Six of the Best Real Pubs

The Caledonia is a friendly, welcoming boozer famed for its live music, real ale and world rum selection. Cheap and delicious home-made pub food is served every day, with full English & Sunday roasts available at the weekend.

The Swan attracts a fiercely loyal clientele due to its fine selection of real ales (Marston’s Pedigree, Wobbly Bob and Old Rosie Scrumpy as well as the supplementary guests brews) and best rock’n’roll juke box in the city. However, don’t expect to be listening to your choice of music within at least three or four pints of paying your quid.

How would you like to sit in a pub that was as comfy as your nan’s living room, with a lovely open fire, relaxed atmosphere and (here’s where it may differ from your nan’s house) a cracking selection of guest beers on tap? Well, The Belevdere could be the solution. Tucked away on Sugnall Street, just off Falkner Street, in a Grade II listed building, The Belvedere was closed for years before it was rescued and refurbished. Well worth a visit.

The Roscoe Head is a traditional English public house with lots of character. Consisting of two small rooms, a main bar and a tiny snug, conversation definitely rules at this establishment, the backroom debates and banter are always entertaining. The Roscoe Head has won many awards for its beers and is the only pub in Merseyside to appear in every edition of the Good Beer Guide since first published in 1974, one of only 7 in Great Britain.

Featured regularly in Merseyale and The Good Beer Guide, and Liverpool & District CAMRA Pub of the Year in 2009, The Ship and Mitre is Merseyside’s premier real ale pub serving an excellent range of cask conditioned real ale, imported draught and a wide selection of German and Belgian beers. There are 15 handpumps offering real ales and ciders from microbreweries all over the country. Sample a wide range of beers, from German Pilsners and Czech lagers to the famous Strawberry Fruli. In the fridges, there are 100+ German, Belgian and American beers which all need to be tried.

Situated over two floors, The Pilgrim has long been a favourite with students. Its downstairs is set out into diner-style booths with a jukebox in each one (sadly ornamental now) and has a real cellar bar feel, but without the dank atmosphere. The well priced beer and spirits make for a lively and friendly ambience and reasonably priced food is offered throughout the day, from breakfast onwards.