09/03/24 - The Liverpool Waterfront and some Good Beer Guide Ticking

 Falling back in love with Geocaching, always loving the Merseyside Pubs

Third recent visit to Liverpool, wondering what pubby delights will be revealed. Eventually, I'm going to have to run out of previously undiscovered gems, but not today, the City delivers again.

My walk is straightforward and treads on ground previously skirted. After City deviations to find the last Adventure Lab Caches, I reach the Waterfront at the Royal Liver Buildings.

Landmark 1

This is my walking view for most of the day

There is a high volume of Geocaches along the stretch down to Toxteth. I kind of expected a lot of micros attached to signs, but the fun factor is significantly higher. Most made me smile, none more than the one that required a magnetic extendable baton to retrieve a "dog from its kennel".  

Spice up a walk by treasure hunting

Or look at the view - the Cathedral looming behind South Queens Dock

The walking adventure ends at Brunswick Station. An arrow straight route back to the City and the first pub of the day.

My last visit to the Baltic Fleet was at night - nicely packed, with an amateur group singing sea shanties. I mentioned this to the bar staff, who were too young to even know what a sea shanty was. Helpfully, the one other lunchtime punter piped up to say that nautically based sing songs hadn't happened for at least the last five years.

A relatively new brew from Neptune, mine the 46th Untappd Check in of a Scottish Bitter called Firth and rather murkier than other's photos.

A chance to explore internally, but the best photo's from outside.

A Survivor - view from a Geocaching GZ opposite

Ship Ahoy - Its the Baltic Fleet

Next up - The Bridewell. Most cities have their unique pubs and drinking in the former cells of a Police Station may make this Liverpools. Each cell, a little booth with a TV screen and of course, occupied. Everton were losing to Man Utd.

No sign of the Taxi rank

Deya's Steady Rolling Man taken outside - to presumably, the world's smallest jail exercise area.

Good Beer Guide Pub of the Year in 2022 and 2023 and certainly one for the beer tourist (like myself).

My Pub of today is the Red Lion in Slater Street but I've been hoodwinked. Fool me once, outside offered culinary delights, such as "Pies and Cheese". My "are you doing food?" inquiry met with a more prosaic "Crisps and Nuts".

New A Board required

Fool me twice - this has only been a pub for two years. Converted from a terraced town house but haven't they done a fine job!

Timothy Taylor Landlord in fine condition

A corporate choice next and from a value perspective, I make the wrong decision. The 'Spoons Lime Kiln has passed in preference for the Head of Steam. Staff that couldn't help make me make my decision by offering no advice to their extensive menu. A complete a full circuit of the central bar before settling on a Brew York Lupu Lion pale ale.

I could have been in any City

I missed out on the Window facing Chesterfields by seconds. No doubt, my enjoyment would have been enhanced by viewing the mayhem of a Liverpool afternoon from behind the safety of glass?

Is there a City that can get anywhere close for all day boozing? The cocktail bars have the velvet ropes up by 2pm, with orderly queues forming for what my daughter described as "bottomless brunches". Stag Do's of Umpalumpas. Hen Do's of rodeo riding cowgirls. Live music pumping from all of the Irish Bars. 

My return train is at 4:30pm.

I can only imagine what the City is like when darkness falls.  

Walk Details

Distance - 6.5 Miles

Geocaches - 20

Walk Inspiration - Liverpool A-Z City Walks, Walk 4

Previous Liverpool A-Z City Walks - Walks 1 and 2, Walk 3