McHales Irish American Bar, Liverpool

McHales is a laminate floored shop converted Irish bar with a couple of booths to the right of the entrance before banquette seating that runs up the right-hand wall to the rear, and up the left to a serving counter that supports Standard keg alongside Poretti and Madri. There are televisions throughout for airing live sports, but during a recent quiet Monday evening visit these were muted in favour of random background music. The service was friendly, which isn’t surprising because the New York cab door on the end of the bar indicates that they’re trying to draw in the American tourists who seem to love a friendly Irishman.

This is the new version of the awful Irish American bar that used to be over the road. This version at the moment is a nice clean version which is a million miles away from the toilet it used to be over the road. That said its still a part of the karaoke/awful singer brand of pubs that infest this part of town. The place itself is only a small box room and there are 3 lovely shiny handpumps on the bar, of which none are, and possibly won't ever be, working. If they are I'll be amazed if the are on for long. Still, at this point in time its just average. Just.