The crawl includes roaring fires, live music, plenty of real ale and great atmosphere
The Pilgrim(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Christmas is just around the corner and many of us will be clambering to enjoy a festive drink. The holidays are the busiest time of year in the city, with bars, pubs and venues packed with groups sharing a well deserved pint.
With so many incredible pubs to choose from, planning a Christmas pub crawl can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry, we’ve taken the hard work out of it and put together a solid route filled with great atmosphere, live music, cosy interiors and good company that should keep everyone happy.
The first stop is The White Hart on Hope Street, a venue inspired by the “golden era” of traditional pubs. Branding itself as a “Dickensian snug pub”, it features an eclectic display of taxidermy animals including ferrets, goats, and deer heads throughout the venue.
Once a brightly decorated establishment, it has since been transformed into a “gloriously dark, brooding, cosy, antique-filled homage to the classic pub”, offering an extensive selection at the bar.
At the end of Hope Street is the famous Philharmonic Dining Rooms. Whether it is the ornate flourishes, mahogany features or stained glass windows, a feeling of class runs through the pub. Having a drink in its opulent surroundings takes you to a bygone era.
Eamonn Lavin, landlord of the Philharmonic Dining Rooms pub
In recent years, the pub’s draw has increased after it hosted a surprise performance from Paul McCartney as part of James Corden’s “Carpool Karaoke”. The Beatles were said to drink in the Phil frequently as youngsters, placing the pub firmly on the agenda for fans visiting the city.
Next on the tour and tucked away on Pilgrim Street is none other than – you guess it – The Pilgrim. This legendary Georgian Quarter pub reopened its doors in April after being refurbished by its new owners, the 1936 Pub Company.
The new Pilgrim features increased seating provision in the beer garden, a pinball machine and an extra TV for live football in “the snug”. These pictures offer a first look inside the venue as it reopens. Long term fans of the Pilgrim have had their initial fears laid to rest because the pub retains the atmosphere that made it famous.
The Pilgrim(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
A few rows away is The Grapes, which has stood on the corner of Roscoe Street and Knight Street since the 18th century. Its deep red facade gives way to a compact and bohemian setting that is full of character. Wood panelling and distinctive decoration give a sense of old meeting new in this different take on a city centre pub.
Packed to the rafters at weekends and populated by a diverse band of regulars, you might find yourself drinking in the roof garden or on the pavement, surrounded by its “Roscoe Street Rainforest”. The Grapes serves a variety of weird and wonderful local ales, as well as a pint of Guinness which can compete with the best.
A two minute walk downhill will take you to one of my favourite pubs in the city, Seel Street’s Pogue Mahone, which lovingly translates to “kiss my a***” in Irish Gaelic. The cosy and traditional pub has live music every day and shows a variety of live sports making it the perfect place to kick back and relax.
Pogue Mahone on Seel Street.(Image: Ben Spence)
Pogue’s boasts an eclectic clientele with many patrons pouring out of the door most nights of the week. If you manage to find a seat, never give it up because you will struggle to earn it back.
The next stop is back-to-back Irish craic thanks to The Dispensary. Having stood on the corner of Renshaw Street and Oldham Street since 1857, The Dispensary is one of Liverpool’s oldest pubs.
Live traditional Irish folk music can be heard in The Dispensary several nights a week, increasing the feeling that you could be drinking in a Dublin street corner pub.
At the top of Lime Street is The Vines, a gorgeously cosy pub that’s as traditional as it gets. The Grade II listed building is something to behold, known as “Big House” and rebuilt in 1907 as a Cains pub, the renovated spot has a warm and welcoming interior, with an almost gothic aesthetic that I love.
The Vines at Lime Street, Liverpool(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
By this stage, you should be seven pints deep. The world is your oyster and you have a city of possibilities at your finger tips. You can venture down Dale Street for a cosy cluster of pubs like Denbigh Castle and Vernon Arms or hit the city centre if you prefer swapping draught for spirits.
Ranelagh Street is where you’ll find noisy Irish bars like The Irish House and Ranelagh’s Tavern, with the famous Cooper’s Townhouse tucked away in the corner of Clayton Square shopping mall. Alternatively, the city’s queer quarter is home to the Poste House, a historic pub dating back to 1820 that attracts an eclectic mix of both pensioners and students.
How you end your Christmas pub crawl is down to you, but I thoroughly recommend hitting the first seven in order. Just don’t forget to wear your ugly Christmas sweater and drink responsibly.