| Pub | Beer | Comments | Location |
| 62 Castle Street (Trials) |
|
A spectacular interior, formerly the Midland Bank. Seems to be closed on weekday evenings.
Not visited since it was re-done as a hotel in 2006 and re-named.
Last visited 1997.
|
By Queen Victoria statue |
| Abbey Road |
|
Now Flares.
Not visited.
|
Mathew Street |
| Albany |
Flowers / Heineken, Stella |
Mainly a restaurant but with a very twee fake half timbered front bar, all in a half basement. Completely deserted on a Tuesday night. A separate "Irish Doubles Bar", closed when I visited, is attached.
Noted closed in 2008.
Last visited 1999.
|
Old Hall Street |
| Aldo's Place |
|
Not visited.
|
Victoria Street / Peter Street |
| Anderson's Bar |
|
Not visited.
|
Exchange Street East |
| Angels Paradise |
|
Not visited.
|
Cumberland Street |
| Arena Bar |
|
In the same building as Modo.
Not visited.
|
Wood Street / Concert Square |
| Arriva Club (Mersey Bus Social Club) |
|
Not visited.
|
Hockenhall Street |
| Athica (George Stubbs) |
|
Not visited.
|
Tithebarn Street |
| Atlantic Bar |
John Smith's, Theakston / Foster's |
Typical business hotel bar on the second floor.
Last visited 1998.
|
Atlantic Tower Hotel |
| Atlantis |
|
Closed.
Not visited.
|
Grand Central, Renshaw Street |
| Atrium Bar |
|
Not visited.
|
Exchange Station |
Augustus John
 |
 Greene King Abbot, guests, Tetley |
This sixties construction in the university precinct is a busy student pub. It has lots of large windows overlooking the campus and tables outside. The beer is excellent.
Quiz
Last visited April 2009.
|
University Precinct, Brownlow Hill / Mount Pleasant |
| Baa Bar |
|
Not visited.
|
Slater Street / Fleet Street |
Baltic Fleet
|
guests, own stuff |
The decor is mainly bare brick, perhaps a little threadbare in places, inside this peculiarly shaped building, with a pleasant lounge in the bullnose. The top notch beers used to include specials from the nearby Passageway Brewery, but when that closed they bought the kit and set up their own Wapping Brewery in the cellar. The beers continue to be excellent. Located on the wrong side of the road for the Albert Dock grockles (Good news if you want a quiet drink and a read of the paper), who consequently have to make do with the Pump House. The menu looks good, and you can hire the upstairs bullnose for private functions.
This pub still uses lined glasses so you get a FULL PINT, I think the last place in Merseyside to do so.
Grade II listed building.
Last visited April 2009.
|
33a Wapping / Grayson Street |
| Bar 111 |
|
Now closed.
Last visited 1997.
|
Hardman Street / Rodney Street |
| Bar 34 |
|
Not visited.
|
Temple Court |
| Bar Azure |
|
Not visited.
|
Slater Street / Wood Street |
| Bar Ca Va |
Worthington / Carling |
This small popular bar was selling lots of tequilla and Jagermeister (not in the same glass) when I visited on a Saturday night. The music, played by a DJ in the front room was loud but not excessively so.
Last visited 2004.
|
Wood Street, Hanover Street end |
| Bar Cava |
|
Not visited.
|
Mathew Street / North John Street (Underneath The Loft) |
| Bar Celona |
Boddingtons, Hoegaarden |
A small one room busy bar. Go through to the enormous and truly spectacular Grand Central, a multi level night club with amazing over the top decor. Now closed.
Last visited 1999.
|
Grand Central, Renshaw Street |
Bar DeMille
|
John Smith's / Carlsberg, Foster's |
A nicely done plain one-roomed pub in the former Gaumont cinema, conveniently located next to the coach station. Now closed.
Last visited 2004.
|
Fraser Street |
| Bar Fresa |
|
Not visited.
|
Colquitt Street / Seel Street |
| Bar Med |
John Smith's / 1664, Stella |
A lively noisy disco bar, very popular on a Friday night.
Last visited 2000.
|
Queen Square |
| Bar Monaco (J Bar) (Jazz Bar) |
|
Not visited.
|
Albert Dock |
| Bar Prima |
|
Not visited.
|
North John Street / Victoria Street |
| Bar Racine |
|
A small one room bar, another way into Grand Central. Now closed.
Not visited.
|
Grand Central, Renshaw Street |
| Bar VR (Lolas) |
John Smith's / Foster's |
This plain bar is slightly down at heel, and had customers to match when I visited on a Saturday afternoon. As well as the main room there's an area with bench seats at the back, and a balcony bar upstairs. The beer is remarkably cheap.
Last visited 2004.
|
Bold Street / Slater Street |
| Bar Zero |
No bitter / Carling |
Service - zero, bitter - zero, atmosphere - zero in this "trendy" cocktail bar. The place was not busy but after ten minutes we had not been served so we left.
Last visited 1998.
|
North John Street |
| Basement |
|
Night club.
Not visited.
|
Harrington Street / North John Street |
| Beaconsfield (Cains) |
Cains, Tetley / 4X |
Cains was a very nicely preserved basement bar serving excellent beer and was well known for live music. Not visited since it was renamed.
Last visited 1998.
|
North John Street / Victoria Street |
| Bear's Paw |
|
Closed.
Not visited.
|
Dorans Lane |
| Bed (Bar Red) |
|
Not visited.
|
Wood Street / Slater Street |
Beehive
|
Tetley / Heineken, Skol |
Small, busy, nicely kept town centre boozer with an impressive high ceiling and a nicely tiled entrance and chimney breast. The walls are covered with pictures of old movie stars. A fine selection of 50s and 60s music on the jukebox.
Last visited 1999.
|
Mount Pleasant |
| Beehive |
Tetley / Carling, Carlsberg |
A long narrow nicely decorated bar, with a food counter at the back. Some nice old leaded glass remains.
Last visited November 2007.
|
Whitechapel / School Lane |
| Beluga |
|
Arty-farty basement bar. Excellent draught Hoegaarden Wit.
Last visited 1998.
|
Wood Street |
Belvedere
|
guests, Hydes, Flowers IPA, Hoegaarden / 4X, Budweiser Budvar, Leffe Blonde, Stella |
This tiny nicely done out traditional two room one bar pub is clean and tidy, if a little worn in places. The "smoke room" is served across the passageway through a little hatch in the rather good glazed partition. After a long period of closure it re-opened in 2006, with fine real ales served by friendly staff.
Grade II listed building.
Last visited May 2008.
|
Faulkner Street / Sugnall Street |
| Big Easy |
|
Not visited.
|
Hardman Street |
| Blackburne Arms |
various, Hoegaarden / Carling, Leffe Blonde, Stella |
A major refurbishment in 2006 has left this pub with a very nice traditional interior, with a wood and stone floor and a nice wooden bar front - All totally fake. When I visited in 2006 they had about seven real ales available, and the Adnams Bitter was top notch. Revisiting in 2008 I found new management and there was less choice of real ales, but still in good nick.
Last visited May 2008.
|
Catharine Street / Blackburne Place |
| Blend |
|
Not visited.
|
Mount Pleasant / Roscoe Street |
Blind Tiger Bar
|
Black Sheep |
A large open flat house with a high ceiling and a strange glass floor. The decor is nicely underdone with some fine pictures of Liverpool landmarks. Popular with the local student population. I'm told real ale is no longer available.
Now closed.
Last visited 2002.
|
Pembroke Place / Great Newton Street |
| Blitz |
|
Not visited.
|
Stanley Street |
| Blob Shop (Yates's) |
John Smith's |
A very nice, if a little worn, rustic interior in this former Yates's Wine Lodge which still sells Aussie White and Red Biddy from barrels behind the bar. The one large open wooden-floored room is always busy.
Live entertainment
Last visited 2004.
|
Great Charlotte Street |
| Blue |
|
This trendy fashionable bar in the Albert Dock warehouses has a fine interior with the original stone floor and vaulted brick ceiling. The toilets feature a unisex washbasin area. Licence 'till 2.
Last visited 1999.
|
Atlantic Pavillion, Albert dock above Hartley's |
| Blue Angel |
|
Night Club
Last visited 1997.
|
Seel Street |
| Blundell Street |
|
Live music nightly, international cuisine and relaxing lounge bars, according to the adverts.
Not visited.
|
57 Blundell Street |
| Bonapartes |
|
Closed. In my student days, a pub on the edge of a University campus was a guaranteed money-spinner, but it would appear this is no longer the case.
Not visited.
|
Clarence Street |
| Boogie Nights |
|
Similar in style to Flares, I'm told.
Not visited.
|
Mathew Street |
Borough Hotel
|
|
Closed.
Not visited.
|
Great Crosshall Street / Standish Street |
| Brownlow's |
|
Not visited.
|
Mount Pleasant / Brownlow Hill |
Brunswick Bar (Brunswick Vaults)
|
Burtonwood |
In 1999 the Brunswick Vaults had a pleasant and friendly bar side with a high ceiling and some rather nice stained glass and wood panelled partitions. The comfortable looking lounge side, served only from a small hatch, was completely deserted when I visited. It would appear to have been substantially remodelled and gained an LSTV along with a change of name.
Last visited 1999.
|
69 Tithebarn Street / Highfield Street |
| Bumper |
|
Not visited.
|
Hardman Street / Pilgrim Street |
| Cabin |
|
No draught bitter in this slightly tatty club with two dance floors. Entry is by ringing a bell on a secret door at the top of Wood Street.
Last visited 1998.
|
Wood Street / Berry Street |
| Cafe Buro |
|
Not visited.
|
Bold Street / Heathfield |
| Cafe Tabac |
|
Not visited.
|
Bold Street |
| Caledonia (Boodha) |
Tetley / Carlsberg, Foster's, Stella |
This refurbished knocked through high ceilinged one room pub was previously closed and burnt out. On a Thursday evening in 2004 I found an superb live DJ mixing to a pub full of people, most of whom were watching the footie!
Last visited 2004.
|
Caledonia Street / Catharine Street |
Cambridge
|
Marston's Bitter |
Traditionally styled decor and a wood floor in this compact two roomed corner house, serving excellent beer and famous for its Sunday Breakfasts. Very popular with the local students.
Quiz
Last visited September 2007.
|
Mulberry Street / Cambridge Street |
| Carnarvon Castle |
Cains, Directors, guest, John Smith's, Theakston / 1664, Carlsberg, Foster's |
Originally opened in the late 1800s, this small beautifully kept pub is the only survivor of eight on this street. Outside, the pub has a splendid ceramic frontage in a row of boring modern shop fronts. Inside, the well preserved traditional interior includes a wood-panelled back room. Excellent beers and friendly service.
Refurbishment in 2008 has taken away most of the external tiles, I'm afraid.
Last visited May 2008.
|
Tarleton Street, by M&S |
| Carousel |
|
Closed.
Not visited.
|
Myrtle Parade |
| Casa Bar |
|
Not visited.
|
Hope Street / Hardman Street |
| Cavern Club |
John Smith's / 1664, Foster's |
A recreation of the world famous Cavern Club where the Beatles played hundreds of times, so needless to say this is an important stop on the Mathew Street tourist trail. Deep underground an atmospheric dark cellar decorated with historic concert posters. Live music most of the time. Not to be confused with the Cavern Pub on the other side of the road, although the two are connected.
Last visited 2003.
|
Mathew Street |
| Cavern Pub |
John Smith's |
Not visited.
|
Mathew Street |
| Central Hotel |
Tetley / Carling, Carlsberg, Stella |
This beautiful ale house has a wonderful interior with cut glass mirrors and partitions in one large room. The impressive ceiling includes a nice domed lantern over the door. First licensed in 1863 as The Albion, this was renamed the Central Commercial Hotel in 1888.
Grade II listed building.
Last visited 2004.
|
Ranelagh Street |
| Chambers |
|
Not visited.
|
Ormond Street |
| Charlies |
|
Not visited.
|
off Bold Street |
| Chauffeurs Club |
|
I'm told this former night club is now an up market restaurant.
Not visited.
|
Hope Street |
Cleveland
|
|
Closed. In November 1998 the sign said Lease for sale. Reported demolished in 2006.
Not visited.
|
Price Street / Paradise Street |
| Colin's Bridewell |
|
I'm told this really is an old bridewell.
Not visited.
|
Argyle Street / Campbell Street |
| Compass Inn (Shaftsbury Hotel) |
John Smith's, Tetley, Younger's / Foster's, Stella |
A rather nice, comfortable and popular one roomed pub. Now closed.
Last visited 1999.
|
Mount Pleasant |
| Conti |
|
Night Club
Not visited.
|
Wolstenholme Square |
| Coopers (White Star) |
Worthington / Carling, Stella |
The former White Star became part of this chain of railway station pubs in July 1999. A nice wood panelled interior with an open balcony overlooking the station concourse. The food menu looks good, but expensive, and the beer is not cheap.
Last visited 2003.
|
Lime Street Station |
Coopers (Sefton)
|
Flowers, Boddingtons / Stella |
No matter what time you're in town (Tuesday 10pm or even Wednesday 2pm) this wonderful, cheerful city centre boozer is lively with friendly regulars and well worth a visit. There is a tiny front bar plus a minute back lounge served from a hatch, and the gents is microscopic! The beer is always perfect and is remarkably cheap for such a central location. The live singers seem to be on all day every day! The pub was renamed after licensee Ada Cooper in 1925. Every time I visit this tremendous place I want to add some more superlatives to this review!
Last visited 2004.
|
Cases Street |
Coopers Emporium
|
John Smith's, Theakston / 1664, Budweiser (US), Foster's, Miller |
Mixed rustic and disco decor in this one room friendly lively bar with a stage at one end for live music. There are also tables on the pavement outside. The food looks good value. Apparently now closed.
Live music
Last visited 2004.
|
Strand Sreet / James Street |
Cornmarket
|
Black Sheep, Bombardier |
A very long but quite narrow multi room one bar pub with very nice traditional decor (Although the impressive wood carvings date back only to 1956, I'm told). Food lunch time. There's a beer garden.
Last visited 2004.
|
Old Ropery and Moor Street |
| Cot'n Bar (Brokers) |
|
Closed weekday nights.
Not visited.
|
Old Hall Street / Fazakerley Street |
| Court House |
|
Closed and demolished.
Not visited.
|
Commutation Row |
| Crazy House |
|
Not visited.
|
Wood Street |
| Crocodile |
Cains, John Smith's / 1664, Foster's, San Miguel |
This long corridor bar is nicely done out and has a wood and stone floor. Food at lunchtimes. LSTVs. They close early on quiet evenings.
Last visited 2004.
|
Harrington Street |
| Cross Keys |
Black Sheep, Deuchars IPA / Carling, Carlsberg, Stella |
A large open knocked through pub with modern pastel decor and some nice wood panelling. The menu looks good.
Last visited November 2008.
|
13 Earle Street / Prussia Street |
Crown Hotel (Florin & Firkin) (Crown Hotel)
|
Cains, guests, Tetley |
The building has a rather nice well preserved exterior. The interior has been totally restored since the Firkin era, and a very nice job they've done too - The Firkin's spoof rustic decor has been replaced by something a lot closer to the original design I think, with beautiful original ceiling plasterwork. Fine beer with up to six cheap real ales. After many years of selling Cask Tetley Bitter at £1 a pint the price finally went up in 2007, but it's still a bargain. In early 2008 an interior refurbishment provided new carpets and made a very good job of tidying up the ceiling.
Grade II listed building.
Visited.
|
Lime Street / Skelhorne Street |
| Cunarder |
Tetley |
This was a nicely decorated basement bar, looking a bit like "Cheers" and full of kids. Now closed to become part of yet another Wetherspoon's - see Fall Well.
Last visited 1998.
|
Under St John's Centre |
| Czar Bar |
|
Another part of the impressive Grand Central complex. See Bar Celona. Now closed.
Not visited.
|
Grand Central, Renshaw Street |
| Daly's Dandelion |
|
Not visited.
|
24 Dale Street |
| Dart and Shamrock (Dart) |
John Smith's, Theakston |
A recently pleasantly refurbished place popular with the Irish community, but not a fake "Irish" pub. One bar plus a nice side lounge.
Last visited 1999.
|
Gildart Street / Kempston Street |
| De Coubertin's Sports Bar |
John Smith's |
Nice lively atmospheric basement bar with plenty of tellies and loads of sports memorabilia. Lined glasses mean you get a full pint. Now closed, for redevelopment until August 2005 according to the sign.
Last visited 1998.
|
North John Street / Harrington Street |
Dispensary (Grapes)
|
Cains, guests, Hoegaarden / Cains, Cains Liverpool |
Superb beer in this small split-level one bar corner house which was the first of the small chain of Cains pubs to open. The only problem is that it's always very busy - Not the place to sit down for a quiet chat.
Last visited November 2008.
|
Renshaw Street / Oldham Street |
Dixie Dean's Bar (Clock)
|
Falstaff, Tetley |
A one room corridor bar, plus a pool room at the back. This place used to be extremely scruffy but it has now been tidied up. A sign on the front calls it "Paddy's Bar"
Last visited 2002.
|
London Road |
Doctor Duncan's
|
Cains, Cains FA, Cains IPA / Cains, Cains Liverpool |
A small front bar and a number of back rooms in what was originally the Pearl Assurance offices. One of the rooms is a truly superb high ceilinged tiled room complete with tiled arches and a miniature ceramic balcony over the living fire. Excellent beer, usually the full Cains range including seasonals, as you would expect from a Cains house. Their first beer festival was well worth a visit - In fact I went twice. Opened March 1999.
Visited.
|
St John's Lane |
| Dom-1's |
Worthington / Carling |
I visited this dark one room corridor bar / disco mid-evening on a Thursday. The bar staff were too busy chatting to serve us, so after five minutes we left.
Last visited 2003.
|
Slater Street / Seel Street |
| Doyles Bar |
|
Not visited.
|
Off Duke Street |
| Dreamers Fantasy Bar |
|
Say no more!
Not visited.
|
Old Hall Street |
Durty Nelly's (Monument)
|
|
Large nicely done out fake Irish bar, less plastic than most, looking a little tatty in places. There's some nice plasterwork on the extremely high vaulted ceiling. Three hand pumps not in use.
Karaoke
Last visited 2002.
|
London Road |
| Edward's |
|
Noisy. Disco. Late licence.
Last visited 1997.
|
Mathew Street |
| Empire (Empire) (Scruffy Murphy's) (Bar.com) |
Tetley / Carlsberg |
I am told the original Empire was a pleasant pub with real ale before it was "Paddified". Scruffy Murphy's was a tiny one roomed "Irish" bar, much cosier and slightly cheaper than O'Neill's across the road, in which bitter was not available when I visited. I never visited Bar.com. The latest incarnation, once again called the Empire, is a pleasant, friendly, plain and well cared for boozer.
Last visited 2005.
|
Hanover Street / Wood Street |
| Est Bar |
|
Attached to the Italian restaurant Est Est Est.
Not visited.
|
Albert Dock |
| Eurobar (Streets) |
Boddingtons, Flowers |
This pleasant Irish pub had a small wood panelled downstairs bar plus another bar/function room upstairs. Now closed and converted to a coffee bar.
Last visited 1999.
|
Maryland Street / Baltimore Street |
Everyman Bistro
|
Cains, guests, Landlord |
Very good food and excellent beer in this remarkable cellar canteen, but not recommended for a quiet chat because you can't hear yourself think! Late licence.
Last visited April 2007.
|
Hope Street / Mount Pleasant |
Excelsior
|
Cains, guest, Old Speckled Hen, Worthington / Becks, Carling, Foster's, Stella |
In 1999 I described this as a rather scruffy old knocked through pub with a two-sided bar with friendly staff serving well cared for beer. Revisited in 2002 it seemed to have lost the scruffiness while retaining the friendly staff and top notch ales. The menu looks good value. Part of the "Porters Ale House" chain.
Last visited January 2009.
|
Dale Street / Hatton Garden |
| Exchange Bar |
|
Not visited.
|
Old Hall Street |
| FACT |
|
"Film, Art and Creative Technology". There's two or three bars in here as well as the galleries, cinemas and so on, I'm told.
Quiz
Not visited.
|
88 Wood Street |
Falkland Arms
|
Tetley |
A plain pleasant lounge side served from a hatch, and a rather scruffy bar side with customers to match. The hand pumps are no longer used.
Now closed and boarded up.
Last visited 1999.
|
London Road / Falkland Street |
| Fall Well Lloyds No. 1 (Cunarder) |
various |
Opened in July 2002, this is a stylish up-market bar with one of Wetherspoon's brands, built by joining the former Cunarder and City Pets next door. Unlike the standard 'spoons locations it has TV screens and music. Three real ales were on when I visited. I re-visited here late on a Friday evening, and Wetherspoons are to be congratulated, I think, for providing youth oriented loud music, DJ and flashing lights and yet still managing to serve excellent real ale.
Last visited July 2008.
|
Queen Square |
| Firehouse (Edward's) (Clayton Bar) |
John Smith's / Foster's |
This disco bar was virtually empty when I visited on a Thursday evening. The rather pleasant interior is rather dark, with plenty of disco lights. The leather sofas are very comfortable. The menu looks good. Closed and boarded up in May 2005.
Last visited 2004.
|
Great Charlotte Street |
First National Wine Bar
|
Bass, Worthington |
This pub, in what was "The National Bank", has a splendid interior with marble columns and a tiled dance floor, plus a balcony above the bar. When it was just called the First National it was disappointingly scruffy inside, but along with the Wine Bar suffix has come a nice repaint and tidy up.
Last visited 2002.
|
James Street / 24 Fenwick Street |
| Flanagan's Apple "Flanagans" |
Worthington / 1664, Carling, Carlsberg, Stella |
A rather good plastic fake Irish bar, where the decor is perhaps more genuine than most, on two or three storeys. There's usually a band on in the basement.
Last visited August 2006.
|
Mathew Street |
| Flares |
|
A rather good two floor club playing 70s disco music to a clientele the majority of whom weren't even born then! It was always packed when I visited. Now moved to Mathew Street
Last visited 1998.
|
Wood Street |
| Flares |
|
Not visited.
|
Mathew Street |
| Flares (Guinans) (Wonderbar) |
|
Not visited.
|
Slater Street / Fleet Street |
Flute (Flute & Firkin)
|
guests, Tetley / Carlsberg, Stella |
A large room with a high ceiling and a wooden floor nicely decorated and full of students. Two LSTVs.
Last visited 2004.
|
Hardman Street / South Hunter Street |
Fly in the Loaf (Kirkland's)
|
guests, Okells |
I understand Kirklands was a bar/club with no draught beer. It has now been taken over by Okell's Brewery and re-launched as a quality pub. The interior is nicely decorated with mosaic and parquet flooring and wood panelled walls with some church style features. The excellent ales include Okell's and guests, and there is a fine range of bottles from around the world.
The unusual name comes from the original use of the building, as Kirkland's Bakery.
Unusually for this guide, a purely personal comment: There is something about this pub I don't like but I can't work out what it is. The beer is superb, the staff friendly, and the interior pleasant and always spotless; and yet there's something wrong with the atmosphere. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Last visited December 2008.
|
Hardman Street / Baltimore Street |
| Flying Picket Bar |
Cains, Pedigree, Tetley |
Through a narrow alley off Hardman Street, across the music venue's lobby, and in to a nice single room bar serving excellent ale.
I understand this has now closed.
Last visited 2002.
|
Hardman Street / South Hunter Street |
| Font |
Black Sheep / 1664, Foster's, San Miguel |
Rather nice 'modern' decor in this large open one room pub, full of students.
Quiz
Last visited 2004.
|
Oxford Street / Arrad Street |
| Friday's |
|
Not visited.
|
Adelphi Hotel, Brownlow Hill |
| Fudge (Baton Rouge) |
|
Not visited.
|
Wood Street |
| Garlands of Liverpool |
|
Never visited, but someone once described this as "one of the best venues in Liverpool".
Not visited.
|
Fleet Street |
| Gladstone Hotel |
|
A typical hotel bar.
Last visited 1997.
|
Lord Nelson Street |
Globe
|
Cains, Cains IPA, guest, Tetley, John Smith's / 1664, Carling, Foster's |
A splendid old traditional small pub serving excellent beer and always busy. Watch out for the sloping floor! The tiny back room has a plaque commemorating the founding of the Merseyside branch of CAMRA here on 18th January 1974.
Last visited 2005.
|
Cases Street |
| Globe Cafe Bar |
|
Not visited.
|
Cook Street |
| Goblin |
|
Not visited.
|
43 Canterbury Street, off Islington |
| Golf Bar |
John Smith's / 1664, Foster's |
The plain modern interior in this sports bar is kept clean and tidy, although the wooden floors are looking a little past their best. The small ground floor bar has plenty of TVs and the much larger basement bar features more TVs, a food counter and a golf simulator.
I noticed this was closed in April 2009.
Last visited 2004.
|
Tithebarn Street / Tempest Hey |
Grand Central
|
|
An impressive building containing a number of separate bars and clubs. See Atlantis, Bar Celona, Bar Racine, Czar Bar and San Susi Bar.
It seems to be closed.
Last visited 1999.
|
Renshaw Street |
Grapes (Famous Grapes)
|
Cains, Directors |
Very nicely preserved/done up old pub, famous because the Beatles drank here before performing at the Cavern Club - pleasingly they don't go over the top with Beatles memorabilia. A popular haven of (relative) peace and reasonably priced real ale amongst the techno noise and expensive fashionable bottles on Mathew Street. Occasional off pints.
Live music
Last visited July 2006.
|
Mathew Street |
| Grapes (Grapes) (Sick Lizard) |
various |
The Grapes in 1999: It is hard to tell how much is faked in the fine antique interior which includes a nice wooden and tiled floor. This purported to be a "Porters Ale House" and had plenty of hand pumps, but only plastic Tetley was available when I visited.
In May 2000 it was taken over by new management who renamed it and concentrated on live music.
More recently, however, the Grapes name has returned and on my most recent visit I found a choice of three excellent real ales, and a friendly atmosphere in this small traditional boozer.
Last visited December 2006.
|
Knight Street / Roscoe Street |
| Guinan's |
Worthington |
Live music or disco. Late licence. Closed in February 2000 and joined together with McSorley's to become the Wonderbar.
Last visited 1998.
|
Slater Street |
| Ha! Ha! |
|
Not visited.
|
Albert Dock |
| Haigh |
|
Not visited.
|
John Moores University, Hardman Street (In the union building) |
| Hannah's (Montana's) |
|
Not visited.
|
Hardman Street / Rodney Street |
| Hanover |
John Smith's, Theakston |
A very large, mostly opened out, one bar pub with pleasant decor. I ordered Directors from the one hand pump amongst a large array of keg fonts with some trepidation, but it was in fine condition. The all day food is OK. I'm told the real ale has now been abandoned.
Last visited 1999.
|
Hanover Street / Fleet Street |
| Hardy's |
|
Not visited.
|
Mathew Street / Rainford Square |
| Hartley's |
|
Closed. Formerly an up-market plastic basement bar, this has now been converted into a very posh private club called Baby Blue. Yorkshireman Jesse Hartley was Dock Surveyor from 1824 and was responsible for the construction of the Albert Dock warehouses.
Last visited 1997.
|
Albert Dock |
| Hartley's (Why Not) |
Worthington / Carling |
The Why Not was a two storey pub in which the upstairs was a tatty friendly bar dominated by an LSTV. Hartley's is apparently closed midweek evenings, and I haven't visited since the name change.
Last visited 1998.
|
Harrington Street / North John Street |
| Havana |
|
Not visited.
|
North John Street / Cook Street |
| Head of Steam |
various |
This place opened in Autumn 2000. Three bars and a "diner" downstairs plus more on the balcony. The three downstairs bars are very different: Studio 58 is a trendy plastic beer bar, the display bar contains a nice collection of railway signs and models, and the third bar is the best of all - Traditional decor and a dozen hand pumps with an impressive range of real ales, both common and unusual. On my most recent visit, half the bars were closed and the real ale quality was very poor.
Last visited 2006.
|
Lime Street Station |
| Heebeejeebies |
|
Night club.
Not visited.
|
Seel Street / Back Colquitt Street |
| Hell & Hev'n |
|
Not visited.
|
Fleet Street / Roe Alley |
| Hogshead |
Boddingtons, Hoegaarden / 4X, Heineken, Stella |
The music is a little loud in this otherwise pleasant modern bar with one main room plus more tables on a balcony. My notes from 1998 recorded a large selection of excellent hand pulled ale; they're down to a choice of only two now, but the Fuller's London Pride was very nice, so who's complaining. Unusually, waitress service is provided. Food. A report in 2006 says there is no longer any real ale.
Last visited 2004.
|
North John Street / Cook Street |
| Hope and Anchor "Scream" |
Tetley / Carling, Carlsberg |
Opened 23 September 1999, this large open noisy one-roomed pub is aimed firmly at the student market, and I found it surprisingly empty on a Thursday night in March 2004. The quirky decor, including oil drums and cable bobbins, is rather fun. LSTV.
Last visited 2004.
|
Maryland Street / South Hunter Street |
| Hope Street Cafe Bar |
|
Not visited.
|
Hope Street / Rice Street |
| Horatio's |
|
Not visited.
|
Lord Nelson Street / Hotham Street |
| Horseshoe |
John Smith's / Foster's |
The plain grubby bar side of this two room pub was busy with plain grubby friendly regulars. The five globe light fitting above me had only one working bulb, and the one at the other end of the room had three missing globes.
Last visited 1999.
|
Pitt Street / Duncan Street |
| Hub Cafe |
|
Not visited.
|
Berry Street |
| Innfluence Lounge |
|
Not visited.
|
Wood Street / Slater Street |
| Inntro |
|
Not visited.
|
In Jury's Inn by the Echo Arena |
| Irish Bar 2 (Sheridans) |
|
Not visited.
|
Bold Street. |
| Jacaranda "The Jac" |
Worthington / Carling, Stella |
A traditionally done out lively friendly pub with three floors and two bars, well worth a visit.
Last visited 2003.
|
Slater Street / Seel Street |
| Jaxx Club |
|
Not visited.
|
Hardman Street |
| John Lennon Bar |
|
Not visited.
|
23 Mathew Street |
| JR's Bar and Grill |
Tetley / Carlsberg |
This well looked after American-themed corridor bar has the standard late 90s decor - pale wood effect floor below and naked heating ducts above. There is a large standing area and some booths in the bar. Food is served in the bar and in a separate restaurant upstairs.
Last visited 2004.
|
Great Charlotte Street |
| Jupiter's |
Bass, Worthington / Carling |
Rather nicely restrained modern decor in this pleasant open one room bar with a small counter in one corner. Not the sort of place I would expect decent beer but I was pleasantly surprised.
Last visited 2000.
|
Hackins Hey |
| Kent Gardens Bar |
|
Not visited.
|
Argyle Street / Campbell Street |
| King's Arms |
|
Closed.
Not visited.
|
London Road / Moss Street |
| King's Arms |
|
Not visited.
|
28 St. James Street |
| Kiosk (Rococomodo) |
Caffrey's, Hoegaarden / Stella |
A rather impressive basement bar with a tiled floor, busy even on a Tuesday night.
Last visited 1998.
|
Fleet Street / Concert Street |
| Kiss The Red (New Streets) |
|
Streets was a noisy busy Friday night disco. Not visited since the renaming.
Last visited 1997.
|
Hardman Street / Baltimore Street |
| Kitty O'Shea's (Flares) |
|
Reverted to its old name when Flares moved to Mathew Street
Not visited.
|
5 Fleet Street |
| Klass |
|
Not visited.
|
Bold Street / Concert Square |
| Krazy House (Powerstation) (Sloanes) |
Boddingtons / Heineken |
A friend reported: Dark, cheap, loud and pretty basic. All drinks 2 for 1 but bottles of Newcastle Brown are usually warm. Dancefloor gets a bit fruity (violent at times!), hard core rockers only on Saturdays, students on Thursdays. Don't mess with the bouncers! Thanks Paul, I couldn't have put it better myself.
Last visited 1998.
|
Wood Street / Roe Alley |
| L2 |
|
Night club.
Not visited.
|
Hotham Street / Bridport Street |
| La Tasca |
|
Tapas Bar
Not visited.
|
Queen Square |
| La'Go |
|
Not visited.
|
Seel Street / Colquitt Street |
| Lady of Mann |
guests, Okells |
A nice one-room pub a little dark inside, across the large shared courtyard from Rigby's and run by the same management.
Last visited April 2009.
|
Dale Street / Hackins Hey |
| Last Night Venue (McSorley's) |
|
Not visited.
|
Slater Street / Fleet Street |
| Late Lounge |
|
Not visited.
|
Victoria Street / Princes Street |
| Le Bateau |
|
Not visited.
|
62 Duke Street |
Leaf Tea Shop and Bar
|
|
Not visited.
|
Parliament Street |
| Legs of Man |
Tetley / 4X, Carlsberg |
A two room pub plus cocktail lounge upstairs. The ground floor lounge was threadbare and smoky. Now closed and demolished.
Last visited 1998.
|
Lime Street / London Road |
| Life Bar (Lyceum) |
Marstons |
Horrible fashionable plastic bar. Not visited since it changed its name but I doubt there's been any improvement.
Last visited 1998.
|
Bold Street |
| Liffey Bar |
Boddingtons, Pedigree, Flowers IPA |
A nice wood and tiled floor and a splendid wooden ceiling in this open and airy one room pub which is not excessively "oirish", except for the music.
Last visited 1999.
|
Renshaw Street next door to Grand Central |
| Lime Kiln Lloyds No. 1 |
|
I visted on a Saturday afternoon but they were closed due a power failure. I have received a report that there is no real ale here.
Not visited.
|
Fleet Street / Concert Square |
Lion Tavern
|
Landlord, Lees, Tetley / Carlsberg |
Splendid tilework and traditional decor in this three room preserved gem which has the classic L-shaped corridor layout. The small bar side is rather cluttered while the two room lounge side, only has two tiny hatches across the corridor for service. The ale is always excellent.
Grade II listed building.
Last visited October 2007.
|
Moorfields / Tithebarn Street |
| Lisbon |
Stones, Worthington / Carling |
A splendid wood panelled cellar with an impressive plasterwork ceiling in this very gay bar.
Last visited 1999.
|
Victoria Street |
Liverpool
|
John Smith's, Tetley / Carling, Carlsberg, Stella |
A pleasant large one room flat house, decorated with pictures of the various HMS Liverpools. Live music most nights. There is another bar upstairs, not visited. I have been told that during exceptionally high tides the barrels in the cellar are floating.
Karaoke
Last visited 2004.
|
James Street |
| Loft (Baty's) |
|
Closed and boarded up.
Not visited.
|
North John Street / Mathew Street |
| Lord Nelson Bar |
|
In the Lord Nelson hotel.
Not visited.
|
Lord Nelson Street / Hotham Street |
Lord Warden
|
Bombardier, Cains, Tetley / Carlsberg |
This nice small traditional one-bar city centre boozer has a wide range of clientele, from 18 to 80, and is popular with racing fans on Saturday afternoon. Friendly people on both sides of the counter and excellent ale as well - What more could you want? A free quiz with a cash prize? They've got that as well.
After a period of intermittent beer quality, a new licensee in late 2007 has brought excellent real ale.
Sir Winston Churchill, depicted in caricature on the pub's sign, was appointed Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports in 1941, one of the higher honours bestowed by the sovereign. Wellington, whose column is nearby, also held this title.
Visited.
|
London Road / Camden Street |
| Ma Boyles Oyster Bar |
various |
Rather quaint multi level pub hidden on a back street. Seafood a speciality. Excellent beer. I am told this operation dates back a long time, but it only moved to the current location a few years ago. They will remove inappropriate sparklers if asked - just say "nozzle off" to the barmaid!
It was here in June 2000 that I finally realised a lifetime ambition and pulled my own pint!!
Following a major refurbishment in late 2004 some of the quaintness has been lost, and the floor area has increased. Fortunately the fine ales remain.
Last visited 2005.
|
Tower Gardens, Off Water Street |
Ma Egerton's
|
Worthington |
A well preserved old boozer (and there's quite a few of them in the back room!). The bell pushes for waitress service are still in place (but not in use). Live singer on Saturday night. Grab a granny! The bar staff are very efficient.
Mary Ellen Egerton, born in Ireland in 1863, lived in London before taking over the American Bar on Lime Street. Later she moved to the Eagle on Pudsey Street. She was extremely well known, especially in theatrical circles, and was a friend of Charlie Chaplin. There are some pictures of her on display.
Last visited 2002.
|
Lord Nelson Street / Pudsey Street, beside Lime Street station. |
| Magnet (Sunnyland Slims) |
|
Sunnyland Slims was a Tex-Mex restaurant, but I'm told this place is a bar now.
Not visited.
|
Hardman Street |
| Majestic |
|
Closed.
Not visited.
|
Smithdown Lane / Paddington |
| Manhattan |
|
Not visited.
|
South John Street / Harrington Street |
| Mardi Gras |
|
Not visited.
|
off Bold Street |
| Marlborough |
John Smith's / 1664, Foster's |
A plain but nicely decorated friendly one room pub with a very high ceiling.
Last visited 2003.
|
Slater Street / Seel Street |
| Masque Venue |
|
Not visited.
|
Seel Street / Colquitt Street |
| Masquerade |
|
Not visited.
|
Dale Street / Cumberland Street |
| McHales Irish American Bar |
John Smith's / 1664, Miller |
A plain, fairly narrow one bar pub with a disco. I went there one Saturday night and all the draught beer was off due to a power failure. On a Thurdsay evening visit it was a bit quieter than at the weekend and I was able to get a look at the rather nice dark wood decor with a slight maritime theme. Connected internally to Shamrocks next door. Closed when I passed in September 2006.
Last visited 2004.
|
Lime Street next to the Crown |
| McSorleys |
Worthington |
Live band Friday night. Late licence. Closed early in 2000 and now part of the Wonderbar.
Last visited 1998.
|
Slater Street |
| Mello Mello |
|
Not visited, but a friend reports: No draught ale/lager at all. Ridiculous prices. Full of people who like to look cool, drink coffee etc. Thanks, Paul. Now closed.
Not visited.
|
Slater Street |
| Merchants (Shufflebottoms) |
|
Not visited.
|
Hardman Street |
| Mersey Tavern |
|
Not visited.
|
Lord Street |
| Metropolitan (Trader Jacks) (Black Horse and Rainbow) (Brewery) |
Bombardier, Old Speckled Hen, own stuff, Theakston / Stella |
The Brewery served excellent beer, brewed on the premises (The brewery was on display at the front of the building) as well as ales from elsewhere. A plain pub in one large wooden-floored room, quiet in the early evening but probably buzzing later. The Lemon Lounge night club is upstairs.
Not visited since it became Metropolitan, but I understand the brewery and the real ale has gone.
Last visited 2003.
|
Berry Street |
| Metz |
|
Not visited.
|
Mathew Street |
Midland Hotel
|
Tetley / Carling, Carlsberg |
First licensed in 1875, this is plainer than the Central Hotel next door, but still has some nice glasswork and woodwork.
Grade II listed building.
Last visited 2004.
|
Ranelagh Street / Cases Street |
| Milky Bar |
|
Not visited.
|
Wolstenholme Square |
| Mono's Pub |
Theakston, Younger's / Foster's |
An enormous two-sided knocked through pub, rather worn in places. I wonder where the unusual name comes from?
Last visited 1999.
|
51 Marybone / Marlborough Street |
| Monro |
Banks's / Carling |
Traditional decor in this pleasant wooden-floored pub/restaurant with a large dining area at the rear.
Grade II listed building.
Last visited February 2007.
|
Duke Street / Suffolk Street |
| Mood Indigo |
|
Not visited.
|
Mathew Street |
| Moorfields (Yates's) |
John Smith's / 1664, Carlsberg, Foster's |
Now closed and boarded up. A former Yates's taken over by Century Inns. The nice decor was beginning to look worn in places in this large one roomed pub. The benches outside were popular. A number of hand pumps, but none in use when I visited. LSTV.
Last visited 1999.
|
Moorfields, opposite the station. |
| Mosquito Bar |
|
Not visited.
|
Victoria Street |
| Navy Bar |
|
Located above the Sugar Fantasy Bar.
Not visited.
|
Stanley Street |
| Nectar (Quays) |
Tetley / Carlsberg, Stella |
The decor in the long stone-floored ground floor bar is nicely understated but perhaps a little sterile. Some nice views of the tunnel entrance and the back of St George's Hall can be had from the fully glazed frontage. I didn't visit the "cocktail lounge" upstairs. Opened October 1999. Became Nectar in 2001 I think. Closed by May 2002.
Last visited 2000.
|
St John's Lane / Victoria Street |
| Ned Kelly's (New Court) |
John Smith's, Theakston |
Plastic "Australian" decor complete with stuffed crocodile. Cheap beer.
Last visited 1998.
|
Victoria Street |
| New Central |
|
Closed.
Not visited.
|
Pembroke Place opposite TJ's |
| New Penny Farthing |
Theakston |
A rather grubby pub absolutely wedged early Friday evening for free butties and cheap beer. Live music in the upstairs bar. The wood panelled decor is very 60s in style.
Last visited 2002.
|
St. Georges Place |
| Newz |
|
From the outside this looks like an up market club, situated in New Zealand House.
Not visited.
|
Water Street / Covent Garden |
| Nook |
John Smith's / 4X, Carling, Stella |
A pleasant clean and tidy two room pub with a front bar and a rear lounge served from a hatch. Perhaps a little threadbare in places. In 1999 I described the exterior as very scruffy but this has since been very nicely done up.
Last visited October 2008.
|
Nelson Street / Griffiths Street |
| Norwegian Blue (Rat 'n' Parrot) "Ratn" |
John Smith's |
4 hand pumps - 3 off, one pure vinegar was what I found in the Rat 'n' Parrot. I haven't been back since the name change.
Last visited 1998.
|
Bold Street |
| Not Sushi |
|
Not visited.
|
Fleet Street |
| O'Neill's |
Caffrey's, Worthington / Carling, Grolsch |
The decor in this cavernous basement with a stone floor is rather more subtle than in most "Irish" bars. The menu looks good, but where's the white pudding for breakfast? Expensive beer. LSTV. Live music most nights.
Last visited 2004.
|
Hanover Street / Wood Street |
| Office Bar (Hogshead) (RSVP) |
|
My notes on the Hogshead say "Pale wood floor, orange girders and the now standard exposed heating ducts in this branch of the chain opened in October 1999. The usual choice of excellent ales and food from their standard menu." There have been two renamings since then.
Last visited 1999.
|
Bold Street / Concert Square |
| Old Post Office |
John Smith's / Carling, Foster's |
Tiny well preserved pub with a U-shaped knocked through area around the bar, and a separate dining room. Sizzling steak menu. Very busy Saturday lunch time, especially if there's football on the TV.
Last visited November 2007.
|
School Lane / Old Post Office Place |
| Old Rope Walk |
Tetley, Welsh / 4X, Stella |
A nicely decorated knocked through pub with one bar and some side areas. The menu looks good.
Last visited 2003.
|
Newington / Back Bold Street |
| One 4 Club |
|
I think this is a snooker club, in which case what happened to the "7"?
Not visited.
|
Fleet Street / Roe Alley |
| OSQA |
|
An up-market-looking bar in a new apartment block.
Not visited.
|
Oldham Street / Roscoe Street |
Oxford
|
|
A plain, well cared for tiny traditional friendly corner house with two rooms. The lounge has only a serving hatch. Sadly the hand pumps seem to be no longer in use. When I visited the barmaid was also providing a manicure service in the lounge.
Last visited 2004.
|
Oxford Street / Grove Street |
| Pacific Bar and Grill |
|
Not visited.
|
Temple Street |
| Paco's Bar |
|
Not visited.
|
25 Stanley Street |
| Pan American Club |
|
Not visited.
|
Albert Dock |
| Partington's |
|
Not visited.
|
Cook Street |
| Peacock |
|
Not visited.
|
Seel Street / Slater Street |
| Pen and Wig / Aphrodite's |
|
Lap dancing.
Not visited.
|
Harrington Street |
Peter Kavanagh's
|
Cains, guest, Tetley |
This wonderful preserved Victorian multi-roomed pub has a slightly eccentric interior including a collection of old transistor radios suspended from the ceiling! Food served in a separate restaurant area.
Peter Kavanagh took over the pub in the late 1890s and named it The Grapes. He became well known in the Liverpool area, serving as a councillor for many years, and was also responsible for a number of successful inventions. By the time of his death in 1950, his pub had become known as Peter Kavanagh's.
Grade II listed building.
Recommended reading: Peter Kavanagh's - A 150 Year History of a Liverpool Pub by Patrick A Kavanagh. Walton Hall Press.
Last visited 1998.
|
Egerton Street (near Upper Parly) |
Philharmonic Dining Rooms "Phil"
|
various |
This well known pub has a front bar plus a couple of side rooms (named Brahms and Liszt!). A second bar counter has been removed from the former billiard room at the end of the corridor, leaving a very comfortable lounge. The spectacular and well preserved Edwardian interior is a deservedly famous tourist attraction, especially the mosaics and ceramics in the gents. (Female tourists are encouraged to go in to the gents to take a photo!) Six or seven real ales are on offer. The food is very good.
Grade II* listed building.
Last visited December 2008.
|
Hardman Street / Hope Street |
| Philharmonic Hall |
Cains, Cains Seasonal |
The foyer bar (Actually it's upstairs) is open to the general public during performances. I don't recommend you nip in for a quick one just before the show, or during the interval!
Last visited March 2009.
|
Hardman Street / Hope Street |
| Picturehouse (Spencer's Bar) |
Worthington / Carling |
Spencer's was a scruffy bar selling cheap beer. After being closed for a number of years it has been nicely refurbished and reopened as the Picturehouse. The decor is plain traditional in one main room and two side areas. Large windows look out across London Road
Quiz
Last visited 2003.
|
London Road / Hotham Street |
| Pier Head (Mersey Tavern) |
|
Closed. After years as a Chinese restaurant this is being redeveloped in 2009.
Not visited.
|
Pier Head |
| Pig and Whistle |
Landlord, John Smith's / Carling, Foster's |
This pub had a superb traditional interior with a real fire in the main bar, and a side room up a few steps. A refurbishment in 2005 sadly stripped out the wonderful dark wood panelling, but retained the basic layout and the fire. The menu looks good.
An "Emigrants Supplied" notice refers back to when provisions for the journey had to be obtained by passengers before sailing to the New World, as the passage they had purchased from the ship owner did not include food or drink.
Last visited January 2009.
|
Covent Garden / Chapel Street |
Pilgrim (Friends of the Academy of Arts)
|
various, Boddingtons / GB, Heineken, Stella |
Down the steps to a wooden floored bare brick walled one room bar where I was refused a top up on a very short pint, but that was some years ago. More recently I visited the upstairs bar, another large room with a small counter at one end serving a small range of well kept real ales.
Last visited 2002.
|
Pilgrim Street / Rice Street |
| PJ's |
|
Not visited.
|
Wood Street |
| Platinum Lounge |
|
Very trendy and up market, I'm told
Not visited.
|
Drury Street |
| Plummers |
|
Closed.
Last visited 1997.
|
Hardman Street |
| Pogue Mahone |
Tetley / Carlsberg |
In 1999 I described this "Irish" bar as rather tatty, but it's been very well tidied up since then. Probably the nearest you'll find to a real Irish pub in Liverpool, and they do the proper pour-stand-pour procedure on a pint of Guinness.
Grade II listed building, I'm told.
Last visited December 2008.
|
Seel Street / Back Berry Street |
Pontack
|
Thwaites / Carlsberg |
A rather nice, plain, slightly worn but clean, knocked through pub with a high ceiling, totally empty when I visited on a Wednesday evening. An impressive array of darts trophies and some interesting old photos of the pub and its environs are on display. I'm told this in now closed.
Last visited 1999.
|
56 Christian Street / Tom Mann Close |
| Popworld (Howl at the Moon) (Reflex) |
|
Not visited.
|
Wood Street / Hanover Street |
| Porthole Club (Smoky Joe's) |
|
Not visited.
|
Mathew Street / Stanley Street |
Post Office
|
Tetley / Carlsberg |
In 1998 I wrote: A rather odd layout with the S-shaped bar running diagonally between the lounge and bar sides to make the most of the long narrow shape. Pleasant enough decor looking a little worn in places. This place doesn't keep to the opening hours on the sign, but keep trying and eventually you'll be rewarded with some excellent ales.
Sadly, by 2002 the real ale had disappeared. So had most of the customers, as the place was deserted, unlike the Blind Tiger next door.
Last visited 2002.
|
Pembroke Place / Great Newton Street |
| Poste House |
Cains, Flowers IPA, John Smith's / Carling |
A minute traditional two bar pub with nice decor and excellent beer. Always busy and friendly. The second (reputedly haunted) bar is upstairs, its counter is apparently only in use lunch times. The pub has been saved from demolition as part of the redevelopment of the area (Obviously my signing the petition was worthwhile!) and currently sits in splendid isolation propped up by girders surrounded by a large building site.
Quiz
Last visited 2004.
|
Cumberland Street |
Prince of Wales Hotel
|
|
Closed. In September 1999 a large sign on this impressive grade II listed building described it as a development opportunity. Years later there has been no progress.
Not visited.
|
London Road / Moss Street |
| Pulse Club |
|
Previous names include Metro, Zub Club and Buzz Club. Now closed and demolished.
Not visited.
|
Skelthorne Street |
| Pump House Inn |
Boddingtons, Flowers IPA / 4X, Carlsberg, Staropramen, Stella |
In 2003 I described this as a tacky plastic tourist trap selling food and expensive beer to the Albert Dock visitors.
In 2008 I found it nicely refurbished and substantially improved, with friendly helpful staff serving very good food.
Last visited September 2008.
|
Albert Dock |
| Punch & Judy |
John Smith's |
A strange layout with three front doors in this popular friendly down market two-bar boozer selling cheap beer.
Last visited December 2006.
|
Bolton Street |
| Quarter Bar |
|
Not visited.
|
Mathew Street |
| Qube |
|
Not visited.
|
Slater Street / Wood Street |
| Queens (Famous Old Porterhouse) (Queens) |
Cains, John Smith's / 1664, Foster's |
My notes on the Famous Old Porterhouse said "Trendy, up market place. Food served upstairs. The decor is rather odd but nice. The cask conditioned ales are, unusually for Merseyside, served by electric pump. An impressive display of bottled beers in glass cases - It's a shame they don't sell them!"
After spending a period closed in July 2002 this has now re-opened under its old name Queens. The beer bottle collection has gone but otherwise the interior style looks pretty similar to me. The real ale is now delivered by a traditional hand pump. Surprisingly quiet on a Friday evening.
Last visited 2003.
|
Williamson Square |
| Queens |
|
Closed. Boarded up when I passed in November '99.
Not visited.
|
Hardy Street / Upper Frederick Street |
Queens
|
Boddingtons, Cains FA, Tetley, Tetley |
This is a pleasant Wetherspoons clone serving very nice ale.
Last visited 2005.
|
Derby Square |
Railway
|
Cains, guest, Tetley / Carlsberg |
A large nicely-preserved multi-roomed pub with a high ceiling. They serve excellent ale and arriving at the end of a darts match I enjoyed some fine free scouse.
Last visited 2005.
|
18 Tithebarn Street / Stephens Lane |
| Rat 'n' Parrot |
John Smith's |
This new construction, opened February 1999, has three very nicely decorated storeys inside. There are plenty of hand pumps, but all were off when I visited. Ordinary bitter was £1.90 a pint.
Last visited 1999.
|
Queen Square |
| Raven |
|
Not visited.
|
Albert Dock |
| Red Box Lounge Club |
|
Not visited.
|
Stanley Street |
| Reflex (Edwards) |
|
Not visited.
|
Concert Square / Fleet Street |
| Remeniss (Labinsky's) |
|
Labinsky's was an arty-farty cocktail bar. The small dance floor had a sign saying "dance floor", possibly indicating the intelligence level of the clientele.
Not visited since it was renamed.
Last visited 1998.
|
Mathew Street |
Renshaw's (Newington House)
|
Webster's Green Label, Tetley / Carlsberg |
Appears slightly scruffy from the outside, better when you get past the bouncers. This lively popular bar is always busy, noisy and great fun, and often has a live singer or karaoke. Licence to 02.00 on Thursday, Friday and Staurday.
Karaoke
Live music
Last visited 2003.
|
Renshaw Street / Upper Newington |
| Revolution |
|
Not visited.
|
Victoria Street / Temple Court |
| Revolution "Vodka Bar" |
Hoegaarden, Tetley / Carlsberg, Leffe Blonde, Stella |
The decor inside this bar which specialises in flavoured vodka is not as arty-farty as I feared. The walls are partially bare brick and the leather sofas are comfortable. It is fashionably dimly lit, which helps hide the rather worn state of the parquet floor. Three pounds sixty for a pint of Hoegaarden - ouch!
Last visited 2004.
|
Wood Street |
| Ricci Bar Cafe |
|
Not visited.
|
Wood Street |
| Richmond |
Bass |
This tiny "corridor" pub with a snug at the back has friendly staff and customers and serves an excellent pint of draught Bass. Shut briefly for refurbishment in March 2007.
Last visited 1998.
|
Richmond Street, off Williamson Square |
Rileys
|
Cains, Tetley / 4X, Carlsberg, Skol |
A bit plastic but nicely looked after.
Last visited 1998.
|
Mount Pleasant |
| Rios |
|
Not visited.
|
Fleet Street |
| River Bar & Brasserie |
|
Not visited.
|
Albert Dock |
| Roadkill (Blakes) |
John Smith's / 1664, Budweiser (US), Foster's, Grolsch, San Miguel |
My notes for Blakes say: The modern decor features a wood and tile floor and the inevitable bare air conditioning ducts. Plenty of pool tables and pinball machines keep the students occupied. Opened February 2000.
Not visited since it became Roadkill, and noted closed in 2009.
Last visited 2004.
|
Hope Street next to the "Phil" |
| Rockford's |
|
Long closed, this was in the same block as Doctor Duncan's.
Not visited.
|
St John's Lane |
Roscoe Head
|
various |
There are four tiny rooms in this nicely preserved gem, although unfortunately the wonderful collection of ties was removed during redecoration summer 1998. Excellent real ale is always on offer.
One of only ten pubs to have been included in all editions of the Good Beer Guide.
Last visited November 2007.
|
Roscoe Street, off Hardman Street |
Roscoes Bar (Roscoe Arms)
|
|
The Roscoe Arms was very scruffy from the outside, inside were two worn but clean and tidy bars in a friendly traditional town centre boozer.
Some years later I found what appears to be a posh cafe-bar, although I haven't been in to check it out yet. What a transformation!
Last visited 1998.
|
Renshaw Street / Oldham Street, next to the Dispensary. |
| Rose & Crown |
Boddingtons, Tetley / Carling, Stella |
A pleasant plainly decorated one bar pub partly knocked through but the pillars separate the rooms. There's some nice (original?) woodwork, I particularly like the arches.
Last visited March 2009.
|
Cheapside / Dale Street |
| Royal |
|
Closed. For sale as a pub.
Not visited.
|
Bridgewater Street |
| Royal Court Theatre |
|
Not strictly within the purview of this guide since it is open only to the audience, but worthy of a mention. The lounge has wooden panelled walls and comfortable leather seats and the bar a tiled floor, all in the basement of this theatre used mainly for rock and pop concerts. On my visit only bottled beer was available, Budweiser, Heineken or Stella.
Last visited 1999.
|
Queen Square |
| Royal George |
Buchanan Best / Foster's, LCL |
A fairly decorated corridor bar with completely fake etched windows.
Last visited 1999.
|
Pembroke Place / Gill Street |
| Royal William |
|
Closed.
Not visited.
|
2 Crown Street |
| Rubber Soul |
|
This disco with a late licence was buzzing on a Friday night.
Last visited 1998.
|
Mathew Street |
Saddle
|
Tetley, Worthington / Carling, Stella |
A rather nice, well looked after and lively pub in two traditionally decorated rooms sharing a common bar counter. The lunchtime food looks good.
Grade II listed building.
Last visited January 2009.
|
Dale Street / Hackins Hey |
| Saint George |
Trophy |
A plain one roomed corridor bar. The customers were friendly but the parrot wouldn't talk to us (A sign warned that he bites!) It has since been tarted up with graffiti all over the front in 2000, presumably to appeal to a younger market. Now closed.
Last visited 1999.
|
48 Berry Street |
| Saint Paul's |
|
Closed and demolished, with no trace remaining.
Not visited.
|
Earle Street / St Paul's Square |
| Sams Bar and Grill |
|
Not visited.
|
Tithebarn Street / Old Hall Street |
| San Susi Bar |
|
Closed.
Not visited.
|
Grand Central, Renshaw Street |
| Sapphire's |
|
Not visited.
|
77 Bold Street |
| Shakespeare |
Bombardier, Directors, John Smith's / Amstel, Foster's |
Opened in November 2008 on the site of a previous pub of the same name, it has tastefully done modern decor with a dark wood bar front and bar back, and wood and tiled flooring. The ground floor bar has a high ceiling and large windows affording a view of the taxi rank. More seats on the balcony and there's another larger bar upstairs, more comfortable and with excellent views. In their first week I noted two hand pumps apparently "just for decoration" but I'm pleased to report that a week later they were in use serving excellent real ale.
Last visited February 2009.
|
Williamson Square |
| Shamrocks |
|
Joined to McHales bar. Closed when I passed in September 2006.
Last visited 1999.
|
Lime Street next to the Crown |
Shenanigans (Rising Sun)
|
Boddingtons |
A nice small "Irish" bar with a tiny main room and an even smaller back room. Try sitting in the bath! A sign says "Coming Soon - Shenanigans Home Brand Beer".
Last visited 1999.
|
Tithebarn Street / Smithfield Street |
Ship and Mitre "The Flaky" "Flakies"
|
various, Hoegaarden |
An impressive selection of excellent beers is always available along with a wide range of imported beers on draught and in bottles, and the occasional festivals are well worth a visit. The inside is very nicely decorated and well looked after, but sadly the real gas lamps in the back room were recently removed. There is also a splendid art deco wood-panelled "cocktail bar" upstairs, used as a function room. The nicknames came from the flaking paintwork on the exterior, but this has now been tidied up somewhat.
Jazz
Quiz
Visited.
|
Dale Street / North Street |
| Sir Thomas Hotel (Henry's) |
John Smith's / 1664, Heineken, Stella |
Henry's was a nicely decorated - art deco and potted plants - up market cafe bar, part of a national chain. The draught beer fonts had no labels on and we had to ask what the beer was. The barman rang the bell every time a tip was received, but he didn't get one from me. (Not at these prices!)
Not visited since the name change.
Last visited 2000.
|
Victoria Street / Cumberland Street |
| Slaters |
Slater's Bitter, Worthington / 4X, Budweiser (US), Stella |
This two room pub is a bit of a dive, but not as bad as I had been lead to expect. Cheap ale and late opening until 2am.
Last visited 2003.
|
Slater Street / Seel Street |
Slaughterhouse (Bennet's) (O'Neill's)
|
John Smith's |
The "music room" is a dark and dingy but rather atmospheric cellar used for live music. The upstairs is a nicely done fake antique "Irish" bar with wooden floor and some ancient looking ceiling beams. The floor vibrates with the noise of the band downstairs! The two handpumps were out of use when I visited.
Up to the early 60s this was a Bass house called Bennet's Wine Merchants.
Last visited 2004.
|
Fenwick Street |
| Smokie Mo's (Dickie Lewis's) (Dickie's) |
John Smith's |
Dickie Lewis's was a slightly grubby split level shed, noisy and busy with friendly drunks. There were two serving counters in the main room and another in the raised side area. Not visited since it was renamed.
Last visited 2004.
|
Mount Pleasant / Brownlow Hill |
| Society |
|
Not visited.
|
Duke Street / York Street |
| Sound Factory UK |
|
Not visited.
|
Mount Pleasant, above Dickie Lewis's |
| Sound Garden |
|
Not visited.
|
Dale Street |
| Spiral Staircase |
|
Closed weekday evenings.
Not visited.
|
Old Hall Street |
| Square |
John Smith's / Foster's |
Opened in May 99, this night club/bar has a very impressive interior with wood panelling and an amazing revolving multi-screen video display above the circular bar. There is another bar on the balcony. Now reported as closed.
Last visited 2000.
|
Old Haymarket |
| Stags Head |
John Smith's / Foster's |
This was a clean and tidy, plain one bar boozer. Pool table. Now closed.
Last visited 1998.
|
Pembroke Place |
| State (Garlands) |
|
Temporary home of Garlands until November 2003.
Not visited.
|
Dale Street / Eberle Street |
| Stella 66 |
Tetley / Carlsberg, Stella |
Quarry tiled floor and wooden tables in this basement bar with a basic and cheap food menu. Lots of TVs on different channels as well as a radio playing. The bitter was sour and the barrel needed changing.
Last visited 2004.
|
66 Mount Pleasant / Roscoe Street |
| Stowell's Cafe Bar |
|
Not visited.
|
Victoria Street / Manchester Street |
| Sugar Fantasy Bar |
|
Not visited.
|
Stanley Street |
| Swan |
Trophy / Heineken |
Now closed and demolished. When I visited in 1999 I wrote: The 1950s style interior has seen better days, although it's not as rough as the "toilet wall" tiled exterior would suggest. A large bar and lounge plus a small front room served from a hatch. An unusual feature of this pub was that it had doors on three streets.
Last visited 1999.
|
London Road / Seymour Street / Vincent Street |
Swan Inn
|
Cains, others |
This basic back street pub has been very nicely refurbished. The excellent beer and the excellent rock jukebox remain, I'm pleased to report. Beers include about eight real ales and a fine selection of Belgian bottles including Westmalle Tripel, Delerium Tremens and Busch Blonde. There's another bar upstairs where they hold the quiz.
Quiz
Last visited November 2007.
|
Wood Street / Colquitt Street |
| T.P.Molloy's |
|
Not visited.
|
Victoria Street / Temple Court |
| Tea Factory |
|
Not visited.
|
Wood Street / Slater Street |
| Temple Bar |
Tetley / Carlsberg |
A nice deserted basement bar, plain tasteful decor with a wooden floor, a living fire and impressive mirrors. Cheap beer and spirits. Disgusting bogs!
Last visited 1999.
|
Dale Street / Temple Street |
| Tess Rileys |
Tetley / 4X, Carlsberg |
A busy "plastic" pub, very lively on a Saturday night with a generally older clientele.
Last visited 2004.
|
Great Charlotte Street |
Thomas Rigby's (Rigby's)
|
guests, Okells / Carling |
1999: A scruffy exterior and rather nice half timbered interior with wood beams and bare bricks in this two-sided pub. A little run down and slightly tatty in places.
2003: Having been taken over by Okells, the pub has been very well re-done while retaining some nice original-looking features, including leaded glass in the bar front, and the old Rigby's sign displayed above the bar. The excellent beers include Okells seasonal brews, and a good range of bottled beers from around the world.
Nelson is reputed to have met with Lady Hamilton in the back room here, at which time it was a coffee house.
Grade II listed building.
Last visited January 2009.
|
Dale Street / Hackins Hey |
| Time Out |
|
Not visited.
|
Pownall Square |
| Tru Cafe Bar |
|
Not visited.
|
Trueman Street |
| United Powers |
various / Heineken |
This nice opened out one-bar pub was decorated with WW2 memorabilia. The quality of the beer was mediocre when I visited. Now closed and boarded up.
Last visited 1998.
|
86 Tithebarn Street |
| Varsity |
John Smith's, Worthington / 1664, Foster's, Stella |
This new (1998) construction with a high ceiling and wooden floor has various balcony and basement areas, and is furnished with bench seats and large wooden tables. When I visited on a Thursday evening the place was almost empty and all eleven hand pumps were off. Now closed.
Last visited 2004.
|
Hardman Street |
| Varsity (Old Monk) (Barracuda Bar) |
John Smith's |
Visiting the Old Monk on a Sunday afternoon I was disappointed to find that none of the twelve hand pumps were on - or was it just that the barmaid (The till said her name was Barbie) found the plastic easier to serve? An impressive interior with a wooden floor and high ceilings. Not visited since it became Barracuda and then Varsity.
Last visited 1999.
|
Hanover Street / Wood Street |
| Vault |
|
Basement bar.
Not visited.
|
Hardman Street / Pilgrim Street |
| Vaults |
|
Not visited.
|
|
| Velvet Lounge (Cafe Buro) |
|
Not visited.
|
Bold Street / Heathfield |
Vernon Arms
|
various, Hoegaarden, Worthington / Carling, Stella |
A confusingly sloped wooden floor and a high ceiling. The counter itself is dead level, but your table slopes with the floor. The excellent ales include a wide range of guests, with six available when I visited. After being closed for five years, they re-opened in April 2009 with almost no changes apart from a nice redecorating job. The food, basic pub fare, looks good.
Last visited April 2009.
|
69 Dale Street |
Vines "Big House"
|
Tetley / Carling, Carlsberg |
The interior, especially the spectacular ballroom, is in my opinion easily a match for the more well known Philharmonic(qv). Make sure you take a look at the beaten fire surround, wood carving and plasterwork panels in the end lounge. The exterior is also impressive. Real fire. Late licence.
Grade II* listed building.
Last visited 2003.
|
Lime Street / Copperas Hill |
| Walkabout |
|
Plastic beer in impressive surroundings, I'm told.
Not visited.
|
Fleet Street / Concert Square |
| Walter |
|
Not visited.
|
Hackins Hey |
Wetherspoon's Richard John Blackler
|
various |
A very large place converted from the former Blackler's department store in 1995, its central location makes it a very popular meeting point before a night out in town. A wide choice of beer in excellent condition and reasonably priced. Good food served all day until 22.00. Service can be excruciatingly slow, and not only at busy times. The old Wetherspoon's problem of pump clip but no beer is common here - Apparently it is too much effort to turn the clip round?
Last visited May 2008.
|
Great Charlotte Street / Elliot Street |
Wetherspoon's The Welkin
|
various |
A slightly up-market version of Wetherspoon's with their usual excellent beer. You may find quicker service at the upstairs bar.
After two years in the USA it was a bit of a shock to be nearly turned away in 2002 for wearing trainers.
Last visited May 2009.
|
Whitechapel |
White Star "Quinns"
|
guests / Carling, Grolsch, Staropramen |
The White Star never changes, thank goodness. This compact one bar gem is possibly my favourite Liverpool bar, especially for a quiet Saturday lunchtime read of the paper. (It's much more lively in the evenings.) A small range of guest beers are always well kept.
Last visited February 2008.
|
Rainford Street, off Mathew Street |
| Whitehouse |
|
Closed and derelict.
Not visited.
|
Berry Street / Duke Street |
| Windsor |
Tetley / Carlsberg |
The outside is a little tatty, inside is a large well looked after one room pub, partially wooden floored. LSTV.
Last visited 1999.
|
Pembroke Place / Greek Street |
| Woody's |
|
Not visited.
|
Wood Street / Slater Street |
| X in the City (Baraka) |
|
When I visited in 1999, Baraka was a trendily styled but a little tatty one room pub/club. I got the impression that being trendy and up market had not paid well, as the message on the umpteen TV screens was "Home-made scouse and red cabbage £1 a bowl", and a big sign at the door advertised cheap beer.
I haven't been back since it was re-launched as X in the City.
Last visited 1999.
|
Lime Street |
| XS Bar |
|
Not visited.
|
Bold Street |
| Yates's Wine Lodge |
|
Closed.
Not visited.
|
Preston Street |
| Yates's Wine Lodge |
Boddingtons, Worthington, John Smith's |
This new construction, opened 8 September 1998, has a rather impressive interior which is not as large as the outside suggests.
Last visited 1999.
|
Queen Square |
Ye Cracke
|
various |
A wide range of well kept real ales in an unusual pub with two bars and a number of side rooms. The decor is plain and perhaps a little tatty in places. The food looks good. There's a pleasant beer yard at the back.
(Some signs call it Ye Crack)
Last visited 2004.
|
Rice Street |
| Ye Hole in Ye Wall |
Bass |
A small multi-roomed pub with an excellent preserved interior - wood panelling and leaded glass partitions. Check out the brass studded door on the telephone cubical. Possibly the oldest surviving pub in Liverpool, this place opened in 1726.
Live country music
Last visited 2002.
|
Hackins Hey |
| Zanzibar |
|
Not visited.
|
Seel Street |
| Zen Cafe Bar |
|
Not visited.
|
East Exchange Street |
| Zeus (Eagle) |
|
Closed I think. There's a rather fine US coat of arms in stone on the front of this scruffy building.
Not visited.
|
Hanover Street / Paradise Street |
