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Image posted by Will Larter
Submitted on Thursday, 15th January 2026
With picture contributions to 13157 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (32 more images)
Detail Pages
The Dispensary, Liverpool
Liverpool
L1 2SP
Served areas
Reviews of The Dispensary (Average Rating: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Rob Hunter left this review about The Dispensary
I have been here once before, but it must have been quite a few years ago. Paid a re-visit on Friday early afternoon. Five of seven hand pulls in active service, with one of the remainder unclipped and the other having a reversed Ossett Butterley. I went for the Titanic Plum Porter at £2.44 for a half, and was in superb condition, being pulled through before being served. A chalk board to the left of the bar lists the ales.
A nice old school traditional pub, conveniently just a five minute stagger from the nearby Roscoe Head. A bare boarded floor surrounds the bar with a few bench seats in the windows. To the left is a carpeted raised area with more comfortable cushioned bench seating to the corner, a fireplace, and small round tables with low stools. The windows have etched glass, with the raised section bearing the words 'Smoke Room', and there is coloured stained glass above.
I was the only customer in shortly after midday. A couple of lads entered shortly after me, but they seemed to be just chatting with the bar staff, although one of them had a pint of tap water before disappearing. A couple of actual paying customers came in around 12:30.
Golf was showing on the TV but muted in favour of music playing at a reasonable volume. There does appear to be an Irish rugby theme with pictures on the walls.
Gents toilets are down a corridor at ground level, ladies are downstairs at basement level. Externally, there is a covered beer garden.
I can't fault the ale selection and my Plum Porter was excellent. I shall be back!
On 21st September 2026
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1036 recommendations about 775 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about The Dispensary
I seem to have memories of being here once or twice before, but didn't write a review. Hazy memories, so another visit was called for. I find it a little underwhelming, the dark interior not being helped by much in the way of lights on a gloomy January afternoon, and the only member of staff having her head buried in a book and barely engaging with customers. Five hand pumps on the handsome but dark and gloomy bar counter, with Ossett White Rat and two of its relatives from Rat brewery. (Also Titanic Plum Porter and Oakham Citra, which seem to be regulars) I went for Drowned Rat, a 4.3% "pale, hoppy bitter" which tasted bland and underwhelming - possibly even gloomy - to my quite possibly jaundiced palate. Time to find another pub.
On 12th January 2026
- rating: 5
[User has posted 4937 recommendations about 4518 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about The Dispensary
Purveyor of Tayto crisps at a pound a packet, as well as cheap pies and sausage or vegan rolls. Also: beer! Ossett and Oakham seem to be preferred with 2 of each, but there's several more handpumps. TV screens are a bit annoying, but the sound was off when I visited.
The Dispensary is well worth stopping at and I'd hope to revisit at some point.
On 14th August 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 691 recommendations about 642 pubs]
View more reviews of The Dispensary (22)
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- Official site of The Dispensary - www.dockleafbar.co.uk
- Facebook - Dispensary Pub
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Dispensary - whatpub.com
Liverpool Central, 0.36 miles, 6 min walk (show)
Liverpool Lime Street, 0.49 miles, 9 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 11 February 2015 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 11 February 2015 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 23 July 2015 by Aqualung .
- Beer Garden : Yes - Bench seating along Oldham Street - last updated 14 August 2025 by paulof horsham
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 11 February 2015 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 11 February 2015 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : No last updated 11 February 2015 by Quinno _
- Darts : No last updated 23 July 2015 by Aqualung .
- Dog Friendly : No last updated 23 July 2015 by Aqualung .
- Function Room : No last updated 23 July 2015 by Aqualung .
- Hot Food : No last updated 23 July 2015 by Aqualung .
- Jukebox : No last updated 23 July 2015 by Aqualung .
- Karaoke : No last updated 11 February 2015 by Quinno _
- Live Music : No last updated 23 July 2015 by Aqualung .
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 11 February 2015 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 23 July 2015 by Aqualung .
- Pinball : No last updated 11 February 2015 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 11 February 2015 by Quinno _
- Quiz Night : No last updated 23 July 2015 by Aqualung .
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 11 February 2015 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 23 July 2015 by Aqualung .
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 23 July 2015 by Aqualung .
- WiFi : No last updated 23 July 2015 by Aqualung .
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