Augustus John, University of Liverpoolback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Augustus John is still only open between the hours of 12-11 on weekdays. I try to make a point of visiting when we're in Liverpool midweek, despite it being away from most decent Liverpool pubs. Ales on our Thursday lunchtime social were Rock The Boat Fab Four, Green Duck Smooth Criminal & Millstone Tiger Rut. As usual, there were a few real ciders - Barbourne Crimson King, Pulp Apple Cider, Abrahall's Cracklin' Rosie & Orchard Pig Navel Gazer. There's still many pumpclips to admire on the ceiling. I hear they may be knocking it down soon. Hopefully there will be a suitable replacement.
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Had a pint of 'adequate' Purple Moose here. Sixties modernist pub in the middle of the University zone. Okay as opposed to good.
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Managed to visit the AJ again last night, as I was in the city on a weekday. Usually I am there at weekends when the pub is still closed. This was a late Friday night visit and its popularity made me wonder why it no longer opens on a Saturday at the very least. All tables were taken and people had spilled outside onto the tables there. I agree with the previous reviewer that there is little atmosphere there. It doesn't really feel like a pub. But the ales and the ciders in particular are still decent. Last night it was Great Orme Woolly Jumper, Peerless Knee-Buckler IPA, Neptune Big Sur & Mobberley Brewhouse Elysium. Ciders were Cotswold Cider Company No Brainer, Gwynt y Ddraig Happy Daze, Lyme Bay Eventide, Purbeck Cider Company Muddy Scamp, Orchard Pig Navel Gazer, Broadoak Perry, Abrahalls Lily The Pink & Weston's Family Reserve. Still worth a trip up the hill, in my opinion. But then again I'm biased due to the cider selection.
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The bar looks a bit grim looking from the outside and the inside isn't much better (well the part I sat at), felt a bit like a canteen really. It's a long room with a relatively small bar in a corner. On the bar the ales were- Nethergate Priory Mild, Glaswyn Purple Moose, Westwood Cheshire Cat, Partners American Craft Ale and Cock bird Cockeyed (a cider). I went for the Cheshire Cat which was pretty decent and well kept and cost 2.60 so decent value too. On the walls they have beer clips of what I assume are beers they have stocked in the past, the other thing I noticed was a dart board in the corner. It was reasonably busy when I came in, with Students and even a few older folk. Didn't really feel like there much of an atmosphere to the place, felt like the kind of atmosphere you get at spoons with the general noise of people chatting. Not a bad place but certainly not worth the trek out from the city centre. The beer is well priced and well kept but there's places in the centre which are well priced and even cheaper (e.g. Ranelaghs Tavern- not on this site and I have tried to add it). If you're a student or a local then it's a pretty solid place for a few beers, just not worth the walk out in my opinion.
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Student bar on the University campus, commonly known as the “AJ”. My local CAMRA friends seem to rate it, but I’m not sure why – maybe it’s the low prices ! Anyway, it’s exactly like you expect a student bar to be – with the addition of real ale. There are 3 or 4 interesting beers on handpump, but I’m afraid the quality is somewhat variable. On my recent visit, my friend had a pint that was very nice (Daleside Leg Over) , but it ran out before I got mine, and the one I then chose (New Plassey Midnight Mild) was absolutely foul !!
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Tried another visit here yesterday. There's now sign on the window with opening hours and it no longer opens at weekends. Very disappointing. This pub is too far out of the way to make a special journey to anymore. I doubt I'll be back for a few years with the new opening times. Very disappointing change.
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Return visit on Saturday and it was fairly lively with the University terms about to start. The cider range has improved too, with a few more different options this time. Ales were Timothy Taylor Boltmaker, Wickwar Cotswold Way, Hales Black Heart & Beartown Ellava Bear. Ciders and perries were Lilleys Crazy Goat & Bee Sting Perry, Thistly Cross Whisky Cask, Twisted Cider Wild Orchard, Hairy Ferret Blackcurrant, Joe's Cider Sweet Traditional Still Dorset Cider, Orchard Pig Explorer & Philosopher & Gwynt y Ddraig Farmhouse Pyder. 3 of these were new for me. So contrary to my previous review, I do need to come here more often. Why has nobody else reviewed this pub for over 5 years?
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The Augustus John is currently cider pub of the year for Merseyside. I thought I'd pay it a return visit on Saturday and sure enough they had a selection of 8 ciders or perries that are rarely seen in the area - Mr Whiteheads Blackberry Cider, Cirrus Minor, Boxing Dog, Heart of Hampshire & Midnight Special, Thatchers Traditional & Cheddar Valley & Gwynt y Ddraig Happy Daze. Beers were Daleside Old Leg Over, Partners 6 Nations, Tower Bitter & Tetleys Cask. Still a worthwhile pub to visit. But still no atmosphere and too far from anywhere else decent to make it a regular port of call.
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Returned to the Augustus John yesterday. 5 real ales were on - Beartown Polar Eclipse, Copper Dragon Challenger IPA, Tetleys, Millstone Square Peg and Liverpool Organic Best Bitter. The real cider was Gwynt y Ddraig Dogdance from a handpull. The interior is still nothing to shout about. It is more reminiscent of a plain council estate pub, and there are far too many TVs. However service is friendly and from my point of view, it's still a worthy stop in Liverpool as it's one of the few places that serves a changing real cider from relatively small producers.
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Called in here after a short visit to the adjacent modern RC Cathedral (pretty impressive it is too). There was a demo going on outside the cathedral by Iranian anti government supporter which added to the fun. It�s a fairly nondescript looking pub built into what is effectively a concrete block. It�s actually within the university grounds, but all are welcome. There are plenty of seats outside (plastic glasses only outside). Inside there is a pool table facing you as you enter and seating to the left, there�s also a quiz machine. There are TV screens all over the place, so you won�t miss them no matter where you stand or sit. Four handpumps on the bar Tetley�s bitter, Abbot Ale plus 2 changing guests, Cains Sundowner and Hidden Fantasy when we called. I had a pint of the Cains which was pretty good. Friendly welcome from the landlord when we arrived. It was pretty quiet as it was about 1 p.m. on a Saturday lunchtime, but it�s OK in here.
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Despite having spent 3 years at the University, I'd never previously visited this pub until yesterday. The bar is open-plan and a good place for watching live sports, with at least 5-6 different TVs. The clientele were a mix of students and locals. There were 2 guest beers on - one called Voodoo and another from the Spitting Feathers brewery. There is also a changing real cider in the fridge. Yesterday it was Thatcher's Dry. Nice enough beer selection, but I must admit to preferring a more traditional pub.
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The AJ is a great pub, with a great mix of Students, Staff from the University of Liverpool campus and locals from the surrounding area. In the past year the management have breathed a new lease of life into the pub, which was in danger of going a bit stale. The real ale suppliers have been changed a little, with a greater range of different breweries available on their 3 guest pumps. They do still however retain Tetleys and Abbot ale on cask which, despite them bein very well kept by the managment, has gotta be changed in the near future surely. there range of bottled beers and alcopops has been changed gradually over the past six months or so two.
The pub benefits from having two Tv's and a Big Screen which are used to show major sporting events, and if rumors are to be believed there are another 3 flat screen tv's on their way in the next month or so. The staff are all great, In particular Dave the assistant manager. He is a great young lad who is enthusiastic about keeping the pub a good friendly pub and i have seen him refuse service to many rebrobates who have tried in vain to posion this gem of a pub.
If you are in the area you should definatley pop in to the AJ.! You may see me in there, reading a paper and supping on a nice pint of real ale.
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Well, I live in Scotland but in the 1950's and 1960's I used to drink in the Augustus John. By the map location I wonder if it has moved since those days as I seem to recall it being adjacent Parry's, the University Bookshop. Anyway, I used to have a pub lunch there quite often as it contained paintings by the artist and it all felt very 'avant guarde' to me then. Folk from the University would frequent the place together with artists and I was a budding, albeit amateur artist in those days. I wonder how much it has changed? Graham.
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I am a frequent visitor to the AJ and think its a great pub. The people you get in there are a wide mix of undergraduates, post graduates, and a few locals all of whom are great characters. The staff are friendly and actually chat to you rather than just giving you what you have asked for. The drinks are great value and the constantly rotating guest beers realy keep you on your toes. Some great drinks deals to be had and they have now also got a big screen and a flat screen to show sports on. What more could you ask for?
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Disappointed, went in today and found it empty, sadly the two pint glasses we were given had greasy fingerprints in them on the inside, the tables were dirty too.
Not impressed, sorry
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Listed in the Good Beer Guide it serves Cains and guest beers. Pool table and juke box. Friendly reception. No Scallies allowed.
Dr B Hind - 30 Mar 2005 16:39 |
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