please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Had the worst pint of Guinness (in 25 years of supping) here. A couple of patronising obviously half-cut locals standing at the bar put a blight on what should be a top cultural pub. Will be back though in the hope things will have improved.
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Absolutely heaving on Saturday night, live music & hen parties in tow. Bar service considering the crowd wasn't bad either. VERY late closing for a pub.
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What IS that smell ?
When are they going to get rid of it ?
They must make enough money with all the passing Beatles tourists and locals to be able to rip up the carpets and give the place a lick of paint.
At least it's still one of the cheaper pubs in the city centre, not that the booze on offer is anything to write home about.
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went in here late last night for a quick half & stayed for a further two pints! Cant grumble about the beer & the atmosphere was fine. Live music always goes down well.
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They seem to be pretty touchy about bad reviews judging by the gaps in comments for such a 'tourist haunt'. Let's keep it simple and to the facts then - the ale is dire, the food atrocious and service indifferent. The place has such potenital but just seems to feed off passing trade.
anonymous - 3 Nov 2011 22:50 |
I'd been in here before and walked out due to the poor beer & cider selection. This time, I was determined to have a drink come what may. Courage Directors & Caledonian Flying Scotsman were the 2 ales on offer. The interior has plenty of Beatles memorabilia and pictures on the walls, as you would expect. Not much sign of tourists inside and not too busy on our Saturday lunchtime visit.
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Horrendous place, often too busy, music too loud and barstaff docile. I know I sound like an old fart, but this place should be a tourist trap for the amount of people who visit the area, instead its full of old pissheads and scallies!
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Further to my last comment, I went in here a couple of weeks ago and guess what - it hasn't changed!
I went on a Sunday afternoon and it was packed (local radio DJ ane entertainer Pete Price was performing).
It's still dark and dingy and smells of cat piss and stale beer. Took ages to get served, but only because the 3 people behind the bar were a bit dopey. I asked for a pint of Strongbow and the barmaid didn't know what it was! Then the barrel needed changing which took 10 minutes.
Didn't notice any Cains or other beer on sale - not that I was looking out for it because it was never well keot when they did sell it.
I'll return to the Grapes in 12 months and will expect nothing to have changed about this place!
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I agree with other comments - considering the amount of punters this place brings in surely the owners can afford to give it a lick of paint, new carpets and get in a better selection of drinks.
I haven't been there for a while so don't know if they are selling Cains again. I'd like to go back to this pub again but fear that it hasn't changed since my last visit.
The Beatles connection is sadly wearing thin. The owners of the Grapes should pay a visit to the re-opened Vernon Arms on Dale Street and see what they've done to the interior and the selection of ales from local micro breweries that they sell.
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This used to be my local when it was the ONLY pub in Mathew St. It used to sell Higgys bitter and the hamburgers were 25p. There was a picture of a young Billy Butler behind the bar and the layout was totally different. (Changed after an arson attack in the mid 70's) I went in last month and the carpet stunk of cats p**s. The beer tasted like it. What a waste. Just because you are guaranteed trade because of your position does not mean that you have to put "no effort" into it. (See Londons West End)
Note to the manager... Shape up or ship out.
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Agree it could to with a thorough clean and lick of paint - it still smelt of stale beer when I went last week.
Pete Price (local personality and radio DJ) now hosts kareoke on Sunday afternoons.
Still only serving Directors and Chesnut mild. Could do better!
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This pub is almost always busy due to its location on Matthew Street. The place is getting tired now and is in need of some work to bring it up to scratch. It is open late of a weekend and atrracts a variety of clientele.
The beer in here is of a below standard quality and the food is of the same standard, although the food is cheap.
They pay music very loud and have a DJ of a weekend to intice people in. I would not recommend this place to anyone
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A tacky old pub that would have few customers if it wasn't in Matthew Street. Why do they have to play music so loud?
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I used to use this pub in the late 60's and seventies - just after the Beatles deserted Liverpool for The Smoke. I can tell you that it is now nothing like the pub it once was. The layout and bar are completely different. Last time I popped in I was 'served' by a lazy fat old bird who had quite obviously made the wrong career choice. It was adecent boozer in the 60's and 70's - all the bands playing at the Cavern would pop in between sets. Now it's a tacky old dump.
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The gear! 'nuff said.
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A decent late pub to go to- open til 3am, always packed, friendly, good music and sells real ale unlike most bars on Mathew Street.
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Since the Cains problem they no longer sell Cains Bitter. Instead they now have Courage Directors which at �2.00 a pint is a bargain! I must try the food in here some time. It looks and smells nice and the prices on the menu look reasonable.
The Beatles 1st promoter, Sam Leach, always signs his book and new DVD in the Grapes 2pm - 6pm, Thursday to Saturday/Sunday!
Try and get the table on the right hand side near to the back of the pub. A plaque points out that The Beatles sat there (and there is a photo to prove it!) I always make sure I sit in the place where John Lennon did!
If this pub was on Abbey Road, or even by Gracelands, they would charge 10 times what they do and make it tacky - but because this is Liverpool they keep it cheap and cheerful, which is nice! ;)
Still smells of stale beer though!
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beer selection nothing special but entertainment makes up for it
anonymous - 11 Nov 2008 14:10 |
Get Audrey back! A legend of Liverpool bar staff.
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Stopped for one at Dr. Duncan's before the curry.. so a bit later here than planned. Always enjoy this pub on our Friday night visits.. Music's always outstanding and there's always a good spread of ages here who enjoy it, including ladies of a certain age, or do I mean uncertain age..! Well anyhow, everyone's always in good spirits and out to make the very best of the evening..! Didn't risk the ale, had lager instead, but by this time of night, I'm past caring...! Nothing like a good ole sing-song to put you in a good mood before fallin' into the cab to finish the night off... Brilliant..!
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Smells of stale beer but famous because the Beatles used to hang out here. Only �2.00 for a pint of weel kept Cains bitter or �1.90 for a pint of Chestnut Mild which is a bargain considering it's on Mathew Street! Worth a visit!
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A bit hard, Mr PalmWine Drinker. It certainly is not what it was but the mixed grill is still great value and the Cains well worth drinking
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Used to be a fab city centre pub with a traditional feel, seperate rooms. Then it stopped selling mild. Then it was refurbished with a bit of a knock through. Then it was vandalised in an attempt to cram in as many people as possible on a Friday and Saturday night.
The only good thing about it is that it caught fire last Christmas.
palmwinedrinkard - 6 May 2004 17:03 |
