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Pints, Police Cells & Pub History in Liverpool
I had a really enjoyable day exploring some of Liverpool’s pubs, starting at the Ship & Mitre and finishing at Dead Crafty Beer Company. I loved how every stop felt different, from the cosy traditional rooms at places like the Roscoe Head and Belvedere to the unusual setting of The Bridewell and the more relaxed feel of Dead Crafty. There was plenty of history to take in along the way, as well as some great cask and craft beers to try. It was one of those days where I could just wander, enjoy each pub and really take in Liverpool’s character.
Liverpool’s story really begins in 1207, when King John made the small fishing and farming settlement a free borough and trading port. Its fortunes grew rapidly after the world’s first commercial enclosed wet dock opened in 1715. During the 1700s, Liverpool became deeply involved in the transatlantic slave trade, bringing enormous wealth alongside terrible human suffering. By the 1800s it had grown into one of Britain’s great ports, linked to trade, industry and migration from around the world. The city kept changing through the 20th century, becoming famous for its music, football, humour, culture and strong sense of identity today.
Ship & Mitre
My first visit of the day was o Ship & Mitre The Ship & Mitre on Dale Street dates from the mid-1930s, when the present building replaced an earlier coach house on the site. It was built as a brewery tap for Bent’s Brewery, one of Liverpool’s major brewing names, whose brewery stood nearby. Over the years the pub traded under different names, including The Mitre and later The Flagship, before becoming the Ship & Mitre. Bent’s itself was eventually absorbed into the larger Bass group as Liverpool’s brewing industry changed. The pub has remained a familiar part of Dale Street for decades and is a good survivor from Liverpool’s inter-war brewing history.
Inside, the Ship & Mitre has a warm, traditional look with plenty of dark wood throughout. The main room is set across different levels, with wooden partitions, brass rails and a large central bar. One of the nicest features is the colourful stained-glass-style skylight above, with old street-lamp-style lights adding to the character. There’s a mix of wooden tables, chairs and bench seating, along with patterned carpet in parts of the pub and wooden flooring around the bar. Framed pictures, beer signs and nautical touches decorate the walls, while the bottle shop area adds another interesting feature to the room.
A great selection of cask ales, keg beers and ciders was available. I went for Red Menis by Hewitt’s, a red ale with malty and fruity flavours and a smooth, balanced finish.
Roscoe Head
My next visit was to Roscoe Head . The Roscoe Head has been serving Liverpool since at least 1835, with the pub itself dating its opening to the 1830s. It takes its name from William Roscoe, the Liverpool historian, poet, politician and campaigner against the slave trade. The pub was given a major refit in the 1930s, creating much of the traditional layout that survives today. It has been run by the Joyce/Ross family for more than 30 years. After years of uncertainty over its future, tenant Carol Ross bought the freehold in 2020. It has also appeared in every CAMRA Good Beer Guide since 1974.
Inside, the Roscoe Head has a cosy, traditional look, with a main bar, two small rooms and a tiny snug giving it a lovely old-fashioned layout. Much of its 1930s character has been carefully retained, with dark wooden panelling, frosted-glass partitions and plenty of warm wood throughout. The rooms have patterned bench seating, wooden tables and stools, with large decorative mirrors, framed pictures and old pub signs adding character to the walls. Small fireplaces help give the rooms a homely feel, while the compact wooden bar has carved detail, hanging glassware and warm lighting. It all feels intimate and full of character.
There were 6 cask ales, a still cider and a range of keg choices. I went for Jarl by Fyne Ales, a blonde ale with bright citrus and grapefruit flavours and a crisp, refreshing finish.
The Belvedere
A short walk brought me to The Belvedere. The Belvedere sits in a handsome Georgian building on Sugnall Street, forming part of a terrace built in the second quarter of the 19th century. The pub was formerly known as the Belvedere Hotel and has served this part of Liverpool for well over a century. Its frontage was altered in the early 1900s, when new windows and door surrounds were added. The building was Grade II listed in 1975 as part of the historic Falkner Street terrace. The Belvedere closed in 2003 and faced conversion to flats, but was bought, saved as a pub and reopened in 2006 again.
Inside, the Belvedere is tiny, cosy and full of traditional character. There are two main rooms with a narrow drinking lobby between them, giving the pub a wonderfully old-fashioned layout. The bar has a curved wooden counter, while beautiful etched and cut glass panels divide the serving area from the lobby. Look closely and you can spot birds and other detailed designs in the glass. The smoke room has a high ceiling, dark wood panelling, bench seating and a fireplace, while red tiled flooring runs through part of the pub. It feels intimate, warm and packed with lovely historic detail.
There were 4 cask ales alongside a wide range of keg options. I went for Our Lips Are Sealed by Salopian Brewery, a golden ale with fresh citrus and stone fruit flavours and a gentle bitter finish.
The Bridewell
The Bridewell is one of Liverpool’s most unusual historic pubs. Historic England dates the building to around 1850, when it was built as a police station and lock-up. Its ground-floor cells were windowless, hidden behind heavy doors and a high boundary wall. The building remained in police use until the 1930s and later spent time as rehearsal space for Liverpool bands during the 1980s, including Frankie Goes to Hollywood. It was Grade II listed in 1980, helping protect its historic character. After years of other uses, the old Bridewell was converted into a pub in 2003, giving the building a new life.
Inside, The Bridewell still looks unmistakably like its former life as a police lock-up. The downstairs area has exposed red brick, vaulted brick ceilings and a stone-flagged floor, with the old cells now turned into small seating rooms. Heavy cell doors, narrow corridors and thick walls give the place a really distinctive look. The cells are softened with cushioned bench seating, wooden tables, framed pictures and warm lighting, while the main bar sits beneath the same brick arches. It feels cosy without hiding the building’s past, and the mix of bare brick, old doors and snug little rooms makes the interior especially memorable.
There were 4 cask ales, a still cider and a variety of keg choices. I went for Three Swords by Kirkstall Brewery, a pale ale with light citrus and fruity hop flavours and a clean, refreshing finish.
The Denbigh Castle
I headed to The Denbigh Castle. Tucked away on Hackins Hey, the Denbigh Castle has a pub history stretching back more than two centuries. It is recorded by at least 1815, when William Williams appeared in Gore’s Directory as the victualler, and the Denbigh Castle name was certainly in use by 1827. The premises were enlarged in 1852, creating a two-room pub. During the 1970s it was renamed Walter’s, a name it kept into the 1980s, before becoming Jupiter’s in the 1990s. Following refurbishment, the pub reopened in 2020 under its original Denbigh Castle name, bringing a Liverpool pub name back to Hackins Hey once again.
Inside, the Denbigh Castle has a warm, traditional look, with deep blue walls, exposed brickwork and plenty of dark wood. The main room is fairly open, with wooden flooring, a tall black iron column and a mix of wooden tables, chairs and dark leather bench seating. Large front windows bring plenty of light into the room, while the patterned ceiling and decorative edging add some extra character. A smaller seating area has blue patterned wallpaper, buttoned bench seating and closely grouped tables. Framed pictures and old signs finish things off nicely, giving the pub a cosy, comfortable feel.
There were 4 cask ales, a still cider and a great selection of keg options. I went for Sketch For Summer by Castle Rock Brewery, a New Zealand pale ale with grapefruit and tropical fruit flavours and a crisp, refreshing finish.
Ye Hole in Ye Wall
My next visit was to Ye Hole in Ye Wall. Ye Hole in Ye Wall on Hackins Hey proudly carries the date 1726 and has long been known as one of Liverpool’s oldest pubs. The exact date is part of the pub’s long-running tradition, although records show the site was clear in 1803 and later became a warehouse. From the 1860s it was used by O’Donnell’s wine and spirit business, before becoming Ye Hole in the Wall after 1910. The 1726 date was already displayed by then and has remained part of its identity ever since. A major refit in the 1930s later gave the pub much of its traditional character.
Inside, Ye Hole in Ye Wall has an old-fashioned look, with dark wood panelling, stained and leaded glass, and seating areas divided by glazed screens. Brown upholstered bench seating runs around the walls, with round tables and stools tucked into different sections. Framed pictures and old Liverpool scenes add colour, while the patterned flooring and dark timber give the rooms a warm, traditional appearance. One of the most striking details is the ornate copper hood over the fireplace. The snug-like layout, wooden partitions and decorative glass make it feel cosy and full of character, with plenty of details to notice.
There were 5 cask ales alongside a range of keg options. I went for Ye Hole In Ye Wall 1726 Golden Ale, a golden ale with light malt and citrus flavours and a clean, refreshing finish.
Dead Crafty Beer Company
My final visit in Liverpool was to The Dead Crafty Beer Company. Dead Crafty sits in Westminster Chambers, a striking Grade II listed building dating from 1880. Designed by Liverpool architect Richard Owens, it was originally built for David Roberts, Son & Co, with shops and offices facing Dale Street and warehouses behind. Much later, the ground-floor premises stood empty for around 12 years before Gareth and Vicky Morgan took them on. Inspired by a visit to a beer event in Houston, Texas, the couple created Dead Crafty and opened the doors on 18 March 2016. Brooklyn Brewery co-founder Steve Hindy officially opened the new bar, beginning a new chapter for this Victorian building.
Inside, Dead Crafty has a relaxed, slightly industrial look, with exposed brick, rough timber walls and plenty of quirky details. One of the first things that catches your eye is the huge colourful mural covering the back wall, surrounded by old beer signs and artwork. String lights and bunting add a bit of warmth, while wooden cable-reel tables, metal stools and mismatched chairs keep things laid-back. The long dark serving area runs along one side beneath more signs and decorations. Large front windows bring in plenty of natural light, and the whole place feels colourful, casual and packed with character.
There was a fantastic range of craft keg beers covering plenty of different styles and strengths, with even more choice from the cans and bottles in the fridges. I went for Iron Goddess by Holy Goat Brewing, brewed in collaboration with Black Kite, a fruited sour with strawberry and oolong tea flavours and a tart, fruity finish.
Micropub Adventures 
You chose the best venues there Scott – great planning
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