You can’t really go wrong considering all of the venues are a stone’s throw away from each other
There’s only one venue you can get an obscenely cheap vodka and strange blue liquid(Image: christopher megrath)
Since moving to Liverpool a decade ago, it feels like I’ve lived a thousand different lives. Friends have come and gone and the city’s landscape has changed but the one thing that has stayed almost exactly the same is my weekend bar crawl. It’s a chaotic mix of some of the city’s oldest pubs, underground pop dens, grimy dive bars, and house clubs that don’t close until 7am.
Although a few venues have come and gone over the years, the core circuit remains the same, mostly because very little has changed in terms of their appeal.
With Liverpool Pride firmly back on the cards, I figured it was time to share what I consider the ultimate Liverpool Pride Quarter bar crawl. The city pales in comparison to Brighton or Manchester’s Gay Village but there’s still a reasonable crawl if you hit the right marks at the right time.
The first stop and arguably the most effective way to start the night is The Poste House on Cumberland Street. It’s dated, a little run down, and not even all that comfortable, but I’ve yet to meet a single person who’d change a thing about it.
Liverpool city centre pub Poste House on Cumberland Street and upstairs bar(Image: Liverpool Echo)
The magic of The Poste House lies in its disorientating blend of a gay dive bar that meets an old-man pub. Downstairs during the day are pensioners in flat caps with pints while upstairs is a chaotic queer disco sound tracked by Dua Lipa and Charli XCX.
Back in the day, it was practically a nightclub with strobe lights but it has mellowed over time. As the later hours creep in, the upstairs lot spill down and take over the venue. The place seats about 50 but somehow manages to squeeze in double that when it’s packed.
Few places will sell you a vodka and “blue” (a mixer we’ve still never identified) for as little as they do here. You’ll be bevvied before you’ve spent £20 and too often has it been my one and only stop on a night out. Enjoy The Poste House anytime until up midnight before making your way to the crawl’s next location.
The Lisbon is located a few steps away and is a long standing staple of Victoria Street. The bar is drenched in old-school atmosphere from its ornate ceiling and chandeliers to wooden bar and finishes, tiled floor and snug leather booths dotted around the perimeter.
Once again, you’d be forgiven to think it’s just another old man pub because the regulars bring this traditional venue to life with an overabundance of colour, camp and glamour. At the weekend, you hardly have room to breath with the number of patrons waiting at the bar.
The Lisbon on Victoria Street(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
The Lisbon is a great choice if you’re chasing a loud, lively atmosphere and want to mingle while standing. We typically only call in for two drinks maximum but nevertheless its a staple on the crawl. When you’re ready to get moving to the beat, head over to The Masquerade for a boogie.
You’ll usually find me at The Masq’s Monday night quiz but the party really gets going on the weekend. The close-quarters venue is a great starting point for unsure movers and shakers who want to expand their two stepping into full blown dancing.
The Masq crowd is wrangled by cheeky drag queens delivering the latest chart hits so you can always expect high-energy and shenanigans when you visit. I love grabbing a drink and floating around the venue, mingling with others or simply bumping into new people.
From here, the crawl turns from bars to clubs so get ready, because your next stop is the legendary Superstar Boudoir. The underground venue sports graffiti spray painted walls, kitchen flooring, TVs that only show bar deals, and unnecessarily bright lights that never dim no matter the time of night.
Superstar Boudoir is located on Stanley Street(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Despite how unappealing it sounds on paper, Superstar Boudoir is arguably the best club on the scene. The venue is full of lively characters, dancing, cheap drinks and is the go-to for many a homosexual wanting to let loose. While dozens of queer venues opened and closed over the years, Superstar remained the unflinching cornerstone of the scene that hasn’t changed in 25 years.
You’ll lose track of time and before you know it its 3am. My only advice is don’t bother requesting a song unless you’ve purchased a shot – typically Sambucca – for the drag queen DJ on the decks.
Once you stumble up the stairs and back to the street, you have the choice of three venues: OMG if you’re a student, Gbar if you’re straight, or Heaven if you’re straight and in it for the long haul. You can find me in Heaven until 7am in the morning but this is where the crawl really becomes your own adventure.
Stanley Street in Liverpool’s Pride Quarter(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Each of the three aforementioned clubs offer their own distinct experiences but stray too far from what I’d consider your typical bar crawl venues. Therefore, I’d recommend visiting each and seeing where you prefer to call it a night!
My own personal trail of The Poste House, Lisbon, Masquerade, Superstar Boudoir and Heaven has been a staple for a decade and one I know many others enjoy exactly the same.
If you’ve never been to Liverpool’s Pride Quarter I’d suggest following my bar crawl in order. You’ll hot the hotspots and are guaranteed a solid night out.