The Grapes, Liverpool

The Grapes is a bare boarded L-shaped pub with a front L-shaped counter that faces seating around the exterior walls. The seating continues up the right to an open plan seating area at the rear. The counter supports three banks of three hand pumps, but it was busy during a recent bank holiday Monday evening visit so I could only see the four right-hand side pumps that were badged with Rock the Boat Brewery’s Liverpool Light and Amber Sub, Fell Brewery’s Postcard and Kelham Island’s Modern Blonde. The service was polite and there was a good atmosphere generated by the old locals and groups of students who were in attendance. This popular pub is well worth a look.

A decent sized corner pub with a modern beer emphasis, eight or was it nine handpumps with good choice, I plumped for a Wild Card Five Card Draw. it would be a regular haunt if I lived up this way.

Another great discovery in what is fast becoming one of my favourite beer towns. A knocked through corner pub, with a couple of booths to the side. Found Utopian ESB on cask - which was a real surprise. Excellent.

The Grapes is probably still just about my favourite pub in Liverpool. When it's quiet (generally during the afternoon), it's a lovely place to while away a few hours and working your way through the beer selection. When it's busy (evenings), it has a really lively atmosphere and appears to be much favoured by students. With its corner location, space around the bar is at a premium. The largest area of seating is at one end of the pub. But there are further smaller seating areas next to a set of stairs and at the opposite (Knight Street) end. Real ales are constantly changing. The range on Thursday evening was Neptune Wooden Ships & Silenus, Mobberley Brewhouse 1924, Siren Yulu, Chapter Pemberley & Cat's Cradle & Wander Beyond Peak. The real cider was Yoxall Dark Fruits, whilst craft beers are also represented. These were Chapter As Lazarus & Suffering Is An Art, Love Lane Pale & Carnival Maple Swoon. Staff are good at spotting those waiting to be served around what can be a very congested bar area. However, this was another pub that cannot seem to stick to its published opening times. Their Facebook page says that they open until 2am on a Thursday. The CAMRA website is in agreement. But Google turned out to be correct with its 1am listing. Nevertheless, I always enjoy a visit to this pub and 1am is normally well past my bedtime in any case!