please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Continues to improve though it just doesn't seem to get the patronage it deserves.
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With the Ship & Mitre a few doors up, I seldom get in here. But I did stop for a drink back in October. I believe it has improved of late and it is in an area of good pubs. On my visit, they had Rock The Boat Bootle Bull, Big Bog Blonde Bach, Salopian Lemon Dream, Robinson's Dizzy Blonde, Brains The Rev James & Timothy Taylor Landlord. They also had Old Rose cider.
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Nothing special as a pub but the ale quality has vastly improved over the past year or so. It is now a viable alternative when you get fed up waiting to get served before the staff's cronies at the S & M.at the S & M
anonymous - 18 Dec 2016 14:45 |
Every time I walk past this pub I automatically think of the piss weak lager that Lidl stocks. But I have heard it's a good pub so I had to try it. The side of the bar I was on had 6 ales on, including Timothy Taylors Landlord, Robinsons Dizzy Blonde, The Rev James and Trappers Hat. The Trappers hat I had was just okay, I think it was the beer as the pint was clean looking, cost 3.10 as well. This pub has a bit of a proper pub feel to it, a big horseshoe bar, bar staff quite friendly. Sky sports news on the telly with food menus on all the tables. The interior is quite interesting to look at and a bit grand looking. Worth a try if you're in the area and the walk from Lime Street isn't too far away.
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The Excelsior is a pub I often try when in Liverpool, especially when visiting the Ship & Mitre a couple of doors up. But I tend to walk in one door and out the other. Yesterday however, I dwelt a little longer and actually had a drink. There are 6 ales in here these days and having two from Salopian signifies an improvement in the range of beers. The pub is slightly bigger than it first looks, with the space opening up at the back. It can get very busy when there is football on. But at other times it can provide a welcome respite from the crowds in the Ship & Mitre. Ales on during my visit were Brains The Rev James, Robinsons Dizzy Blonde, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Neptune King of the Sea & Salopian Choir Porter & Shropshire Gold.
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Really nice pub with friendly staff. Tried a couple of guest ales - both in decent nick and watched the ODI cricket as it started to fill with workers finishing for the day and Everton fans before the game.
I'd definitely return.
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Now become one of my regular haunts, especially if the Ship is crowded or if I want to watch the footy.
Staff are very pleasant and make you feel welcome.
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Vastly improved since my last visit - large, clean with tasteful wood decor. 3 real ales including Deuchar's IPA & Brain's Reverend James. A nice addition to the Dale Street crawl.
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A less beer-driven pub than The Ship next door, with nicer toilets, better food and footy. Large and moderately busy (full during Liverpool or Everton games) with decent beers, but take care when ordering a cask beer, as the pumps are spread over 2 rooms so you need to ask what's available. Pretty large and thoroughly pleasant, if you don't like The Ship or it's full this is the best alternative until you reach The Lion.
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Good to see this pub open again.
Watched the England game here the other day and the place was packed and have also been in a few other times when the footy wasn't on and it was also busy on those occasions.
An ideal place to come if you don't like it when the Ship & Mitre gets unbearably packed out.
They had Deuchers UPA, T Taylor Landlord, White Knight and another guest ale when I was here.
Food also looks good (they do a good range of Pie Minister pies!) and the staff are very friendly.
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Glad to see its back open. This pub is like the Ship & Mitres younger cousin, nowhere near as many beers available compared to its famous neighbour, but if you want a nice sit down with your pint then go here. Friendly staff, nice mix of customers and good enough ale. If your doing the Dale Street pub crawl, then call in for a pint.
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Inevitably the Excelsior would have a hard time emerging out of the shadows of the likes of Ship & Mitre and prestigious The Lion Tavern, and it certainly did itself no favours by only having one working cask ale pump on show when entering through a side door.. (I only spotted another four pumps on the other side of the bar as I was leaving.) Nevertheless I see no reason why I wouldn't pop back again as in it's own unassuming way provided a pleasant contrast to it's Friday night packed alternatives. Service was brisk and civil and my pint of Deuchars IPA was very acceptable. A relaxed, discreet atmosphere which will suit if that's the mood you're looking for. Not bad at all.
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Further to my previous post - it's now closed down!
I went in a few times and they stopped selling any ales so I went for Strongbow. Then, they stopped selling Strongbow and the only cider they had was Bulmers pear cider.
I can't see this pub re-opening any time soon!
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Been in here a few of times over the past 2 weeks on my way to Lime St station as an alternative to the Vernon Arms or Ship.
It was dead each time. 1st two times I got a pint of Spitting Feathers - and sat on my own watching Sky News on the TV, which was competing with very loud chart music coming from the stereo.
3rd time I went in on Tuesday just gone (after a pint in the Vernon Arms which was heaving with Christmas party revellers) and Old Speckled Hen was on - only it wasn't - so I had to stick for the old Strongbow again. It was me, a guy drinking a pint of Fosters and the bar maid.
They've spent quite a bit of money refurbishing this place but somehow can't get the punters in. Meanwhile, I headed off to catch my train and the Ship & Mitre next door was heaving!
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Went in on Monday 24th to watch the Liverpool v Aston Villa game. I was tempted by the large A boards advertising the match outside the pub, plus the fact that the Ship & Mitre wasn't showing the match, I expected the Excelsior to be heaving.
Well, it wasn't - along with the barman there was myself and about 6 other people. I didn't notice any beers on tap (I'm sure they used to do Cain's) and I certainly didn't see the Betwixt that oldboots reports; so I stuck for a pint of *cough*
Strongbow.
At least I could watch the footy on the big screen (they've got ESPN that has replaced Setanta) in peace and quiet without the usual football yobs screaming at the ref on the TV!
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The refurb has now finished as someone comments below and externally there is no change, internally the back bar retains its victorian features with just a light wash and brush up, the front is not modern garish but certainly lacks any charm. Very few punters in when I dropped in on my way to the Ship, bored staff watching football with the commentary in foreign. Very poor and warm Betwixt Sunlight the only ale on any of the six pumps, some with clips reversed some without clips. Not a pub that hits the mark yet and is likely to suffer with nearby competition like the Ship & Mitre, The Vernon, Dr Duncan's and the Okell's pubs up the road.
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Now under new management, and getting back on its feet following an extensive refurbishment. The said refurbishment has delivered a pub of two halves: a modernist bar with snazzy seating, looking more like a 50s cocktail or coffee bar, and a more traditional and comfortable area at the back. (We went for the latter).
They had several real ales on when we arrived, which seemed in pretty good condition, including Rev James from Brains, but they ran out of two as the evening went on, leaving only one. Friendly and apologetic staff, though. Overall, not a bad place for a pint, and better still if they can judge the turnover better.
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Currently (June 08) being refurbished so no cask ales on sale, although there are half a dozen handpumps in the large bar. I hope the magnificent ceilings and the original lincrusta will survive the refurb. In the right hands and with a sympathetic redecoration this could be a great addition to the Dale Street circuit, standing as it does between the Vernon Arms and the Ship & Mitre. Time will tell I guess.
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