Blue Anchor Pub, Aintree

Apr 14 2007 by Mike Chapple, Liverpool Daily Post

The large back room, ostensibly used for serving food, has been extended to fit in a smokers' gazebo. A 14-foot heated smokers' shelter is also planned for the side of the building so that when the blanket ban on crashing the ash in an enclosed public space is imposed at the start of July, the Bluey will be properly prepared.

The car park has also been extended to cater for the burgeoning family traffic attracted by its growing reputation for serving cheap but quality nosh.

Especially popular, maintains Kenny, are the themed meals.

For £16.95 a head, you can have a three-course meal and be serenaded by a Stars In Your Eyes-style impersonator.

"Rod Stewart, Robbie Williams, Phil Collins . . . they've all played the Bluey," says a wry Kenny.

Personally, I'd rather hack me head off with a teaspoon than endure such torture, but Kenny insists the punters are lapping it up.

This week, they've also been "liking" (to borrow WAG speak) Kenny and Anne's pre-race champagne breakfasts.

These have been completely sold out, with the pub opening its doors at 9am to cater for 150 revellers on both Thursday and Friday, and a whopping 200 today.

"We're going to be completely snowed under - we get people from all over the country, Scotland and Ireland who prefer to come here every year," says the affable co-manager who will have 10 staff behind the bar to cater for today's demand.

He will be so busy that he and Anne will barely have a chance to watch the race itself, although he will sneak out at some stage to place a customary 50 quid wager on the nag of his choice.

"But I haven't decided which one yet," he says.

Whatever it is, there can be only one safe bet on National day.

And that's the Bluey.