The Grapes is another typically small city-centre pub (albeit recently extended), with patrons arranging themselves around the horseshoe-shaped bar, with an excellent range of local ales from the likes of Liverpool Craft and Liverpool Organic and a groaning spirits shelf.
Following a significant renovation in Summer 2016 this once-cosy pub is notably larger – a good job given how popular this 200-year-old corner pub tends to be at night. The old slightly haphazard but generally lovable beer garden, which was a little oasis – and one of surprisingly few city centre beer gardens – in the Summer is now gone. But fear not, there’s now a flight of stairs to another lovely outdoor space sitting atop the new extension.
There are nine handpumps selling a variety of beers from around the region (Liverpool Organic, Liverpool Craft, Brimstage) and nationally too (Old Speckled Hen, Deuchars IPA, Jennings Cumberland, Marstons Pedigree), plus a cider on draught too. If you like rum you’ve come to the right place. The Grapes is a very rum joint – in terms of the spirits behind the bar anyway, there are over 30. If that’s not enough there are a couple of dozen gins to boot.
It’s somewhere you can get a surprisingly late drink without being deafened by tunes in this part of town too. The Grapes closes at 1am Sunday to Wednesday and until 2am Thursday through Saturday. The Grapes has gradually become something of a home from home for lots of Liverpool’s creatives, beatniks and authentic scousers so it’s rarely less than busy.
There’s surprisingly good Thai food available at times too – reckoned by some to be the best authentically Thai stuff in the city – served from 5-9pm Tuesday to Sunday.
There’s live music – jazz – every Sunday at around 9.30pm too if you’re looking for some live entertainment to accompany your real ale. Or just take in the art on the walls – usually from local painters displaying their wares.
