please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
After enduring the traffic chaos that is Liverpool right now, I only had time for a swift one near the station before heading home last night. We stepped into Ma Egerton's. It was my first visit for almost 6 years. Far too packed to be enjoyable and with just Butcombe Original & Wadworth 6X on offer, I know why I don't go in more often. We sat outside just opposite the theatre, making it a good spot for people watching. I would rather be drinking decent beer though!
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Coming out of the less used end of Lime Street station (past the wetherspoons) one of the first things you may notice is this pub. As a pub I've heard that it's quite good to host events in. On my visit there was only two hand pumps in use, which had Pure Gold by Purity brewery and Wells & Youngs A Good Stuffing on. The pint of Pure Gold I had was nice but may be a bit over the top pricing wise (£3.40 for a 3.8 percent beer). The pub itself has a bar area with seating and a separate room for extra seating with various pictures of entertainer celebrities and old tickets from various acts that were at the Empire theatre just next door. Worth a visit if by the station or right before a play/ show as it does have character to it. Serves food as well.
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Crowded last night. Two ales available - a dark seasonal ale (can't remember its name) and Clark's 'Westgate Gold'. I had a pint of the Gold and very nice it was too. Various adverts around the bar for daytime food. This pub seems to be doing very well.
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Had heard that Ma Egertons had received a makeover and had changed hands. So I managed to stop by for a swift half last night, before catching a train. As described below, there are 3 handpulls. Yesterday they had Hardy & Hansons Rocking Rudolph & Theakstons Best & Lightfoot. I had the Rocking Rudolph, which was in reasonable condition. There are better pubs not too far away. But Ma Egertons has improved and it's good to see that they have real ales.
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This place was buzzing last night. Lots of people in Halloween fancy dress. The pub was also decorated with spooky stuff. This place has never had any real ale in my experience. Delighted to see three hand pumps last night with two ales available - even if I only noticed after buying a John Smiths! Mental note made for next time. Well done to the new regime.
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This pub has been done up really well, congratulations to the new landlord who seems to be a very nice person indeed. We had pints of Theakstons bitter and got into conversation with two gentlemen straightaway. It's understandable that it isn't an out and out real ale pub as its clientelle are mostly theatre-goers and pints of ale and theatre don't really go down together but our Theakstons was a really good pint so there's nothing really to carp about. We should thank our lucky stars that the place hasn't closed and fallen into dereliction.
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What a shame - super little street-corner pub just by the side entrance to Lime Street station - 2 handpumps but no Real Ale !! That is all that is missing as the interior had obviously just been renovated and is very pleasant indeed with a main bar and a "lounge" off it. Named after Liverpool's "most famous landlady" and a nice cheery little place it is too - shame about the lack of beer. Really handy for a drink before your train.
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Must have re-opened as was in there on 31.08.12. very basic but worth a quick one by the station
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Closed 21 May 2012
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Though it wasn't so busy I still had to negotiate my way through people sitting on chairs blocking a path from door to bar and while I was waiting for the slow bar staff to get round to serving me realised that there wasn't anything there I wanted and wasn't in the mood for compromise. It is a nice old historic interior but I couldn't be arsed navigating through people being purposefully awkward and dealing with staff who feel like they are doing a favour serving me so I buggered off over the road. Gets a one for the interior.
anonymous - 27 Nov 2010 13:16 |
I still pop in here for a swift pint if I have half an hour to wait before I have to catch a train from Lime Street.
�2.90 for a pint of Strongbow - you're 'avin a laugh!
Three pubs all next to each other that could so, so, soooo much better (Lord Warden, Head Of Steam and Ma Egertons) - all next to Lime Street, the Empire Theatre, St George's Hall etc.
The 3 of these pubs could be AMAZING - but are all bog standard "don't give a ****" lager-houses!
I only really like coming into Ma Egertons to look at the paintings and old theatre posters on the walls!!
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Agree with the previous comments. The interior is that of a classic Liverpool pub. But with so many similar pubs to choose from in Liverpool, it's easy to look for the negatives, in order to whittle down your choice and this one has plenty of negatives. Yes the interior is dark. This is partly as a result of the dark wood and the blocking of light by the surrounding buildings. However the pub does nothing to help itself by placing small curtains over the windows, blocking what little light there is available. The feeling is positively dingy. There is one handpull at the bar. But alas the pump clip was turned round. The landlady could also do with a character bypass. 'I'll take your rubbish then shall I?' was the one curt remark given to the occupant of an adjacent table, in response to the sandwich wrapper that had been left on the table. An interesting remark from the owner of a pub that was not selling food. I think I would have upped and left if I were them. With far better choices in Liverpool, we'll leave this one to the thick-skinned.
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Unspoilt backstreet pub with great potential but doesn't serve real ale. If some enterprising soul would give it the attention it deserves it would be a gem.
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Splendid looking whitewashed building dwarfed by the big brick bulks of the neighbouring cinema and theatre and by Lime Street Station across the road. The interior is as good a display of dark wood and leather as any student of fin de siecle pubs could hope to see. The walls are covered in photographs of theatrical and movie stars, where else would you ever expect to see Marlon Brando dressed as Napolean and Emperor Heile Selassie in full military rig together in the same photo? People are correct when they say this would be one of Liverpool�s classic pubs if only the beer was better.
anonymous - 29 May 2009 13:07 |
Traditional back street boozer a stone's throw from Lime Street station and the Empire Theatre.
It is included in the Liverpool Historic Pub Guide due to its unspoilt nature. The small, simply furnished bar room is on the left as you enter and is often quite busy. To the right is a larger opened out room with some original fixtures and bench seating all around its periphary as well as stools. In here are the multitude of pictures relating to the pubs characterful history as the neighbour of the theatre next door. Sky sports is shown in here on an unobtrusive TV.
This is a pub that will appeal to the traditional boozer lover, however as noted it suffers due to its lack of real ale-if that were rectified it could become one of Liverpool's many classics. As it stands it is definitely worth popping into if waiting for a train if you have done the Crown, Dr. Duncans etc. to death- but real ale fans will undoubtedly flock to those pubs.
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A traditional old city pub. I've only been here prior to going to see a show or band. Standard selection of beers. Clientele are all over 30.
Apart from the theatre memorabilia on the walls there is not a lot to recommend it.
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Nice little pub but could be a million times better if they had some real ales on. Not even Cains Bitter sold here! Cheaper pubs with more choice of drinks can be found on Lime Street!
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Small back street pub behind the Empire Theatre opposite the stage door. Friendly atmosphere & interesting decor with stacks of old theatre photographs & posters adorning the walls. This is the type of pub that would be worth a visit on a cold dark Winters night as it is very cosy & compact. Like the previous poster said, the choice of beer is somewhat disappointing & I don't think they serve food. Worth a visit but I don't anticipate making it a regular watering hole.
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Well, having been the one who introduced this pub to the site, I suppose I ought to write up my review pretty pronto.
Ma Egertons is a typically traditional unspoilt smallish Liverpool pub, located in a side street behind the Empire Theatre and close to the side exit from Lime Street Station.
Ma Egerton was well known in theatrical circles and was apparently a close friend of Charlie Chaplin.
The main room ( on the left of the pub as you go in ) is adorned with photographs of those who have performed at the theatre and have, presumably popped in for the proverbial swift half between performances ( or scenes ?).
Of particular note are paintings of some of Liverpool's leading kights - Ken Dodd, Cilla Black and George Formby.
There is also a painting of Ma Egerton herself above the fireplace - she looks a bit like a typically fearsome old style Northern pub matriarch.
Ma Egertons seems to be one of those Liverpool pubs that has not moved into the 21st Century - and is all the better for it.
Read more about the pub in the Liverpool Historic Pub Guide, which is well worth getting hold of.
The one downside is that there's no real ale - so you'll have to make do with John Smith's Smooth or something similar if you want to visit.
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