale next time Everton are at home as there are some possibly match day only pubs I need to tick before Goodison closes, so maybe we'll find out...

Just a few steps into the town centre is Black Lodge Brewery Taproom:

This shop conversion has nothing really special to recommend it except, of course, for the quality beers from Black Lodge.  A comfortable one room bar, something of a contrast with their other tap located in a scruffy corner of an old warehouse in Liverpool.  I selected a hand pulled Outside The Frame, a rather fine pale one.

As I sat down the place was remarkably empty but a few moments later there was a queue at the counter, and more people coming in.  It shows how business can randomly go up and down. 

Oddly, a group of six stood in the street outside, some smoking.  Would they come in?  Yes, and suddenly the place was filling up.  Who cares, I've got my table, says he somewhat selfishly.  By the time I'd finished my ale every table was occupied with about a dozen standees as well, and the whole room was full of laughter and chatter.  What a transformation.

The bad news is there is now exactly one "required" tick in West Kirby, but five is enough, I think, so WRO Bar will have to wait. I had predicted that at least one of today's targets would be unexpectedly closed so I could finish at WRO but with no such disappointments that didn't happen.

I have other things to do next weekend so there probably won't be a survey.  Rest assured I'll still be visiting pubs!

Pub of the day: Newton Arms
Beer of the day: Brimstage Scarecrow
Miles walked: 2.4
Maybe coming soon: Kirkdale

Lord Street, Southport

For the first survey of the year I headed up to Southport where there are umpteen targets awaiting my attention.  I walked northwards along Lord Street, noting and photographing (It'll be dark by the time I get back) various targets, until I reached Mavericks:

Here I found a very stylishly decorated bar with an American theme, in one long room.  Being a former shop on a corner, two walls are almost entirely glazed, giving the place an airy ambience. 

About a dozen regulars were enjoying their lagers and I soon joined them with my first Carling of the year. 

Above the counter was a row of eight TVs showing two or three different sports channels.

I'm not sure why but I quite liked this place.  Comfortable, warm (It must cost a packet to heat this room with all that glass.) and friendly.  Our could it just be that this is my first pub of the year!

A number of the places I noted on the way here were close to the pub/restaurant border, so I think it might be time for a game of pub or not pub.  But, often, the decision depends on my mood, and today I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to sit in the corner of a restauranty sort of operation where everyone else is eating.  So I peered through the windows and then rejected (for now) Lord's Cafe Bar and House of Ivy, and carried on to Ra Bar:

No doubt about this place, no food so definitely a pub!  A shop conversion, perhaps two shops knocked through, rather wonderfully decorated with a great stone floor - It must be fake, surely?  But a fake stone floor wouldn't have the occasional hole in the grout?

Once again it was warm and comfortable in here, over the years I have got used to keeping my coat on when surveying on cold days, it costs a lot to heat a pub and at times of financial struggle turning the thermostat down is a good way to save money.  No sign of that today.

A new (to me) Guinness dispense system, it came out of a normal looking font and then the glass was placed on a stand which lit it up while the bubbles rose.  After a minute it was topped up before being handed to me.

The only other customers were one group of blokes sitting at the counter.  I think they were all on Guinness as well. 

That reminds me:  Have you blog readers had the "pleasure" of my rant about the alleged Guinness shortage?  No?  OK, soapbox out!  We were treated during December to multiple reports in the media of a shortage of Guinness.  This included at least three stories on the BBC website.  In all the pubs I have been in over the last five weeks I have never seen any which had run out.  I reckon the whole thing was cooked up by the Diageo (Owners of Guinness) promotions team, and the BBC should be ashamed of being so easily duped into providing free advertising.

I could see two TVs from my seat, both were showing different fires; one in a fireplace, the other in a snowy forest.  I still think a real fire is better, but they are rather attractive nonetheless. 

As I finished my beer a number of other customers came in, keeping the pub ticking over at half three on a Saturday.

Next, over the road to Punch Tarmey's:

Another Guinness in this fake Irish pub, part of the Lords Hotel complex.  Again the "settle" stage of the pour was on a little illuminated stand.  There are a number of handpumps on the counter but no sign of any of them being in use.  Last time I was here I had some decent real ale.

A bit livelier than the previous two ticks, with quite a hubbub of cheerful chatter filling the partially knocked through room.

I can't think of anything else to write about this pleasant friendly boozer.

Now, back across Lord Street and in to the Bold:

This one has been substantially redone since my previous visit, I think, and it is rather fine.  Part restaurant, from which was wafting some great smells, and part bar where a number of groups were enjoying their drinks. 

I wasted some moments dithering over the keg fonts (I couldn't see any Carling) before I spotted that one of the handpumps had a clip.  So naturally I chose that, and it was a tasty pale one, my first cask ale of the year.  Unfortunately I forgot to note what it was, not a good start!

The bar side was quite busy but not so much as to run out of tables.  The muzac mixed with multiple conversations.  More and more people came in as I enjoyed my ale, by the time I left it was getting full.

Well;  two new ticks, four required pubs, all of them warm and comfortable.  The crucial question is can I get home before the threatened blizzard?  [Update, Sunday:  Pah!  What Blizzard?]

Pub of the day: Bold
Beer of the day: Er, the one in the Bold
Miles walked: 1.3
Maybe coming soon: Kirkdale, Litherland

New Brighton

I apologise for the gap in blog entries, pub guide research has taken a back seat behind Christmas get-togethers, trips away, and a nasty cold.  Rest assured I haven't stopped visiting pubs:  Highlights included a pint and a breakfast fry-up in the last pub around Smithfield meat market to still have early opening.  Sadly, the Fox and Anchor is more aimed at tourists than market porters nowadays and at seven on a Monday morning I was the only customer.

Is it wise to head out on "black eye Friday" for a survey?  We'll see.  Merseyrail carried me to New Brighton and just across the road from the station is Sup:

This is a tiny shop conversion selling pictures, cards, candles, coffee and, most importantly, a couple of craft beers.

I selected a hazy pale from Pomona, which was sweet and fruity, very good. 

A steady stream of customers came in for last minute Christmas presents and cards, but mostly for coffee I think. 

I have to confess I had marked this place down as "not a pub" because the taps are not visible if you peer in from outside.  But when I was last in New Brighton, some friends had a drink in here but I didn't have time to join them before we moved on.   So it was high on my target list.

I moved on, in the rain, to Rockpoint Records:

Much larger than the previous tick, this is a conversion of multiple shops into a rather fine music themed bar.  I selected one from Meantime (London) from the four or five kegs on offer and it was very good.

One group of mostly blokes were making all of the noise in the place, there were plenty of empty tables around the spacious front room.

The walls are covered in music posters ranging from historic ones with prices in shillings right through to gigs next year.

The rain had eased off as I headed on to the Ship:

Perhaps I shouldn't say this:  Shop conversions are all very well but I was glad to find myself in a real boozer here.

This is a "proper" two sided pub, nicely decorated and perfectly maintained.  I seem to remember not liking this place much last time I was here but, now, I don't know why; it really is a classic of its type; cheerful, friendly and comfortable. 

All the other customers seemed to know each other, no one took any notice of the pub blogger in the corner making his notes.

Umpteen tellies around the room were showing a darts match, no one I could see was paying any attention.

Next, I headed to the Harbour, formerly the Commercial, which due to their opening hours I haven't ticked since 2012:

Well, bugger me, it's not open.  At three on the last Friday before Christmas?  Does this mean it is finished as a pub?

I've done all the other required ticks in New Brighton, unless I walk to the Pilot Boat, but I can't be bothered so I just went to the wonderful Bow Legged Beagle:

This was the original location, I think, of what is now a chain of four Wirral pubs.  As always, four quality cask ales are on offer and after spending for a few moments dithering I selected a wonderful stout called Daylight Suspended from Salopian.

I looked around the walls.  The down side of displaying hundreds of pump clips is that I might spot a personal favourite ale even better than the ones I'm drinking.  Having said that, the stout was really good so while I might prefer a Titanic Plum Porter, Rat White Rat, Tiny Rebel Stay Puft, or even a Peerless Oatmeal Stout, I'm happy with what I've got.

I don't know what it is about this standard micro pub but I have always been a great fan, it really is great.

A number of customers called in with dogs, I was a bit worried about the Irish Wolf Hound that settled down for a kip right in the middle of the room.  It was at risk of being trodden on when I head to the gents!

Later, another dog arrived and there was a chaos of barking and aggro, luckily all dogs were on leads.

So, on what could be the last research trip of the year I managed two new ticks, that's 52 new ones this year bringing my grand total to 1,518.  Have a good holiday and I'll see you in 2025.

Pub of the day: Bow-Legged Beagle
Beer of the day: Salopian Daylight Suspended
Miles walked: 1.1
Maybe coming soon: Kirkdale

It's Never Just One

I was in town for some shopping but it I couldn't resist visiting a pub which only opened yesterday, so I headed up Seel Street to 1936 Pub Co's newest outlet, St Peters Tavern:

Wow!  1936 have outdone themselves with this one.  The interior on three floors is stunning.  Almost all fake, I think, except for the stained glass windows which look original.  The usual stag's heads (Where do they get them all from, I wonder?) decorate the walls.  On its second day many of the customers were taking pictures, as was I.

I never visited this building in its previous incarnation as Alma De Cuba, I always thought it was a restaurant but I suspect I might have been wrong about that. So I don't know how much of the current decor is brand new, but I suspect it is most of it.  The building was originally a catholic church, opened in 1788.

Sixteen handpumps offered a wonderful selection and for once I skipped favourite White Rat (I had a couple in the Big House on Monday, another "1936" pub.) and went for a fine pint of Bass.  The young barman who served me struggled with the till, I guess it was new to him - The place only opened yesterday - but he managed the pour perfectly, which is, after all, the most crucial part of his role.

There were a couple of dozen customers at one on a Thursday, so the enormous space felt rather empty, but even as I typed that more arrived.

A tremendous place, highly recommended. 

So, where else can I tick while I'm round here?  Dirty O'Shea's and Mean Eyed Cat aren't open at this time, but Pogue Mahone is:

Here I had a Guinness, of course.  Good grief, £6.30 is a bit steep, isn't it!

The Irish decor in here is pleasant as always, but not special enough to justify that price, I think.  Perhaps unsurprisingly there are only about five other customers.

Next?  I'm supposed to be shopping, not drinking, but there on the corner is La'Go:

I had always assumed that this was a night club sort of place that I would probably never visit, so I was somewhat surprised to see the doors open at half two on a Thursday.  But they were so I thought I would try it. 

What I found was a large open plain room pleasantly decorated with a rather stylish corrugated steel counter front and a good mural on the wall behind the DJ booth.  My knee-jerk reaction was to describe this as a bit of a dump but that's not fair, it is rather well done.

The customers were a handful of blokes, one or two of whom looked a bit "down market" if I'm honest.  I found out why when I ordered a pint of Carling, it was only £2.50.  I also learned that Guinness is 2.80 in here, that's less than half the price I just paid up the road.

I really liked this place, although I think I would probably hate it at eleven on a Friday night.  I'm not sure what warmed me to it, maybe the music - I've always loved the Eagles' Take it Easy, perhaps because I have actually stood on that "corner in Winslow, Arizona" that they sing about.  (Now there's an unusual boast!)

OK, shopping forgotten by now, where's the next target?  (I'll regret that when there's no milk for my morning coffee!)  Dirty O'Sheas opens at three according to Google, so maybe I should have another look there:

Another Irish bar, in my opinion nicer than Pogue.  And the Guinness was only three quid, again less than half their price!

Just ten minutes after opening time there were only two other customers in the spacious wood floored front room as I settled on a bench seat with my Guinness.

I noticed a massive stock of plastic glasses in the corner, perhaps that's what you get at 1 am when I can imagine this place jam packed.  More customers came in as I enjoyed my pint. 

They've got a "competition draw" on Sunday called Find The Fenian.  In my ignorance, I had thought that Fenian was a dirty word or at least a pejorative term, but I guess not, or at least it is not bad enough to be excluded from a big sign on the wall.  I'll get my friend John, who knows everything, to explain it to me when I see him on Monday.

Time to head for home, but at the bottom of Bold Street is an imposing building labelled the Lyceum Post Office.  I have no idea what it has been used for in the past, but now a sign calls it One Under:

This is some kind of golf related place but at the front is an attractive bar where I had a pint of Moretti in a beautiful two storey domed room. 

If I was sober I would have investigated what the golf was all about, is it like a mini golf course?  I searched the web.  Yes, one is supposed to play crazy golf or other games, that explains why the barman asked if I wanted anything else when I ordered my pint.

At four on a Thursday there seemed to be more staff than customers in here.  But perhaps there are lots of people golfing?

Finding my way to the gents I was able to observe that this place is, indeed, an indoor crazy golf course.

Now it is definitely time for home, but can I call in at the supermarket?  Yes!  With no less than four new ticks, bringing my total to 1,515 that's a great shopping trip! 

Pub of the day: St Peters, of course
Beer of the day: Bass, obviously
Miles walked: 1.5
Maybe coming soon: Kirkdale, Litherland

Birkenhead

On a chilly damp Saturday afternoon I headed under the Mersey to Birkenhead where I started in the Richmond:

Outside this one looks a bit down at heel, the inside is much better, plain but pleasant.  Just one room with proper old wooden floorboards.  Some bare brick walls and lots of matchboarding complete the decor.  Altogether a rather fine "ordinary" boozer. 

About eight other customers were in at two on a Saturday, I imagine they get more later.  At least I hope so. 

My notes reminded me of sour Guinness in here a long time ago, that's why I chose Carling today, but actually a survey of the glassware in use showed Fosters was more popular. 

Just a few doors down the road was the beautiful ceramic frontage of the Windsor Castle, pictured in 2018:

Sadly, it is now a shop and no trace of the tiling remains.

On to the Charing Cross:

Another "ordinary" one, again well cared for and pleasant.  A proper two sided boozer with a servery in between the halves.  I started in the bar side where pool players and others meant I couldn't have a good seat at a table, so I took my Carling through the doorway to the better appointed lounge side where there were plenty of comfortable seats. 

I hesitated writing the last sentence.  Is it still a doorway if there isn't a door?  There must be an architectural term for a door shaped hole?  Immediately adjacent to it are two window shaped holes in the wall without windows. 

Wordiology aside, this is a truly great plain pub, long may it continue. 

My notes show real ale here, but the three handpumps are purely decorative, I think.  One had a John Smith's clip, perhaps I missed an opportunity?  I doubt it.

I looked around.  Sparkly white lights can be an all year round thing these days, or are they tastefully restrained Christmas decorations? 

Access to the gents involves passing close to the pool table, I watched as regulars paused to allow players to finish their shots before entering. 

Next, just round the corner is Desi's:

This used to be a Yates Wine Lodge and it still has some of the decor.  Dozens of customers were enjoying mostly lager in here, no music, no footie commentary, just multiple cheerful animated conversations. 

The large open room has, I think, retained some Yates styling, including a beautiful staircase to the mezzanine seating, and a giant glitter ball (Must be 2ft diameter!) above the stairs.  Obviously the actual finish, paint, carpet, etc. has been redone over the years because it all looks very good.

Did I ever tick this as Yates?  I don't remember doing so, and a quick check of the database confirmed this, in fact my first and only previous visit was as recently as November 2018.  Oddly, I did take a picture of it as Yates back in 2004 but apparently I didn't go in.  I wonder why.

My third Carling of the day came in one of the older style glasses, again a survey of the glassware showed that Fosters was favourite here. 

Correcting my comment above, I could hear a little bit of racing commentary amongst the conversations.

A few steps down the road is Seamus O'Donnell's.  I failed to take a picture today so here's one from 2018:

I remember being frightened by an enormous dog behind the counter here last time, no such problem today and a friendly barmaid soon served me an excellent pint of Guinness.

This pleasant "Irish" pub is well decorated with plenty (but not too much) of Irish "stuff".  I note that it used to be the Exmouth Arms, did I ever come here in that era?  My memory says no and the database confirms that, so I've only ever sampled its Irish version.

The sounds were gentle muzac mixed with cheerful chatter, the soundtrack of a proper pub! 

Next, only a short walk gets me to Mackenzie:

This boozer holds a special place in my affections because in July 2004 it was my Merseyside pub number 1,000.  Five hundred odd pubs further on that feels like a long time ago! 

Good grief it's cold in here!  Just a handful of customers in the one room.  I noticed that unusually they don't offer Carling, I had Guinness.

The three other customers are surely not enough to pay the wages of the beautiful barmaid.  As I arrived a bloke was leaving and he got a hug, what do I have to do?  Perhaps I should have bought her a drink!

I checked my photographs and apparently this pub has lost the capital K that used to be in MacKenzie.

Now I've got a choice:  There is exactly one more pub round here that needs ticking so, five pints to the good, do I head home or do I call in at the Garrick Snug.  I think we all know the answer:

Wow, this is a really packed boozer complete with karaoke.  I managed to find a seat but no chance of putting down my Carling while I wrote this.  It's quite a feat to type on a tablet while holding a pint, especially when it's number six; and I didn't spill a drop.

The karaoke fella was very good although he had to do much of the singing himself, no one was volunteering.  Eventually someone did, a great rendition of Minnie the Moocher.

Compared with the previous tick, this place was lovely and warm.  And packed with happy customers at five o'clock on a Saturday.

When I start singing along with the karaoke it's a good sign that it is time to head home!

Pub of the day: Garrick Snug
Beer of the day: Guinness
Miles walked: 1.2
Maybe coming soon: Kirkdale