please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Still a reliable old boozer in the Cavern Quarter. Stopped in here for a swift half yesterday afternoon. It was fairly quiet, with only 3 others in. Although we didn't venture any further than the front bar. Caledonian Deuchars IPA & Bass appear to be the regular ales these days. Guests were Moorhouses Pride of Pendle, Purity Mad Goose & Otter Bitter.
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A Victorian Gem in the Cavern quarter a short throw from the Cavern club itself. Behind its red tiled frontage is a feast of red leather, fancy tiling, elaborate wood carving and an impressive collection of White Star Line shipping memorabilia and some Beetles memorabilia due to the fact that Bob Wooler and Allan Williams used to pay their acts in the back room.
A smallish two room pub with a wooden semi-circular front bar, with red leather seat under the glass screens at the front, a quieter impressive backroom with its red leather upholstered benches and impressive collection of the historic ships of the White Star Fleet, then a small Beatles and Titanic mural-adorned beer garden out by the toilets.
Alongside the permanent Draft Bass there was Otter Brewery Poppy, The Oceanic Beer Co. Pier 59, and Robinsons Dizzy Blonde. The Blonde was a decent pint and we managed to bag space on one of the seats in the back room in which to enjoy it.
This pub really is a haven from all the tourist tat on Matthew Street and I could have stayed here for a lot longer than we did.
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This is quite a cosy feeling pub. With a main bar area with a bit of seating and then an extra room towards the back. On the bar they had quite a few beers including- Mad Goose by Purity, Mussel Wreck by Rock the Boat, Bombardier Burning Gold and Bass (amongst others). I went for the Mussel Wreck which was quite nice and only 2.50 (on special offer though). Along the walls of the extra room there are pictures dedicated to the Beatles, sports stars and ships (including the Titanic and White Star liner). There are also plagues that indicate where the Beatles may have sat when they received their wages. There was an electric fire on which kept the place reasonably warm. They also had a few people playing Guitars and Banjos which was quite pleasant. I found the locals in here very friendly and even giving me a little bit of history about the nearby Grapes bar. Would definitely recommend a visit.
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Very crowded on the evening I visited which is a pity as it was not possible to view the nautical pictures on the walls. A good selection of ales and quick service despite the old soaks who refused to move from the small bar.
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Lovely old fashioned traditional boozer, that hasn't been spoilt by being refurbished. My pint of real ale was in fine fettle, however, it was the most expensive place for a drink in the city.
Curved bar along with original leather seating dotted around the front of the pub, with various images and models of Titanic and other Atlantic ocean liners, add to the charm of the place.
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More of a proper pub than the Welkin. Used to do a few Bowland beers. But now there is a completely different selection - Caledonian Autumn Red & Deuchars IPA, Wychwood Bountiful, Brains Across The Pond, Thwaites Wainwright & Bass. Still a great little pub, packed with character. Sat in the front bar for the first time yesterday, as it was very quiet.
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A superb pub. Traditional bar layout and interior; comfortable and with friendly and efficient service. An interesting variety of ales in tip-top condition. A 'must visit' when in the city centre - 10/10.
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Saturday night- very crowded- quick service -good ales- great atmosphere. 8/10
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Uncomfortably crowded on Saturday night.
Deuchars, Higsons Bitter, a couple of Bowland ales and one other that I can't remember were available. I had one pint of Bowlands 'Sky Dancer', a light tangy summer ale. However, it had run out when I asked for a second pint.
The bar was awash with spilt ale, something that the bar staff should have dealt with but didn't.
No young customers. The clientele ranged from middle aged couples and groups of noisy blokes to lone seasoned boozers.
I prefer this pub mid-week.
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A proper pub, proper beer, proper fixture/fittings, liked the pictures on the walls
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After planning a visit to the Officers Mess nearby and finding it re-possessed, we took a slight detour into the White Star. Bowland Nicky Nook, Pheasant Plucker, Golden Trophy & Odd Shaped Ball were on with Caledonian Deuchars IPA & Bass. Still a nice pub with a good mixture of locals and tourists. The toilets are a bit ropey though.
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Good pub this. Took me ages to pay a visit - we just visited other areas of the city much more. Anyway, good beer and a buzzing atmosphere.
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Still the best boozer in Matthews Street. Tourists get in the way but plenty of room and attentive bar staff help you out.
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Still one of my favourites and I come here at least once a week. Always have an ever changing selection of Bowland Brewery beers, along with other guest ales. They've clamped down on the DVD/sock/perfume sellers. (I remember one time last year a guy in a shell suit trying to sell me a 3 pack of handkerchiefs!)
As ROBCamra mentioned, the front room can get very busy with people who insist on standing at the bar and preventing other people from getting served - even though the back room is often empty which is where I always head for!
The back room is where you'll find a good mix of locals, along with tourists who have done their homework and know that this is where the Beatles would hang out with Alan Williams. All of the other tourists head for the Cavern on Mathew Street - where the Beatles never actually played!
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Fine old pub with a partially tiled exterior that is adjacent to the living hell that is the Cavern Quarter. It�s a bit of an oasis from the madness around but it still suffers a bit from the scrote element, especially beggars and CD/DVD sellers, however the landlady gives them the heave ho as soon as they are spotted. The front bar was packed when we called in with a bunch of post work idiots who wouldn�t move away from the bar. Four beers on tap that I could see, although there may have been more. I had a pint of the Bowland Sawley Tempted which was great. We moved into the back room, to get out of the way. This room has red leather settles and loads of pictures/memorabilia of the White Star line (no surprise there then). It�s OK in here and it�s definitely the best pub in the Cavern Quarter.
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Well preserved traditional pub in Liverpool's Cavern Quarter. The interior has lots of old mosaic tilework and the back room features pictures of Beatles and White Star (the shipping company that owned Titanic) memorabilia. We were also 'treated' to an impromptu father and son guitar performance! Service was good. As mentioned previously, beers are from the Bowland range - Sawley Tempted, Golden Lion and White Star Pale Ale, alongside Deuchars IPA and Draught Bass. I think I would come here again if and when I'm in the Cavern quarter.
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One of my favourite city centre pubs. Good selection of ales.
You get the odd scally and battery seller in here but they don't hassle you.
Well worth a visit.
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It looks like this old place has had a bit of a wash and brush up, especially in the back room, it�s looking cleaner than previously. The interior is a magnificent survivor from the 19th century, lots of polished dark wood, twisted brass that wouldn�t look out of place on a traction engine and what looks like the original Lincrusta wall paper. Shame about the repro fire in the superb arched fireplace. And why a white rose mosaic in the front bar when the pub is in the red rose county? Masses of White Star shipping line, Beatles, old Liverpool and boxing themed pictures give an eclectic but interesting d�cor while you sup well kept beers from Bowland, Bass and Deuchars. Northumberland Brown Ale was a guest on my visit, a strange sweet brew tasting of toasted breakfast cereal. Good and friendly mix of customers, ranging from a big group of lads in the front to middle aged couples in the back when I dropped in, but no scallies. As has been said before a good traditional pub amongst some pretty dire bars in the Cavern Quarter.
anonymous - 6 Feb 2009 11:32 |
As promised I went in here today at 5pm. Along with Bass and Deuchers IPA there were 4 beers from the Bowland brewery. They were Chipping Steamer, Dark Stranger, Plucking Pheasant and Bowland Oak which is what I tried. Not bad 4% ABV and �2.35 for a pint. Apart from the Bass and Deuchers, and as confirmed by the pubs website, all the other real ales are from Bowland Brewery and not various microbreweries as stated in the comment by Carlurmston. Incidentally the website doesn't appear to have been updated for a while and doesn't say who it is owned by and why they stock Bowland Brewery beers.
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Sounds like it has improved since I last went 6 months ago. Will find out for myself after work today and report back ;D
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Best pub on Mathew Street, possibly the only real traditional boozer left there, with the rest trying as hard as possible to appeal to the tourist hordes. Fine interior with a mosaic floor, attractive bar and several distinct drinking areas including a large back room. Usually 4 or 5 real ales to choose from, many from microbreweries. Can get very very busy at the weekend. Unfortunately the large Bass mirror on the wall was smashed and has been replaced with old prints of Liverpool! Not sure about scallies but never felt a particularly bad atmosphere here.
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Near to Matthew Street &popular with tourists. Lots of shipping memorabilia on the walls. Good choice of real ales I counted 6 handpumps.
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I went there last year when the Mathew Street festival was on and there was a good atmosphere with a band playing. I went there last week and it was empty apart from a few dodgy looking poeople, talking about when they were next going to the Magistrates court, and it smelt of stale beer. I was served by an uninterested scally bar man and paid about �2.70 for a pint of cider - which is expensive for Liverpool!
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Another of my Liverpool favourites and now Bowland Brewery beers seem to be regulars which was a bonus. Right in the middle of things in town and a good place to hang out, we prefer to go through the back rather than scrum down near the bar. It has a nice calm atmosphere.
Good stuff.
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Re The Scallies: I was once offered a box of maltesers, the said Scally wanted more than the shop he presumably borrowed them from would normally sell them for. Class!
On a more amusing note I overheard a barperson/maid ask her colleague what time it was. He replied and she then retorted "Good, 'cos that means in half an hour I'm going to chin you" Oh the wit! ;)
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Fine traditional welcoming pub with a handsome tiled exterior , just round the corner from Matthew Street in the Beatles area of the City.
The interior features much wood pannelling, plus comfortable leather banquettes and numerous splendid shipping pictures, including The Titanic and the White Star liners. There are also numerous boxing photos / memorabilia ( Clay/ Cooper etc ) and, perhaps inevitably, a Beatles corner. It is said that musical promoters used to pay their pop groups, including the Beatles, in this pub.
Note also the large Bass mirror on the back wall.
I had a good pint of Bowland Gold on my recent April visit.
Given the location of this pub, close to the Beatles area, it is pleasing that it has not been "improved" -pleasingly it remains a comfortable homely welcoming pub, well worth seeking out.
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A really nice little boozer, A good selection of real ales to be had in a bit of a desert.
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This was a lovely pub to wander round and see the rooms, and also a lovely pub to drink in. Friendly staff serving well kept beer.
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My type of pub friendly, original features and propper beer. One for tourists AND locals to look up.
Check out their own website it's very good @ thewhitestar.co.uk
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Fantastic haven ,especially safely esconsed in the back room with a pint,a chaser and a newspaper.Respect to any pub that bans dogs.
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should be more concerned with the regular Scallies that come in and try to sell you all sorts of rubbish be it stolen or otherwise rather that refusing us entry to the bar with our little well behaved Westie dog! Won't be back. ( Want to buy some cheese or socks mate?)
anonymous - 20 Jul 2006 19:45 |
I just read in a book that this is the pub where Pete Best got sacked from the Beatles...worth a pint just for that, for Ringo's sake!
anonymous - 27 Apr 2006 00:55 |
Spoiled somewhat by being in the middle of the tourist district so you get people coming up to you trying to sell you stuff. Mind you, the Deuchars IPA was well kept.
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An oasis of proper beer and atmposphere.
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A proper pub! Original victorian decor. Good beer served to people who want to drink and talk not muck about eating or playing music. One of the last real pubs left in Liverpool. Fantastic place.
Den - 4 Nov 2004 11:51 |
Probably the best pub in Liverpool for dozens of reasons. Always friendly, but yesterday Alfie passed wind and cleared the place in under four seconds.
Stanley - 4 May 2004 15:06 |
excellent pub in a great drinking city traditional pub with good selection of draught beers. very cosy.
fat dog - 12 Apr 2004 12:47 |
The White Star was one of the Beatles favourite haunts. There are tasteful gold plaques in the lounge bearing each of their first names. Tourists can sit under them and take a photo. The lounge is classy with leather seating and oak wall panelling. It has remained consistant over the years and loyal to its history. It is one of the few remaining 'character' pubs that would rather be dead than trendy. One of its more original features is the daily newspapers that are available for customers to read. The only downside is it can become quite smoky, especially in the bar. Another original feature was the piano, which I think (and hope) is stil there. People used to have a tinkle...
Sue - 14 Jan 2004 14:04 |
A real Gem. A traditional community pub right in the centre of a city.
Keith Smith - 2 Oct 2003 14:41 |
Get in the backroom if you can!
Matt Le Ross - 6 Aug 2003 16:15 |
Quality alehouse.
Richie - 27 Jun 2003 11:58 |
