There's a good selection of pubs, clubs and bars to suit a variety of music and atmospheric tastes. Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest nights, although many bars are busy with students throughout the week. Mathew Street and Concert Square with nearby Wood Street are the main two nocturnal focal points. There is a good mix of locals and students. It is best to dress smart for the majority of bars and clubs (such as "Society" and "Garlands"). Notable exceptions are places like Le Bateau, the Krazy house, the Caledonia and other places of a similar alternative style. Like any major UK city , it is pretty safe out at night. The local police have had a heavy presence on a Friday and Saturday night to combat any problems and are largely succeeding. It is pretty busy getting out of the city centre at the end of a weekend (especially at the start of university term time - Sep/Oct). There are plenty of black hackney cabs which congregate at various taxi ranks. The Merseyrail system works until about midnight, whilst there are a series of dedicated night buses which run from the main bus stations, usually for a flat fare. All modes of transport tend to become very busy from around midnight.
Liverpool is home to the Cains brewery which produces a large selection of cask beers.
Dr. Duncan's, St John's Lane – This is the premier pub for the local Cains brewery. It has a fine reputation and consequently is full of middle-aged professional drinkers. The pub has the full range of Cains beers, including Dr. Duncan's IPA (which is harder to find among the Cains pubs). Rudimentary bar menu, but good busy atmosphere on the weekend.
The Dispensary, Intersection of Renshaw and Leece Streets – Another of the local Cains brewery houses. Charming Victorian bar area. Usually has two rotating guest beers, plus a large selection of bottled beers and ciders.
The Globe, 17 Cases Street (Tucked away, adjacent to Clayton Square shopping centre, opposite the Ranelagh Street entrance of Central Station) – A small, often cramped. This is a traditional Liverpool pub, with no-nonsense barmaids. Usually busy after 5PM and during the weekend, acting as a refuge for husbands abandoned by, or having escaped from, their shopping-mad spouses. Always a good variety of guests.
The Brewery Tap, Stanhope Street is attached to the Cains brewery and serves a large variety of ales, plus traditional pub fayre.
The Richard John Blacker (JD Wetherspoons), Charlotte Row, Unit 1/3, 53 Great Charlotte St, Liverpool, L1 1HU, ☎ +44 151 709 4802, . �
The Crown, 43 Lime St. Next to the station. Most likely the first pub you will see upon arriving in Liverpool.
The Pilgrim, Pilgrim Street – Located off Hardman Street, this pub serves the best breakfast in town, £4 for a king size feast. You also get to share the pub with stag parties and students wondering what happened the night before! Cracking jukebox as well. A classic!
The Canarvon Castle, 5 Tarleton St. Established for about 200 years, this small and homely pub was named after Lord Carnarvon. Packed full of collectors items - model cars, lorries, handcuffs and truncheons - it attracts a complete mixture of clientele. Serving quality real ales, the pub is also popular for its range of hot snacks including the well-loved Carnarvon toasties.
Pig & Whistle, 12 Covent Garden. This pub has recently undergone a 'refurbishment' and been transformed into a rather fake looking pub.
Peter Kavanagh's, 2-6 Egerton St. An unusual and old-world hideaway can be found just outside the city centre. Built 150 years ago, the walls are adorned with art deco murals painted in 1929 and the snugs are themed with various artefacts such as musical instruments and chamber pots. The friendly atmosphere makes this a favourite with artists, locals, travellers and musicians. George Melly, a famous jazz player is known to frequent this pub when visiting the city. If you're in for a tradional English breakfast, this pub serves great black pudding and all the fixings from noon to 4PM.
Poste House, 23 Cumberland St. Most nights has a gay friendly bar serving cheap cocktails upstairs from the main pub.
The Brookhouse Smithdown Rd. This was one of liverpools finist pubs back in the day and was a hangout of Liverpool bands of the late 80s such as the La's. It's now most popular with students and is famous for its Liverpool Games when Dom Dottin and Mr. Constable lead the Liverpool chants and become the vocal cords of this old pub.
The Old Post Office, School Lane. Friendly pub famous for its steak and mixed grill meals. Great for watching sports as there are three TVs including one big screen. �
The Vines, Lime Street – A stylish club.
GBar, Eberle Street – Popular gay-friendly club with two floors. Upstairs, 'The Church' offers funky house music from legendary DJ John Cotton. Lady Sian plays campy classics in the 'Love Lounge'. Downstairs 'The Bass-ment' pumps out quality vocal house music. Open Thur.-Mon. Costs between £5-£7 for non-members.
Doctor Duncan's, St. Johns Lane – Large, friendly pub serving the locally brewed Cains beers.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Liverpool
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Liverpool Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
