Covid 19 has naturally dominated business in pubs but there has been some good news along with the bad. To comply with government guidelines pubs must ensure customers register themselves upon entry, and to improve social distancing many have extended or gained new outdoor seated areas. (From Monday 14th September, venues such as pubs and restaurants will be legally required to request contact details of everyone visiting, hold it for 21 days and provide it to NHS Test and Trace. They face fines of £1,000 if they fail to comply*)
Stamps in Crosby has a new roof terrace while others such as The Dispensary and The Pen Factory offer an outside table service. My personal thanks to those micropubs like Cask, The Little Taproom Aigburth, The Four Ashes and The Ship & Mitre who, during lockdown, offered takeaway cask beers, and continue to offer this service. Pubs have also changed their opening times, so best to check on their social media, as they can change by the week.
So, first the good news:
Most pubs have now reopened, with many that had stayed shut opening over the August bank holiday weekend, including The Roscoe Head, The Grapes, The Fly in Loaf, The Pen Factory and Peter Kavanaghs.
The Denbigh Castle on Hackins Hey, which opened in July, has proved a popular venue with sports screens on both floors. Like many pubs it is advisable to book a table in advance for social distancing requirements. Cask beers are typically Kirkstall or Five points. Previously named Walters and Jupiters, the pub has now returned to its original name.
A new beer and coffee bar has opened nearby on Dale St, called the Angus Tap and Grind. It features four handpumps, and an array of craft beers with live music at weekends, beers such as Oakham Citra and Bristol Beer Factory are available.
St Lukes, ‘The Bombed Out’ Church, on Leece St / Berry St, host of beer festivals, is now operating as a garden bar. They operate a table service which is accessed via a phone app, and as seating is all outdoors social distancing measures are fully adhered to. The garden bar is expected to be operating into the winter months. Beers are from Liverpool Brewing Company Ltd, and there will be occasional beer and gin festivals.
The Roscoe Head has had its ACV renewed see article page (insert page number), thanks to help from councillor Nick Small and our team at Liverpool CAMRA, especially Graham Murray. Carol is hopeful she will get a market rent only (MRO) lease from Hawthorne Leisure. Pub companies which own 500+ tenanted pubs must offer the MRO option as part of the pubs code, but there was a dispute as to whether Hawthorne came under this rule as some of its over 500 pubs did not count for an obscure reason. The road outside the Roscoe Head has been closed to allow outside seating, thanks again to Nick Small of Liverpool City Council.
Pi Bar Mossley Hill, which closed earlier this year, is opening as a new bar in what used to be the extension half of the building, it will be called Haul Bar. It will also act as a bottle shop. More details when it does open.
Unfortunately, some bad news is that, along with the Sanctuary which closed at outset of lockdown, another victim has been Bread & Butter on Hope Street, home to the no 23 beer bar which had just started to return to offering craft beers. A notice on door says it has closed permanently although, it could get new tenants at some point in future. Some pubs nearby have yet to open such as The Augustus John, The Caledonia, and The Belvedere. It is rumoured that the Belvedere has not opened because the pub does not easily lend itself to safe social distancing. On the 9th September the Augustus John reported that they were getting ready to reopen.
As reported in the June Newsletter, The Liverpool Pigeon micropub in Crosby, a previous winner of Liverpool CAMRA Pub of the Year award has stayed closed since Jacky, who along with husband Pat ran the bar, succumbed to cancer in June.
Steve Downing
Whatpub Co-ordinator
Please check www.whatpub.com for the latest updates on pubs reopening and changes to opening hours. For changes to whatpub email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
