Old Liverpool Pubs
The sheer number of pubs that used to thrive throughout 'the town' has been phenomenal. There had been a pub on every corner. Liverpool city centre is still brimming with bars and pubs, and it's impossible to keep up with them all. Here we have some of the past and present.
Bridewell
1 Campbell Square, Liverpool L1 5FB
The Bridewell bar opened its doors in 2019 replacing Furnival’s Well, considered one of Liverpool’s hidden gems. The premises are in a former Victorian lock up. Charles Dickens spent here a day or two doing research for his books. It was also used by the US military in World War II. There is a walled courtyard, the interior has many of its original features. The old prison cells housed seamen and dockers who fell out of the law, now serve as a seating place allowing much privacy.
St John's Ln, Queen Square, Liverpool L1 1HF
Built for Pearl Insurance in 1901, it has a proper Victorian charm. There is an old pharmacy cabinet - the pub was named after a local hero on a national scale - William H.Duncan, the first Medical Officer in the UK. History of his achievements is framed on one of the walls. Having seen the city's slums, he set about to improve their sanitation. The tiles decorating the walls and fireplaces are something to behold and appreciate.
The Dispensary
87 Renshaw St, Liverpool L1 2SP
A family-run pub that has a true character inside-out for an old man's boozer to philosophise in small huddles about world affairs. It was opened more than a decade ago. There is a pharmaceutical decor to visually evoke a Victorian dispensary. It was voted the English Heritage pub refurbishment of the year 2000 and also Merseyside pub of the year by CAMRA. It arguably serves the best beer in town.
Pig & Whistle
12 Covent Garden, Liverpool L2 8UA
One of the oldest pubs in Liverpool. It miraculously survived the Nazi bombs during WWII and a scene like from a war-time film can be seen while approaching the pub. This tiny pub goes back to the times when it was most convenient not only for sailors but for all the people travelling overseas from the port of Liverpool. In the late 19th, early 20th century it served emigrants waiting for ships taking them to America.
Ship and Mitre
133 Dale St, Liverpool L2 2JH
Plain and bright Art-Deco building from the mid-1930s, it served as a coach house. Now the pub is steeped in Liverpool's maritime heritage. When you walk inside you immediately feel as you would be in an old seaport tavern. To some extent it resemblance an interior of a ship.
The pub is well praised for the large selection of ales and craft beers, including some of their own brewing. It's been named as CAMRA Pub of Excellence and Pub of the Year several times.
The Vines
81 Lime Street, Liverpool City Centre L1 1JQ
This grand baroque style pub with a tower has proudly stood on the corner of Lime Street for over 100 years. The pub's clock has been done by the same company that did the clock tower for London's Big Ben. The interior explodes with decoration, oak panelling, carvings, mosaic floor, copper-fronted bar, big dome, fireplaces. The Smoke Room must be one of the most ornate pub rooms in the country with a copper relief of a Viking ships by Gustave Hiller. The famous American travel writer, Bill Bryson, praised the Vines in his book Notes From a Small Island.
Ye Hole in Ye Wall
4 Hackins Hey, Liverpool L2 2AW
The oldest pub in Liverpool city centre, it is also allegedly the most haunted pub. A resident ghost is an old sailor in a long coat. The building rests over an old Quakers' burial ground. It was one of the last pubs in Liverpool to allow women after almost 250 years of 'gentlemen only' drinking.
More Liverpool Pubs:
The abundance of pubs comes from the port influence. The needs of sailors had to be accommodated and it simply meant the public houses and lodgings could prosper in an around the city centre. To this day enjoying the taste of an old traditional
Liverpool pub is never far away.
1 Campbell Square, Liverpool L1 5FB
The Bridewell bar opened its doors in 2019 replacing Furnival’s Well, considered one of Liverpool’s hidden gems. The premises are in a former Victorian lock up. Charles Dickens spent here a day or two doing research for his books. It was also used by the US military in World War II. There is a walled courtyard, the interior has many of its original features. The old prison cells housed seamen and dockers who fell out of the law, now serve as a seating place allowing much privacy.
Doctor Duncan's
St John's Ln, Queen Square, Liverpool L1 1HF
Built for Pearl Insurance in 1901, it has a proper Victorian charm. There is an old pharmacy cabinet - the pub was named after a local hero on a national scale - William H.Duncan, the first Medical Officer in the UK. History of his achievements is framed on one of the walls. Having seen the city's slums, he set about to improve their sanitation. The tiles decorating the walls and fireplaces are something to behold and appreciate.
The Dispensary
87 Renshaw St, Liverpool L1 2SP
A family-run pub that has a true character inside-out for an old man's boozer to philosophise in small huddles about world affairs. It was opened more than a decade ago. There is a pharmaceutical decor to visually evoke a Victorian dispensary. It was voted the English Heritage pub refurbishment of the year 2000 and also Merseyside pub of the year by CAMRA. It arguably serves the best beer in town.
Pig & Whistle
12 Covent Garden, Liverpool L2 8UA
One of the oldest pubs in Liverpool. It miraculously survived the Nazi bombs during WWII and a scene like from a war-time film can be seen while approaching the pub. This tiny pub goes back to the times when it was most convenient not only for sailors but for all the people travelling overseas from the port of Liverpool. In the late 19th, early 20th century it served emigrants waiting for ships taking them to America.
Ship and Mitre
133 Dale St, Liverpool L2 2JH
Plain and bright Art-Deco building from the mid-1930s, it served as a coach house. Now the pub is steeped in Liverpool's maritime heritage. When you walk inside you immediately feel as you would be in an old seaport tavern. To some extent it resemblance an interior of a ship.
The pub is well praised for the large selection of ales and craft beers, including some of their own brewing. It's been named as CAMRA Pub of Excellence and Pub of the Year several times.
The Vines
81 Lime Street, Liverpool City Centre L1 1JQ
This grand baroque style pub with a tower has proudly stood on the corner of Lime Street for over 100 years. The pub's clock has been done by the same company that did the clock tower for London's Big Ben. The interior explodes with decoration, oak panelling, carvings, mosaic floor, copper-fronted bar, big dome, fireplaces. The Smoke Room must be one of the most ornate pub rooms in the country with a copper relief of a Viking ships by Gustave Hiller. The famous American travel writer, Bill Bryson, praised the Vines in his book Notes From a Small Island.
Ye Hole in Ye Wall
4 Hackins Hey, Liverpool L2 2AW
The oldest pub in Liverpool city centre, it is also allegedly the most haunted pub. A resident ghost is an old sailor in a long coat. The building rests over an old Quakers' burial ground. It was one of the last pubs in Liverpool to allow women after almost 250 years of 'gentlemen only' drinking.
More Liverpool Pubs: