WHEN I told my friends I was going to a dry bar, it provoked somewhat mixed reactions.
“Oh, like a kids’ bar?” asked one. No, I explained, adults go there too...
“Do you take your own booze?” enquired another. Again, I said, no, that wouldn’t be welcome.
The Brink is Liverpool’s – and it seems the UK’s – first adult dry bar. It offers non-alcoholic drinks and a fresh, seasonal menu in a vibrant and contemporary atmosphere.
It looks exactly like any other bar on Parr Street – but it doesn’t serve alcohol. Some of the staff have overcome alcoholism. It’s a social enterprise – the profits it turns are reinvested into Sharp Liverpool, a charity dedicated to helping those battling drug and alcohol addiction.
Formerly a garage housing a rusting and dilapidated classic car, the people behind The Brink are breathing new life into the building and community.
There are all sorts of activities on, from poetry nights, acoustic nights, film nights – pretty much whatever you could want, with something cultural every day. On the night we called in, Chris Difford from Squeeze was playing a fantastic set. It was one of the best gigs I’ve seen in ages – and in refreshingly relaxing surroundings.
Even if you’re in a group, your bank manager won’t advise against ordering cocktails or bottles if it happens to be your round.
The Australian Root Beer (£2.10) is a real treat, and they do a superb range of Tea Pigs teas. Don’t miss the Virgin Mary (£2.75), a deliciously tangy treat.
You won’t have to wait long to order either, which indicates a core of efficiency beneath the staff’s friendly and attentive aura.
The decor is bright and cheerful in a way that isn’t overly trendy or flash.
The upside down plant pots suspended from the ceiling take a bit of getting used to, but to give them their credit, the designers have done well to make such a high roof feel cosy.
Some people might say that you can’t have a bar without alcohol – The Brink proves them wrong. It’s one of the best and most sociable bars I’ve been to in a long time. Factor in the social conscience clearly in evidence and a food menu that shames most restaurants in the city and I’ll drink a non alcoholic toast to that.
The Brink, Parr Street, Liverpool, L1 4JN, 0151-703 0582. 9am-11pm Monday to Thursday, 9am-midnight on Friday, 10am-midnight on Saturday and 11am-10pm on Sunday