Lark Lane has long been a favourite for a pint, but another street north of the city is becoming a go-to destination
St John’s Road in Waterloo(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
For years, Lark Lane has been the byword for drinking outside the city centre – bustling, lively, and full of character. But on the other side of Liverpool, St John’s Road in Waterloo is quietly building its own reputation. With independent bars opening their doors and a crowd that mostly lives just around the corner, it’s starting to feel like the region’s most authentic place for a pint.
Don’t get me wrong: Lark Lane is still great. It’s long been one of Liverpool’s go-to spots for a drink, and it still has some brilliant venues that keep people coming back. But as its popularity has grown, so too has its reputation as a party destination, attracting crowds from far beyond the local area.
St John’s Road, meanwhile – and its surrounding streets – feels like it’s at a different stage in its journey. The bar scene is still growing here, with new places continuing to pop up, but it hasn’t lost that sense of being rooted in the community. Most of the people propping up the bar or grabbing a drink on a Friday night live just a short walk away – and that gives it a unique atmosphere.
With that in mind, I set out to see what makes the area around St John’s Road such a great place for a drink.
The Old Tap
The Old Tap(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Firstly, we come to cask ale pub, The Old Tap, which sits on Crosby Road North, the road meeting the east end of St John’s Road. Opened in 2022 by Liam Riley, also behind The Belvedere in the Georgian Quarter, it’s a snug little pub with a rotating choice of four cask ales, three craft taps and shelves of bottles and cans.
There are tables outside for people-watching, but the real charm is inside, where the space fills quickly on weekends and the atmosphere is always buoyant.
Bolina
Bolina next door to Il Capitano’s(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A short walk away, Bolina – also on Crosby Road North – is hard to miss. The sister bar of Neapolitan pizza favourite Il Capitano’s, it leans fully into its “Italian disco” theme, complete with a glittering disco ball.
The drinks list is spritz-heavy, alongside cocktails, wine, and the unusual Birra Alpetti, an organic lager from the Alps rarely seen in the UK. DJs and football screenings add to the mix, but it still manages to feel laid-back enough to pop into on a weeknight.
The Workshop
The Workshop(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Turn onto St John’s Road proper and the first big hitter is The Workshop. Since opening in 2015, it’s grown from a simple bar into a venue that pairs drinks with food and regular live music.
Its corner location makes it a natural meeting point, and the menu – small plates with a good wine list – keeps people around long after the first drink.
Paul’s Bar
Paul Roach, who owns Paul’s Bar on St John’s Road, Waterloo, with his son Liam, who runs the bar(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Further along, just before the railway crossing, is Paul’s Bar. Paul Roach opened it three years ago with the idea of recreating the unhurried atmosphere of Spanish taverns.
The décor is unfussy, the beer list includes Spanish staples like Alhambra, and the food runs to olives, charcuterie and little else. It works: there’s an easy warmth here, heightened by the fact that Paul and his family are usually behind the bar themselves.
The Volunteer Canteen
The Volunteer Canteen pub in Waterloo(Image: Dan Haygarth)
A very short walk from St John’s Road takes you to The Volunteer Canteen on East Street – “The Volly” to anyone who drinks there.
It’s one of those pubs where time seems to stretch, with table service, a strong line-up of real ales, and regulars who are more than happy to chat. In summer, the small terrace fills up with the sound of clinking glasses and the kind of conversation you only find in a true local.
Taken together, these spots show why St John’s Road feels so distinctive. It’s not trying to be a rival to Lark Lane – it doesn’t have to be. It’s a neighbourhood drinking circuit that’s still evolving, shaped by the people who live nearby rather than waves of visitors.
That difference matters. And for me, it makes Waterloo the more interesting choice.