OUR local pubs are overflowing with fine ales, according to the latest edition of the drinkers’ bible, the Good Beer Guide.
A record number of pubs from the Merseyside area are among the 4,500 nationally which have been nominated by members of the Campaign For Real Ale.
Geoff Edwards, chairman of the Liverpool and Districts CAMRA branch, said they had easily filled their alloc- ation of over 40 city-based pubs set aside for the guide.
“All the usual suspects are there, but there’s been a little bit of refreshment with a few new faces as well,” said Mr Edwards.
“There have been a few good pubs which have suffered from the smoking ban, but the pubs that have gone out of their way to adapt have done very well indeed.”
Members score the quality of cask beer on a one to five basis, which is logged on to a national database.
“To keep it fair and accurate, there have to be separate visits by different members: it’s not a case of me going into, say, the Lion Tavern, in Tithebarn Street, five times and give it a score of five every time,” said Mr Edwards, who met up with the branch committee in January to decide this year’s entries.
“And the criteria is related almost totally to the quality of the ale served – other guides take into account other factors such as food, but we’re only here for the beer, as they say!”
Besides the Liverpool contingent, there are a welter of other pubs in the Daily Post circulation area featured in the guide. See if your local is among them.
Liverpool: Strawberry, Anfield; Childwall Abbey, Childwall; Augustus John, Baltic Fleet; Belvedere Arms, Cambridge, Cornmarket, Ye Cracke, Crown Hotel, Dispensary, Dr Duncan’s, Everyman Bistro, Fly In the Loaf; The Globe, Lion Tavern; Peter Kavanagh’s; Philharmonic, Pilgrim, Richard J Blacklers, Roscoe Head, Ship and Mitre, Swan Inn, Thomas Rigby’s, The Welkin, White Star, all city centre; Thomas Frost, Kirkdale; Scotch Piper, Lydiate; Bootle Arms, Melling; The Storrsdale, Mossley Hill; Willowbank, Wavertree; Navigator, Stoneycroft; Brewery Tap, Toxteth; Raven, Walton; Edinburgh, Wavertree; Gardener’s Arms, Woolton; Stamps Bar and Crow’s Nest, Crosby; Stamps Too, Touchwoods and Volunteer Canteen, Waterloo.
Chester and Cheshire: Bear and Billet, Carlton Tavern, Mill Hotel, The Old Harkers Arms, Ship Victory, Telford’s Warehouse, Union Vaults, all Chester; Bear’s Paw, Frodsham; Ring O’Bells, Daresbury; Ferry Boat, Runcorn; Albion and Tavern, Warrington.
Wirral: Fox and Hounds, Barnston; Rose and Crown, Bebington; Brass Balance, Birkenhead; Red Lion and Ship Hotel, Parkgate; Cheshire Cheese, Wallasey; Queen’s Royal and Telegraph Inn, New Brighton; Freddies Club, New Ferry; Wheatsheaf, Raby.
West Lancs: The Junction, Rainford; Beecham’s Bar, Royal Tavern and Turk’s Head, St Helens; Ainsdale Conservative Club, Baron’s Bar (Scarisbrick Hotel), Cheshire Lines, Guest House, the London, Masons Arms, Richmond, Sir Henry Segrave, Willow Grove and Windmill, all Southport; Derby Arms, Stanley Arms and Dog and Gun, Aughton; Eagle and Child, Bispham Green; Slipway, Burscough; Grapes and Wheatsheaf, Croston; Hayfield, Ormskirk; Railway Tavern, Hoscar: Hesketh Arms, Rufford; Delph, Tontine; Old Dog and White Lion, Up Holland; Halton Castle and Prince Albert, Westhead; Kings Arms, Has-kayne; Blue Bell, Barton; Black Bull and Robin Hood, Mawdesley; White Lion, Wrightington.
READ Mike Chapple’s At The Bar Column, in Daysix, Page 2.
