I arrived in Liverpool early well before 10am so i took a walk to Liverpool central station taking photos of pubs i had done in Liverpool many years ago with the wife when Higsons was still brewing beers for their tied estate.
On a Mersey Rail train from Liverpool Central and i was on my way to New Brighton to do the Wetherspoons pub there.
New Brighton
1: The Master Mariner
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
A Wetherspoons pub that is on New Brighton's promenade.
Once inside there is an irregular shaped room with the standard Wetherspoons seating,there is an upstairs room that would have given good views of the Mersey towards Bootle and Crosby,but it was closed due to my early Saturday Morning visit.
The guest beer choice was pretty poor,i had a drink of Dunscar Gold which was not to my taste.
A bad start to a pub crawl that would get no better.
I went straight back to New Brighton train station to get a train to Wallasey Village station for a walk into Liscard where the bulk of the pubs i would do were.
As soon as i got off the train my problems started,i looked into my carrier bag for my hand drawn map of Liscard and Wallasey Village and up to the Mersey,but i had forgot to take it with me,so i had no idea where i was walking and i had wasted a lot of time drawing the map.
So i had to go back to my old way of pub crawling by asking locals for directions firstly to Liscard and then where the pubs were in the Liscard area.
I got a bit lost on what turned out to be a longer walk than i thought it would be and i ended up entering the centre of Liscard from a different direction than i thought i would,i soon found the Wetherspoons as it was still not 11am yet.
Liscard
2: The Clairville
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
This Wetherspoons looked more like an amusement arcade from the outside than a pub.
I took a photo of the pub and then crossed the road to go in,when i got close to the entrance i heard someone saying "oys you" in a strong scouse accent,so i looked who was shouting it and it was a big bloke with a skinhead and two mates who looked unfriendly,big bloke says "delete the photo you have taken of me now" I said no i will not delete it,he asked me again to delete it and i refused again and walked into the pub to get a drink.
There was a decent choice of real ales on the bar,i went for a drink of Tectonic Chestnut Ale,which went down very well.
I thought this was a decent Wetherspoons despite the dickheads i encountered outside.
On a closer inspection of my photo at a later date i noticed that the people who said were on the photo outside were not,but inside near the door,if you are able to look at larger images of photos i add to my blog you can see them on a posing table to the right of the door.
There were plenty of pubs to do in Liscard and i soon found my next one without having to ask for directions.
3: Dukes
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
A large Corner pub which is next to a busy road junction in the middle of Liscard.
I was not sure what the signs saying we want beer were about,all i knew was that i wanted beer.
There was a decent sized single L shaped room inside which had comfy bench seating which i like.
There was one real ale on the bar Which was Doom Bar,this was a decent drink.
They were also doing decent looking breakfasts which were cheap,a shame as i had already scoffed a load of Sandwiches on my way up to Liverpool.
It was a short walk to my next pub,but things would get more complicated as i wanted to do all pubs in Liscard which has a lot of back street pubs.
4: Royal Oak
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
This was a fairly large looking stand alone pub that was just off the main shopping area in Liscard.
Once inside there was a long oblong shaped room running to the rear with a long bar on the left side,there was a stage to the rear,there was some comfy bench seating to sit on.
No real ales on here and even the keg Banks's Bitter was off,so i had a drink of Guinness which seems to get blander by the year.
This is a live music pub that some would consider rough,but not in my books compared to some pubs i have been in.
On my short visit i head music from Led Zepplin and Oasis.
I quite like pubs like this.
Another short walk and i found my first proper Estate looking pub of the day.
5: The Queens
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
The pub has the usual two roomed layout,i had a drink in the bar room to the left,which looked quite smart with it being carpeted and having comfy bench seating which i did not sit on,the lounge to the right looked smarter and was not in use on my Saturday dinner visit,i got the impression that they might do food at busier times.
There were no real ales on the bar,i had a bad option of John Smiths Extra Cold or tasteless Guinness,what would i go for,it was the Guinness which was slightly better than the one in the Royal Oak.
As i said before i did not sit down and the pub was empty,but i stood at the bar and chatted to the friendly lady behind it,i soon got round to asking where pubs were on my list which i had remembered to take with me,it was not long before she got some paper and was drawing me a rough map of where pubs were.
This was a great help,you do find some really helpful people while doing a pub crawl that most would never think of doing.
With my new map of pubs i was soon on my way into the back streets to get to my next pub.
6: Misty Blues
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
I was told about this pub by the friendly landlady in The Queens,it was a bonus pub as it was not on my list to do.
Misty Blues is a pub that is housed in a part of a larger old building,the entrance is on the left side of the building.
Once inside there was a decent sized oblong shaped room that was carpeted and had comfy bench seating,what more could you ask for in a pub,well real ale would be one,but this is Liscard and real ale is not that readily available here,so it was a drink of John Smiths Extra Cold,which was Extra Cold and extra crap.
The pub seemed quite smart and comfortable inside,so not sure why the friendly landlord was trying to direct everybody who came in to the outside area which looked like a dump,but he did say it was work in progress.
Bonus pub done and a short walk down Manor Road and into the back streets proper.
7: Saddle Inn
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
This was a really nice looking pub set on a back street.
Once inside the pub had a smart looking main room which was oblong shaped and was carpeted and had comfy bench seating and small stools,the other separate room had a pool table in it and leather bench seating.
There were no real ales on the bar and i was left with a choice of two keg bitters,i opted for the Worthington Cream Crap,which was crap,but probably better that the John Smiths Extra Cold Crap.
This was a very pleasant pub to have a drink in,just a shame it did not have one real ale on.
It was a short walk through the back streets to get to my next few pubs,which were all quite close to each other.
8: The Primrose
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
Another nice looking pub with a brewers tudor upper half.
The pub was quite nice inside with a small island bar to the front and lots of wood panneling,there was a nice wood arch to the rear area where there was comfy bench seating and a fully functional table top space invaders machine.
There were no real ales on the bar,which was a shame,i had a drink of John Smiths Extra Cold,which was cold and crap.
This was a very pleasant pub to have a drink in.
I had to walk through more back streets to get to my next pub and i was getting closer to the River Mersey.
9: Lord Nelson
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
A decent looking corner pub with Bass signage outside.
There was a L shaped room which was part carpeted and bare boarded,the seating was bench seating and chairs,there was also a separate pool room.
No real ales on here,but there was a choice of two keg bitters,what would i do with this choice,i opted for the Worthington Cream Crap,which was a pretty poor drink,the other keg bitter was Tetley Smooth.
Another decent pub that lacked any real ales.
It was a very short walk to my next pub,but this pub was well hidden into the back streets.
10: The Wellington
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
This is a very basic pub inside with a single U shaped room with the bar to the rear right,the right side has a lino floor and bench seating,the left side is carpeted and has a pool table and bench seating,there was a TV above the entrance showing day time TV.
There were yet again no real ales on the bar,the only keg bitter was John Smiths Smooth Crap,which was a poor drink.
I was well pleased to do this very basic back street pub.
It was another short walk and i was next to the River Mersey where my next couple of pubs to do would be.
11: The Vaults
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
This is the business a really basic looking corner pub,just the sort of pub i really like going in,i could not wait to see what it was like inside.
There was a decent sized single oblong shaped room which ran to the rear where the bar was,there was bench seating on either side of the room and it was carpeted,there was a separate pool room down steps to the rear.
No real ales on the bar so it was a drink of John Smiths Extra Cold Crap yet again,which was crap.
The pub was busy with lots of old boys in.
A top pub to do,i was well pleased.
It was a short walk down a steep hill to my next pub which gave great views of Liverpool and Bootle.
12: The Ferry
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
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| View across the River Mersey of Liverpool from outside The Ferry |
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| View across the River Mersey of Bootle from outside The ferry |
Originally called The Egremont Ferry,so probably in the Egremont area but i lumped all pubs into Liscard.
A decent looking pub from the outside and the views are great,but once inside the pub was a bit of a let down.
The bar faces in an oblong shaped room that has for some strange reason had fixed tall bench seating in three bays with tables,very difficult to get seated in on my visit when the pub was almost empty.
After my long run of keg only pub it seemed strange to see hand pumps on the bar and three of them all in working order,i had a drink of Ferry Bitter which was Tetley Bitter rebadged,there was also Moorhouses Blond Witch and Doom Bar on.
There was a separate dining room up some steps to the left which i hope was more comfortable than the bar room.
I now had to do the long treck back to the middle of Liscard to do more pubs,i knew my way as i retraced my steps and i got a bat on and was soon in sight of my next pub.
13: The Tower
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
A great looking pub with a tower block behind it,just what i like to see.
Once inside the pub has two separate rooms i opted for the bar room to the rear right which was a mistake as there was no real ales in this room,so i ended up with a drink of John Smiths Extra Cold Crap,which was crap,the lounge was larger and quite smart and there was an hand pump that was functional.
The pub is just off Liscards shopping area so handy for shoppers.
A short walk along Mill Lane and i was in my next pub which i knew would have real ales on as it is a Micro Pub.
14: The Lazy Landlord
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
Like most micro pubs it is set in a row of shops and was more than likely a shop in the past.
Once inside there is a small oblong shaped room with the bar to the rear right,there is pew seating.
There were four real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Salopian Oracle,which went down well,the other real ales were Lazy Landlord Best Bitter,Cairngorm Trade Winds and one from Wentwell brewery,so no unknown beers that micro pubs normally like to stock.
I am not a big fan of micro pubs but this one seemed more down to earth and better for it.
I had to walk back up to Liscards main shopping street and past Dukes to go up Seaview Road to get to my next pub.
15: Stanleys
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
A strange looking stand alone pub situated away form the middle of Liscard.
Once inside there is an L shaped room with the bar to the rear right,the room is split level with the rear area being down two steps,the seating is tall tables and chairs to the front plus a large table and chairs.
There were two real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Theakston Lightfoot which was a very nice drink,there was also Theakston Old Peculiar on the bar.
The pub was quite busy with drinkers on my Saturday afternoon visit.
I thought this was worth the walk to do it.
It was a walk back down Seaview Road and through the middle of Liscard to get to my next pub.
16: The Boot
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
A large pub that is situated at the end of Liscard's shopping street.
Once inside the bar faces in a large single oblong shaped room which runs the width of the pub,the room looked quite smart and had normal tables and chairs for seating.
There was one real ale on the which was Salopian Shropshire Gold,this was a very nice drink.
A shame that the pub was almost empty on my Saturday afternoon visit.
Maybe the good people of Liscard prefer drinking John Smiths
Extra Cold.
I now had to start walking back towards Wallasey Village and do any pubs along the route.
17: The Ship
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
A decent looking pub that is roughly midway between Liscard and the posher Wallasey Village.
There is a decent sized single L shaped room that had comfy bench seating and chairs,there was also a pool table in the room.
There were no real ales on the bar,i had a drink of John Smiths Smooth Crap,which lived up to its name.
Sadly this pub has now closed down.
I carried on walking along Breck Road and was soon in my next pub.
Wallasey Village
18: Cheshire Cheese
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
A decent looking bare brick built pub.
Once inside there was a corridor which lead to a decent looking lounge which was carpeted and had comfy bench seating and small stools for seating,a very cosy looking room that i could settle in if not on a pub crawl.
There were pumps on the bar,but no clips when i asked the young Landlord if there were any real ales on,he said "there is a beer festival going on outside with with lots of real ales,he then said i will put two real ales on in the lounge",i had a drink of Thwaites Wainwright which went down very well,he also put on Theakstons Best.
There was also a smaller separate bar room to the front left.
A very pleasant pub.
Another short walk along the same road i was in my next pub.
19: Sheridans
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
A large and gawdy looking pub with lots of banners outside advertising what was going off inside,Roasts,BT Sport,Sky Sport and any other sport that you could get.
Once inside there was a small bar room to the front and a much larger lounge to the rear which seemed more popular,so i a drink in it,the room was quite nice with it being carpeted and having bench seating and chairs.
There was one real ale on which was Marstons Help For Heroes,this was a decent drink.
Food was being served but did not take over the pub and there was a good mix of drinkers which i like to see.
I passed the road which lead to Wallasey Village station and was soon in another pub.
20: Farmers Arms
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
A decent looking pub that still had its old Higsons signage in place.
The pub looked like it had been opened out inside but still retained three separate drinking areas,with a small snug to the front and a larger lounge area to the rear which was carpeted and had comfy bench seating.
There were four real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Black Sheep Bitter,which went down well.
I thought this was a very pleasant pub to have a drink in,just a shame i could not get a drink of Higsons Bittter here anymore.
Another very short walk and on the opposite side of the road and i was in my next pub.
21: The Lighthouse
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
This looks more like a modern pub but it looked decent enough to me from the outside and there were plenty of people drinking outside,so it must be popular.
Once inside there was a decent sized single L shaped room that was carpeted and had comfy bench seating and bucket chairs.
Food was being served,but did not take over the pub and you could sit anywhere in the pub,which is a good thing.
The pub is a Greene King tied house,there was a decent choice of Greene King real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Greene King Purple Reign which went down well,there was also a guest beer on from Nottinghamshire with it being Springhead Roaring Meg,a bit too strong for me after going in 21 pubs.
I now had to take a right turn after a short walk along the same road i had been on for a while,i went up Grove Road to what would be my last pub in Wallasey.
22: The Nelson
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
A large decent looking pub in the brewers tudor style,but spoilt by the horrible orange flaming grill signage which blights lots of pubs around the country.
Once inside there is a large L shaped room with the usual raised areas that these type of pubs always seem to have.
There were two real ales on,i had a drink of Greene King IPA which was decent enough,the other beer was Greene King Abbot.
Food is the big draw to this pub.
All i had to now was walk back down Grove Road over the main road and down to Wallasey Grove Road train station.
It was not long before i was getting off the train at Liverpool Lime Street.
I had plenty of time to do one last pub which was right next to Lime Street station.
Liverpool City Centre
Crown Hotel
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| Photo taken by Alan Winfield |
A large pub that still sported its gawdy looking Walkers of Warrington signage,i can remember drinking Walkers beers in Liverpool in the mid 80s.
Once inside the pub still has two separate rooms,the front room is square shaped and has bench seating and small stools,the rear room is much nicer with it being carpeted and having bench type seating and chairs,there is also a very ornate ceiling in this room.
It was a short walk to Lime Street station to get my train back to Nottingham.
The pub crawl went well enough after all the help from the landlady in The Queens gave me,i went from keg only pubs in Liscard to dining pubs in a very posh area of Wallasey Village.
Most pubs done would not enter a Camra members mind to visit and most were proper drinkers pubs and none had diner only areas.
So despite what some say on other blogs there are still lots of proper pubs left to do if you do not mind what type of pub you do.
Will i go to Merseyside again for a pub crawl,well i have my doubts about that.
