| Pub | Comments | Location |
Beecham's Bar and Brewery
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Originally Beecham's offices, this opened as part of St Helens College in 1997. It has one plain but nicely decorated room with a quarry-tiled floor, and there's a small bar counter in the corner. When I visited in 1999 I had a superb wheat beer brewed on the premises. On my more recent visit none of their own brews were available, but they had seven real ales on, and the ones sampled were excellent. Remarkably, they still use lined glasses to provide a full pint. Discount off most beers for CAMRA members, so bring your card.
I believe this has now closed.
Last visited 2004.
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Water Street / Clocktower Street
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| Beehive |
Now closed.
Not visited.
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Berrys Lane |
Bell and Barrell
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A pleasant plastic two roomed new construction on a Leisure Park. Reported closed in 2012.
Last visited 1999.
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King Street / Westfield Street
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Black Bull
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A pleasant multi-roomed pub in a spectacular inter-war building.
Last visited 2020.
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Knowsley Road / Dunriding Road
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Brasserie Chalon
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Two sides, one bar and a wooden floor in this rather pleasant pub. The interior is not as "snooty" as the name might imply, this is simply a clean and tidy down-to-earth boozer.
Last visited July 2024.
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Barrow Street
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Breeze (Landings)
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This well cared for bar has one large room with a tiled floor and plain modern decor, and there's a beer yard at the back. With loud music and a late licence Thursday to Sunday I expect it's busy at the weekend, but at 11pm on a Thursday in 2004 the place was deserted. In 2018 it was quite busy on a Saturday afternoon. Plenty of TVs for live sport.
Last visited 2018.
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King Street / Duke Street
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| Bullion |
Reported closed in 2012.
Not visited.
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Church Street |
| Buzby's Bar |
A rather scruffy one roomed pub with a filthy tiled floor. LSTV. £1 a pint and cheap spirits (except Friday and Saturday) mean the place is packed even when everywhere else is quiet.
Reported closed 2011.
Last visited 1999.
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56 Bridge Street
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| Cafe Chloe |
Reported closed 2011 and now a restaurant.
Not visited.
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Ormskirk Street / Barrow Street |
Cinema Bar (Orange House)
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Orange House: The nicely done interior in this large one-roomed pub reminded me of Wetherspoons' style. Reported closed in 2007.
Many years later, Cinema Bar opened in part of the building.
Last visited 2004.
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Duke Street / Oxford Street
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| Clarendon Hotel |
A quiet traditional pub, clean and tidy. On my Wednesday evening visit the only other two customers in the plain bar side were drinking tea with the barman and playing pool, and the lounge side was completely empty. Lined glasses for a full pint. Now closed and boarded up.
Last visited 2000.
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161 College Street / Hill Street
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Coco's
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This shop conversion is very nicely decorated and is occupied by cheerful friendly regulars.
The sign on the door says only over 35s are allowed in here, and I'm told this is strictly enforced.
Last visited July 2024.
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Westfield Street / Brook Street
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Connoisseur Ales Brewery & Tasting Room
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This small comfortable friendly brewery tap has very limited opening hours. The beers are superb.
The tap room and the brewery closed in 2023.
Last visited 2018.
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Shaw Street / Parr Street
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Counting House (Forum 44) (Assembly)
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Forum 44 was a disco/night-club which was shut early in the week, and I never visited it.
The Counting House, on the other hand, is much better: Amusing peculiar decor inside this former bank, including old style chandeliers, contemporary naked air-conditioning ducts, and a large glitterball over the dance floor. The barman didn't seem to know what was on the menu, and no-one else was eating, but the Sunday dinner was very good, along with some spot on real ale.
Noted closed in 2018.
Last visited 2013.
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16 Hardshaw Street
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Cowley Vaults (Anfield Arms)
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My notes on the Anfield Arms from 2004 said "A 60s-style attempt at twee in the lounge half of this spotless well cared for one bar local pub for local people. The exterior features some very nice ceramics - I must return in daylight."
The Cowley Vaults remains well cared for, and they've added excellent real ales to the offer.
Last visited 2018.
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50 Cooper Street / Arnot Close
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Cricketer's Arms
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In 2003 I visited a pleasant plain two sided pub in an old-looking building. The lounge side was decorated with mirrors and old posters advertising Greenall's, but they didn't sell it.
Returning in 2018 I found a total transformation into a real ale lovers' paradise. Well deserving of its CAMRA Pub Of The Year 2018 award.
Oversize glasses for a full pint.
Last visited 2020.
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64 Peter Street / Lyon Street
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| Cruisers |
Reported closed.
Not visited.
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Ormskirk Street, opposite Jokers |
| CT's Bistro Bar |
Now closed.
Not visited.
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Westfield Street |
| Detroits (Bear and Barrow) |
The Bear and Barrow had a surprisingly pleasant totally plastic interior, and plenty of facilities for the disabled including a wheel chair lift at the door. I haven't visited since the name change.
Now closed.
Last visited 1999.
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Claughton Street / Barrow Street |
Detroits (Jaxx Cafe Bar) (Big Al's Bar)
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The plain modern decor had wooden floor and pastel walls in this well kept cafe bar.
Noted closed and boarded up in 2021.
Last visited 2004.
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Duke Street / Rigby Street
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| Diamonds (Bar X) (Work Bar) (Saints Bar) |
Re-opened in 2012 as Saints Bar, with Blessed Club upstairs.
Closed in 2018.
Not visited.
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Bridge Street / Water Street
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Dreem
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This shop conversion is a plain friendly corridor bar, clean and tidy.
Last visited July 2024.
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Westfield Street
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Duke (Duke of Cambridge)
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2004: The Duke of Cambridge had a pleasant plain bar side and a nicely appointed lounge with dark wood and stained plaster walls. The usual silly quotes were painted on the walls.
2023: The Duke has been knocked through to create one open room, with rather good modern decor - lots of bright colours giving the place a cheerful feel.
2024: Reported to be closed.
Last visited June 2023.
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Duke Street / New Cross
|
| Duke's Bistro |
I think this may have been a bistro more than a bar.
Now closed.
Not visited.
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Duke Street |
| Exchange Vaults |
Closed and boarded up.
Not visited.
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Union Street |
| Flex 2 |
Their website says: You don't have to be gay to drink here, but it helps.
Reopened August 2011 after a period of closure.
Closed January 2013.
Not visited.
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Tolver Street
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George
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From the outside this place is two terraced houses joined together. Inside is a pleasant traditional two bar pub serving decent cask ale.
Last visited October 2023.
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George Street / Hall Street
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Globe
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This very large impressive 20s/30s(?) building contains a nicely decorated and well cared for two-sided pub, very quiet when I visited on a Thursday evening. LSTV.
Now closed.
Last visited 2004.
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Standish Street / 142 Hardshaw Street
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Golden Lion
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A very well cared for two-sided back street boozer.
Last visited 2018.
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Lyon Street / Pigot Street
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Green Room
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The one plain room in this shop conversion was full of students waiting for the live music when I visited on a Thursday evening back in 2004, and nothing much seems to have changed since. Clean and tidy.
Last visited 2018.
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Duke Street / New Cross
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| Hour Glass (Yates') |
Very modern styling in this two storey high-ceilinged glass palace.
Yates' was reported closed in 2008, The Hour Glass which replaced it closed in 2011.
Last visited 2003.
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Bridge Street / Chalon Way |
Ice Bar Cafe
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A very well done one roomed pub with tellies for sports, horse racing on my visit. Very popular on a Saturday afternoon.
Last visited 2021.
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Ormskirk Street / King Street
|
| Imperial Quarter |
Not visited.
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Brook Street
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| Jokers Bar |
Reported to be closed.
Not visited.
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48 Ormskirk Street
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Kingdom (Punch Tarmey's) (Circus)
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Punch Tarmey's was a modern styled chain pub, rather nicely done. Four handpumps but no real ale on my visit. Closed in 2020.
Kingdom nightclub opened in 2023, but was closed and boarded up by July 2024.
Last visited 2018.
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Westfield Street / Water Street
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Lamb (Lamb Hotel) (Ye Olde England)
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Inside this splendid old building the very nice traditional partly knocked through interior features wood panelling and leaded glass. Quality cask ales are served.
Last visited October 2023.
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Corporation Street / College Street
|
| Lincoln |
A young persons' one bar pub with an impressive video wall. Busy and noisy on a Friday night.
Now closed.
Last visited 1999.
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|
Little George Quarter
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Opened in 2023, the ground floor contains a compact pleasant bar.
Last visited October 2023.
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George Street
|
| Liverpool Arms |
A plain clean and tidy down market two sided boozer, serving very cheap beer.
Now closed and demolished.
Last visited 2003.
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Liverpool Road / Westfield Street
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| Maloneys |
This noisy fun Irish-themed bar/night club was full of people drinking cocktails and shorts. I thought the barman was a good juggler until a bottle slipped from his grasp and shot across the room to hit the wall.
Reported closed in 2010.
Last visited 2004.
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Waterloo Street / Milk Street |
Market Tavern (Market Place) (Retro) (Carvery Tavern)
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A comfortable mostly knocked through pub with pleasant traditional decor very nicely done, and they served a fine pint of Boddies back in 2004.
Reported to be closed in 2011, but soon back in action and still serving quality cask ale.
Last visited July 2024.
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Bridge Street / Milk Street
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Mollies (Kazbar)
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A bright and breezy one room boozer in a former furniture warehouse. Not visited since the name change.
I believe this is now closed.
Last visited 2018.
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Duke Street / The Landings
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Nelson (Nelson Hotel) (Fluid Bar)
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A very large pub with a good interior with a few splendid old features including a dark wood and cut glass partition.
Reported closed in 2010, but soon re-opened.
Unsurprisingly busy on a Saturday afternoon, with everyone watching the rugby.
Last visited June 2023.
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Bridge Street / Water Street
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New Talbot Alehouse (Sportsmans Inn) (Talbot Alehouse)
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The exterior of the Sportsman's looked somewhat down at heel, despite the impressive pillared porch. Inside, however, was a nice plain bar side and a very well appointed lounge with some fine old leaded glass windows.
The Talbot is a bit of a change, the outside is looking much better and they've kept the pleasant interior and added a wide selection of real ales. The ones I have tried have been perfect.
Last visited 2021.
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97 Duke Street / Talbot Street
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News Room
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A micro-pub shop conversion, but with decidedly above average decor in my opinion.
I'm told real ale ceased in 2024, but this needs confirming.
Last visited 2021.
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Duke Street
|
| Park Hotel |
Closed.
Not visited.
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North Road |
Perry's Bar
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A small plain corridor bar, empty on a Saturday afternoon but I bet it's packed later.
Last visited 2018.
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Duke Street / New Cross Street
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Phoenix Inn
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A very nicely done out traditional two-sided pub, looking perhaps a little tatty outside, but fine inside. Quality real ales are served.
I'm told this has closed and will be turned into flats.
Last visited 2018.
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Canal Street / Bold Street
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Raven Lodge
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In 1999 I described this as a large ordinary one bar pub. Revisiting in 2004 I found an impressive refurbishment has improved the interior no end. There's a small stage for live music, a pool table and an LSTV as well as comfortable pleasant drinking areas. I still think the beams look fake, although an email informs me they are original. A former manager once told me this place is haunted!
Now closed.
Last visited 2004.
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Church Street / Shaw Street
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Rendezvous
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A small, rather pleasant room decorated with a musical theme and a much larger room next door not in use when I visited but presumably used for the regular live music. I believe this is now closed.
Last visited 2018.
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Parr Street / Church Street
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Rifle (Rifle Hotel) (Macey's Bar)
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This large corner house looks a bit naff from the outside but we found a pleasant well cared for interior with a bar, a lounge and a partly knocked through back room with LSTV. It was very quiet on a Thursday evening. Not visited since it was renamed. Reported closed in 2009.
Last visited 2004.
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83 Duke Street / Lowe Street
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Rioja (Joseph O'Neill)
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The decor in this small one-room bar is much nicer and more restrained than in many "Irish" bars. Regular live music. LSTV.
Now a tapas restaurant.
Last visited 2004.
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Duke Street / Hamer Street
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Rockware Pub (Shaw Street Social Club)
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I believe this is now closed.
Not visited.
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Standish Street / Shaw Street
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Royal Alfred
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This large corner house by the station has a rather pleasant fake antique interior with the usual dusty bottles on a high shelf and stupid quotations. The decor is well thought out and not over the top.
Re-opened mid-2018 after a period closed and boarded up.
Noted closed again in March 2022, re-opened in July the same year and it has since gained quality cask ales, with an unusual dispense method.
Currently closed once again, not sure if it is permanently so.
Last visited July 2023.
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Shaw Street / George Street
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Royal Tavern (Royal Tavern) (Bureau)
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The Royal Tavern in 1999: A nice traditionally decorated two bar pub with a "cockney" theme including some dubious examples of rhyming slang on the walls. Who brewed the very nice house beers?
After a period of closure, some time as a sports bar called Bureau, and a major refurbishment in 2018, this is now back as the Royal Tavern once again.
Last visited 2021.
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Westfield Street
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Running Horses (Chicago Rock Cafe) (Wetherspoon's)
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This was an above average Wetherspoon's, pleasant and comfortable with efficient staff.
Wetherspoon closed it in November 2021, new operators have since taken over and the place continues but without the cask ale and food offers.
Last visited October 2023.
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Water Street / Chalon Way
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Sefton
|
1999: A nicely done out disco pub, popular on a Friday night with a broad range of musical styles.
2018: A large comfortable food and drink pub serving decent real ale.
Last visited July 2024.
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Baldwin Street / Westfield Street
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Sophie's Bar (Alexander's Cafe)
|
Two shops knocked into one plain clean and tidy bar with large windows. Not visited since it was renamed.
Now closed.
Last visited 2004.
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Duke Street / Rigby Street
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Swan
|
This classic street corner boozer has a number of rooms partially knocked through round an island counter. A pleasant friendly atmosphere and traditional decor.
Last visited June 2023.
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Corporation Street / Hall Street
|
| Tipsy Tap |
In July 2024 the sign said Coming soon.
Not visited.
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Ormskirk Street
|
| Travellers Rest |
A pleasant two bar local, looking a touch tatty in places. Some nice stained glass in the front windows. Now closed and been demolished.
Last visited 2004.
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Crab Street / Fox Place
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Turks Head
|
A very impressive old building contains a nicely decorated friendly multi-roomed pub. A wide selection of quality real ales is served, and the food looks good as well.
Last visited June 2023.
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Cooper Street / Morley Street
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Union Inn
|
This traditional friendly corner house has a plain bar side and a pleasant two room lounge side.
Last visited 2021.
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Standish Street / 145 Hall Street
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Wetherspoon's Glass House
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This medium-sized Wetherspoon's has nice modern decor and serves their usual range of excellent beer. Always busy.
Last visited October 2023.
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Market Street / Foundary Street
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Wheatsheaf
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A small pleasant wooden floored one room pub. LSTV. The guest beers are from the Tetley's "Tapsters" scheme and elsewhere, and a blackboard provides tasting notes. A nice tiled frieze on the bar.
In 2018 it seemed to be open evenings only, and I think it is now closed completely.
Last visited 1999.
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36 Westfield Street / Rigby Street South
|
| Yellow Rose |
Closed.
Not visited.
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39 North Road
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