The Red Lion, Liverpool

Visited last Friday, and my appearance just after 11am opening was beaten by a group of German sounding gents ordering 10 pints. This venue is more compact than some of the 1936 Pub Co offerings, so with our European neighbours occupying most of the front section, I found myself retreating the the small area at the end of the bar where there were a couple of additional tables. Upstairs is signed for additional seating, and there is a small courtyard/terrace to the rear, partially covered, possibly with further seating beyond through a door. Toilets are upstairs, up a narrow and steep wooden staircase, leading to an even more creaky upstairs area. Graffiti in the gents, not sure if this is encouraged or accepted but it does nothing for me. The bar is dark wood, floor is bare boards, there are random bits of taxidermy around and games on the counter. None of that is surprising for a 1936 pub. Pots hang from the ceiling in a rather eccentric style. Sky Sports on the TV but muted with music playing on the speakers. Five hand pulls with four offering ales and one clipped for a Lilley's cider. The ale selection consisted of offerings from Black Lodge and Vocation, as well as TT Boltmaker and Ossett Big Trip #9. The one I went for set me back £2.05 for a half and was pulled through before being served. On entering, there was a clean bleachy smell. Not bad, if a little compact.

I had the same vibe as Steve when he was here last year - this is an old house that has been let go just a little, and rescued from self-destruction by being converted to a pub. I struggled to find something I wanted to drink: I don't enjoy Vocation beers; a Neptune 10th anniversary 6.5% IPA is not what I want in my fifth pub of the day; and I avoid Timothy Taylor outside Yorkshire because I don't trust their supply chain. This left me with Ossett Barghest, a 4.3% stout but the lass serving didn't hear me say a half, and when she started to pour a pint and I stopped her she grumpily threw the beer in the sink, when I'd have been quite happy with it being tipped into a half pint glass. Most of the customers were loud and lively young people, at just after 6pm, and the last thing she needed was some old gadgie drinking halves and mumbling. Good job I didn't ask for a CAMRA member's discount (seen in a sticker beside the front door) as I was only paying £2.10 for my beer anyway. Maybe I'll come back at opening time (12 noon) next time I'm in Liverpool. Let's hope they have a different beer offering.

Walking in through the entrance I got old house vibes, especially because the layout would have been the same as my grandparents old house. So I’m not surprised to see that this place has recently been converted, although it is very well done. The wooden floored bar area is located to the right where there’s seating in the front window and a serving counter is found on the right wall that faces the old doorway that has been turned into a double sided beer shelf. A flight of stairs run up the left-hand wall to the toilets on the first floor. At the rear is a long room with a stool lined beer shelf up the left and seating up the right with copper topped tables. Daytime viewing was muted on the television, lord knows why because nobody was paying any attention to it. Thankfully the music was a lot more upbeat than Flog It. At the rear is a step down to an enclosed L-shaped patio with seating. The ceilings inside are dotted with hanging oddities such as satchels, copper items and old teapots, how very quirky. Premium keg was available from the bar that also supports five hand pumps that were drawing Blackjack Brewing’s Jack in the Box, Ossett’s Bitterly, Neptune’s El Dorado, Black Lodge Brewery’s Elephants and Acrobats and a Lilley’s cider. The service was polite and I enjoyed my visit so I’d pop back in again.

A recent opening in a very traditional style, which makes it feel like a proper pub. Called in twice during a recent visit to Liverpool. In the afternoon it was peaceful and we sat in the suntrap of a beer yard to the rear. Later in the evening it was much busier and had a great atmosphere. I tried 3 of the 4 ales available and all were in good nick. I suspect we'll be coming here pretty often in the furute.

Yet another excellent Liverpool boozer, four beers on, Black Lodge Out By The Lake, Titanic Cappuccino Stout , neptune Water Lanes and Nelson, the fifth handle was offering Lilleys Rhubarb Cider. Apparently a newish pub conversion, if so it's very authentic, a must visit.