Navigator, Stoneycroftback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Not listed but further up towards Old Swan there is a micropub/shop conversion called the Alehouse which is well worth a visit in the ale desert of East Liverpool.
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Ale quality was a great improvement on my last visit here - still a typical Wetherspoons though but I suppose even I have to relent and give them their due for bringing proper beer to the ale desert of Old Swan and Knotty Ash.
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Visited here on a Friday towards the end of what most people would call lunch time. 6 pumps of which 4 were on. Old Porter, Icarus (Blindmans), Barnsey (Bath), Loddon IPA. Interestingly absent were the Wetherspoon usuals Abbots and Ruddles - unless of course these were the pumps that were off, or there was another bank of pumps hidden somewhere, though couldn't see anything else when I passed the full length of the bar to nip to the gents later.
The Old Porter was pleasant, 4.8% if I remember rightly, and a bargain at £1.95. A pleasant porter with plenty of flavour - felt like a good solid drink whereas some can be a bit wishy-washy.
I went for the Loddon IPA next, 5.5% and still a bargain at £2.10. It seemed to lack some flavour for an IPA and was perhaps a bit warmer than I would have expected. It was OK, I didn't have to do anything rash like leave the pint unfinished, but I did feel it was somewhat lacking.
This pub has an outside seating area which I can only describe as being like a lion's cage with wrought iron railings protecting you from the outside world. Unfortunately not much of a sun trap as the space is fairly limited and not helped by beams or girders or something to prevent too much of that outside goodness from sinking in. The tables were nice and some effort has been made with plants in tubs (which may or may not be plastic) but I imagine it is more of a smoker's retreat than a proper enjoyable beer garden.
The gents were interesting - an unusual feature was that each urinal was separated by a tiled wall, to overcome that age old problem of not wanting to stand too close to a stranger taking a slash.
In response to the comment by "blue_scrumpy" - I had been eyeing up the Wheatsheaf but research before my visit suggested they don't serve real ale. Would be interested to know if this is not the case.
Would happily pay The Navigator another visit when I am next in the area.
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This Wetherspoons was a bit of a let down after what was my best pub of the day (the Wheatsheaf at Knotty Ash - not listed on here). This corner pub has the bog standard Wetherspoons open-plan interior apart from a few pillars. Its location affords a good view of Queens Drive (Liverpool's ring road). This was an infinitely better view than the spectacle of dozens of empty glasses and plates lining the mostly vacant tables. I think they definitely need to improve productivity or get more staff, as dirty glasses don't make for a pleasant drinking experience. Nevertheless, the ale selection was reasonable - George Wright Blonde Navigator, O'Hanlons Stormstay, Caledonian Mellow Yellow, Peerless Full Whack and Greene King Abbot and Ruddles Best. Westons Vintage Organic was the real cider of choice. The toilets smelt particularly disgusting. Good drinks selection. But not the right environment to enjoy them.
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A former gas (or was it lekky?) board show room which retains the general ambience of a gas board showroom. Cheap (�1.85 for a pint of Navigator themed beer) but you get what you pay for and I left half of it as it was an awful pint. Some of the clientelle had dolled themsleves up just to visit the place.
anonymous - 27 Sep 2010 19:51 |
Great pint , great value but loads of chavs
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The pick of the Wetherspoons in Liverpool, good friendly barstaff who are quick, beer clean and decent and grub not too bad at all. We use this place to start off our daytime drinking sessions!
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Nice food, good value and good beer
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A gem of a boozer, safe, nice and what else is needed
beer belly bill - 14 Oct 2004 00:03 |
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