Student Pubs of Liverpool - a student's guide to...

Legal statement: This is a page where I rant about some of my experiences in the Pubs of Liverpool that are close enough to Uni to have pre-lecture, post-lecture, pre-practical, post-practical, aswell as mid-lecture and mid-practical sessions! They are only my experiences and do not mean this is how everyone experiences these establishments.

FOR A REAL ALE TARGETTED REVIEW GO HERE!

FOR THE ICLIVERPOOL PUB REVIEWS GO HERE

BELOW ARE MY REVIEWS POSTED ON 21^st AUGUST 2003! Note my opinions change! Updates are included for some pubs.


The pubs below are rated on Drink prices, whether there is food served, if they have pool tables, and if there are beautiful barmaids (that section was requested by Mr Laurence J Sanderson BSc (Hons) )... the star ratings are solely on my experience, not on whether any of the criteria above are met or not.

Please enjoy the reviews and hope to see you back soon!

The Symphony - formerly "The Varsity" - NO STARS
Drink = NON-STUDENT PRICES, Food = YES, Pool = YES [Varsity didn't], Beautiful barmaids = NOT when I was there!

I had heard much of the Varsity! Physoc held their 2001 Christmas party their, some students had been taken there on the open day in 1999,... So when I made my belated first voyage there last night (20^th December 2002) I was slightly disheartened by the whole place. First appearance, very nice place - Trendy new look. Went up to the bar, ordered a Fosters (~£2.35) but the barrel was empty, so my mates were served whilst the women serving me went to change barrels. I asked if there was a pool table, and the guy behind the bar said "yeah, upstairs", so everyone headed up for game. Whilst I was getting my drink, the barmaid said to me "two of your mates haven't got drinks! If they don't have drinks when I come up then I'll have to ask you to leave, this is NOT a common room!". No its not a common room, its a PUBLIC HOUSE! We, members of the PUBLIC and students, walk in and do nothing wrong! A bunch of lads just going for a drink, NOT looking for trouble. We are made to feel as welcome as a fart in a space suit!!! This place needs a personality transplant! For a place so close to University the staff seem to have a dislike of male students. I was not impressed. Very poor attitude, poor service!

[Update March 2006: When to the Symphony a couple of nights ago... uhm, yes. I didn't get a round in at this place, because at some point it turned into 2 for 1 on ALL drinks, and so two people buying a round covered my for four pints. Sorted! They had an open mic night on, and the music ranged from chilled Jazz to some noisy pricks with their new instruments. A new addition is a pool table. Decor is basically the same.]

Itchy Liverpool - The Symphony @ beerintheeveing.com

This is the postgraduates [used to say "lecturers"] of the Physics department haunt, and I wonder why! A place with non-student prices! But on campus, this is a blatent attempt to make students go to the other bars to allow lecturers and postgraduates a place to relax. This may not be the ploy but is what I felt when I went in there. I know some students go there every day, and some postgrads go there as well, but why waste money in a smokey, cramped, overpriced place like that when you have decent bars placed over campus with good prices and not as smoke filled as a smoked haddock factory? Alot better than the Varsity experience, but not brilliant! Although does have a good selection on the jukebox, although it doesn't play very audiably.

[Update March 2006: I agree with all of this review, but it has become a habit to hit this pub for a sneaky pint! Jukebox is ok, and if I'm in there then my usual selection will be on. Pints are ok - Carlsberg been brought in at below £2! Food is ok/good, vegetarians like me struggle. Barstaff are friendly!!! Some business types come in here, but don't let that put you off... the thing to put you off is when it is standing room only. Occasional a**ehole aswell.]

All in all a great bar! Staff are very welcoming to ALL people. Some are not that bad looking either! Student prices on drinks (£1.35 - pint of Carling, ~£1.35 - single Vodka and Coke), plus the chance to get the best Panini's in Liverpool (not that I've had any others) for ~£1.70!! Choose from Tomato, Chicken, Bacon, or Ham. The music is always played from the Box TV channel, sometimes even having the videos playing on the big screen if it works. So it may not be to everyone's taste. On match days the Gilmour shows the live matches, with Premiership, European, and International action being shown. Its a pleasent place to be! Very friendly vibe! You don't feel like when you start talking to a stranger at the bar they will tell you to "f*** off", although I appologise to the Gillingham fan who I gave the cold shoulder to last semester (Sept - Dec 2002)!!! I was playing pool in the Pool room next door and it was my shot so had to leave. Thats the other thing the Gilmour has, Pool! Although not the best tables in the world, its a great place to chill out, release pent up anger on the balls, or just watch a few games whilst waiting for a game. If you go there during term time you will probably see me in there.

EXCLUSIVE TO PHYSICIST.FSNET: Pool room floor has been newly laid - Summer 2003. During Summer 2004 the whole Gilmour bar is inline for a decorating, may include the pool room if funds stretch that far!

[Update March 2006: When I go here I get caught by regulars and so can't relax as I once did! The pool room has changed since I was an undergrad, for the worse. The decor inside the bar has now come to include massive mirrors for those who want to put their makeup on, or for those who want to perv at other students in the mirrors - note regulars won't use the mirrors to perv. People who go here are students, students, students, porters, and builders. The attractiveness of students varies wildely, so beware the beergoggles. One girl I spoke to in here recently was incredibly beautiful... explaining why she walked off.]

I don't feel as comfortable here than in the Gilmour, but its the place we head off to if the Gilmour is shut/packed/run out of Panini's! Its best bit is the Pizza's at £1.75 for a 9'' margarita your onto a winner! TIP: If you want a pizza with toppings, its cheaper to order a margarita with the extra toppings on the pizza you want rather than buy a pizza with the toppings as listed. The drink is the same price as the Gilmour, and the staff are usually seen on either bar sometime during the day/week. So you have nice looking barmaids here to. Watch out for the drunk middle aged men in both bars asking you to help with their crosswords, and giving out stupid advice (the worst advice comes from the one called Alan)! Nice place though! Music is usually Rock, going from Nu Metal, Rap Metal, to Pink, and that sort of pop. If your mate feels sick you may get a round of appause when / if you get him out before he throws up! I did!

One of the basement bars (the other basement bar next door to Mandela's is ALWAYS shut so don't bother!), most famous for the R&B section of the club nights in the Guild. During the day it turns into a pool room. The beer - if any - is not the best, and the bar is not always open for drinks! Being in the basement almost all mobile phone signals disappear, and so with no drinks and no contact with mates who are lost trying to find the bar you can question your sanity in going there during the day. Its a good place for some quiet time. But if you buy your drinks from the Gilmour and the pool room there is full you can always walk down, with drinks, to Mandela's for a few games. Also has soft drink bottle machines, so if your a tea-total then your sorted with Mandela's. [How to get there: In the Guild, head towards SPA Travel. Go towards the Gilmour/Liver/Riley'sCafe', and before you reach the first door head down the stairs on your left. At the bottom of the stairs turn right. Follow the corridor round and go through the double doors into the darkness, your there]

[Update March 2006: DOES THIS PLACE STILL EXSIST? I'm not addicted to pool anymore so haven't been there in YEARS! Thank you God!]

You'll find this place is not as warm in character as the Gilmour in its welcoming vibes, but its just as good a place as the Liver to go and chill out. Some lecturers can be found inhabiting this area during the day and into evening! The one pool table is prime real estate within the pub, and the juke box is usually huddled around by music enthusiasts, or wannabe music enthusiasts. Music here is generally better than either the Gilmour or Liver, with the Stone Roses, Bob Marley, and others in the Juke Box - but the cds are never changed so can get predictable. Drinks are student prices (but they went up by 20% to £1.20 a pint! I complained and was told "we haven't raised prices in 20 years till now!"), although its not within the Guild complex - its owned by the University apparently. Some food is available I think if you ask nicely, although I've never seen anyone eating there unless it was a SPAR pasty. If not pop round the corner to the Spar, avoid the sandwich type shop though, not a nice place to get not nice food from! [these are my views]

[Update March 2006: Last time I was unlucky enough to go to the AJ I noticed the jukebox has been replaced by a CD player behind the bar so that the staff control the music. Rumours were that this place would be knocked down last summer, to be replaced by a "trendy winebar" in the Foundation Building (the new building opposite the Victoria Building containing SUBWAY, TESCO, and BSM) - the University then bought the Foundation Building and the AJ was saved. Opportunity missed!]

From the University precinct (i.e. near HSBC) head towards the Everyman theater (down Hope St) and turn right as you get passed a Mexican restaurant on your left. Head down that road and on your left is this little hide-away. With about three good quality pool tables (see a trend here?) and ample room for drinks and personel, this place seemed barron with only about 10 people in there when I went. Drinks are non-student prices, but I would come here after lectures, which I wouldn't say about the Varsity or Cambridge. Staff seem ok, not over friendly towards us. Food is served, but Panini's cost £3.95 instead of £1.70 in the Gilmour! Nice place this! I liked it.

[Update March 2006: It's an IT'S A SCREAM pub so your Yellow Cards get you cheaper drinks... buy a yellow card for about £1. I like this place, but don't go very often. One tip if with mates is to get a jug of beer/lager it's easier and cheaper. Food is good but expensive for undergraduates. Barstaff are nice, not talkative. Recommended place for chilling on their sofas.]

JMU Guild is a wierd place of ID checks and security guards! Enter only with your NUS card or as a 'guest' of an NUS member! The main bar is a western type joint, with wood wood wood... also with little anicdotes painted onto the walls which can be funny when bored / drunk! I haven't tried to see if the bar staff are fun to talk to, it doesn't seem the place you can become a regular and know the staff, not like the Guild bars for the real Uni! [given three stars coz I couldn't say it was the same as Mandela's]

[Update March 2006: How did I compare this with Mandela's? Fucking hell... this place is good! Cheap drink, pool tables, a good jukebox, plenty of room, stunning students (JMU students are the most beautiful)... compare that to Mandela's? Shocked at my shit review from 2003!]

Situated close to campus on Hope Street [the street with Everyman Theater and Philharmonic pub on] this is a small bar. It seemed the sort of place that it takes ages to become a regular in... when I was there some people were waving and gestering across the room at eachother, the beautiful barmaid was chatting to them all, but not to the newer customers - i.e. me and Lol. The jukebox is FREE although it says on it "50p = 3 tracks, £1 = 7 tracks" the same barmaid shouted over "It's free, you don't need to put money in" - this after I'd already put a quid in. It has a good selection of CDs with a wide genre mix. The pints are around the £1.90 to £2.50 mark, although there is one lager that costs £3.20 per pint! Ludicrous! All in all a nice little bar.

[Update March 2006: Food is very good... go downstairs during lunch.]

On Hardman Street. This is the main real ale pub in Liverpool to my knowledge... serves loads of stuff you'd never try anywhere else - Champagne Lager? Cherry Lager? Raspberry Lager? All good stuff - if you like that sort of stuff... don't come here if you're looking for "cooking lager"! Ideally situated to start a night out, or at the end of an evening session where the Pizza takeaways of Hardman Street await.

If you're an undergrad then you probably know this pub... opposite the HSBC and Multans. I like it. A strange feeling of trying to aim at students and other types of people, it's not a clear cut student pub, and yet it sits on the edge of campus and student residences. Drink is reasonable, and grub is good. Barstaff are welcoming, and the TV is always on the sports channels. Oh, and as always fit students go there.

Go here for great fried breakfasts all day. They cost about ~£1.70 for a plate full of beans, toast, sausage's, bacon,... or the veggie breakfast consisting of beans, toast, hash browns, eggs, and sometimes chips (ask them for them if not - but may be charged). They also do baked potatos, and a few other stuff. If you ask for veggie, make sure they know whether you eat chicken, fish, etc... Some veggies do eat that stuff, so the staff assume you eat it. I was given such an offending meal - not happy was I!

[Update March 2006: Cheap, nicer food elsewhere if you're willing/able to spend £4 on lunch]

[Rewriten review March 2006: The breakfasts here are great. They cost about twice as much as the Riley offering, but are so much better!!! Also offer pizzas, jacket potatos, and sandwiches. Great little place. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ANY TIME OF DAY!!!!]

[New review: Expensive place! Good sandwiches, and soups, but not worth the price!]

[New review: New to the area, this is a direct rival of the Salmonela Shop (everyone has their name for the sandwich shop near the SPAR) What can I say? 1 FOOT SANDWICH PACKED FULL OF ALMOST HEALTHY FOOD. Nice... packed at lunchtime by students and school children - How do you afford daily subways?]

[New review: On Myrtle Street in the dodgy looking arcade of shops. Has a great/cheap buffet on some days. Their main menu is nice aswell.]

[New review: I HATE THIS PLACE! One: The food is aweful, 3 options - 1 vegitarian option which is usually not good. Sandwiches downstairs are very nice though. Two: Staff are too friendly... how the guy that runs the place found out which town I come from I'll never know! Three: Lecturers with more money than sense come to this cheap place for their lunch break and complain about the price! I hate this place soo much!!!]

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