Philharmonic Dining Rooms, Liverpool

The Philharmonic Dining Rooms has been on my visit list for many years so I was pleased to call in on a recent weekday evening when there were hardly any other customers, which surprised me a little. The ornate black and gold gate at the entrance hints at what is to be expected inside, and it doesn’t disappoint. I could right pages on the interior, but I think it’s best to just go have a look for yourself if you’ve not been. The circular island bar supports two banks of five hand pumps that were drawing an offering from Purity Brewing, Old Peculiar, Stroud Brewery’s Tom Long, Wainwright Gold, Black Sheep, Stewart’s Edinburgh Black Stout, Laine’s Doublon and St Austell’s Tribute. Standard and premium keg were also available from the two friendly barmen. I did think that the dance music in the background detracted somewhat from the splendour of the building. I made sure to have a bulging bladder so that I could check out the toilets, but I wasn’t that impressed if I’m honest, they could certainly do with a scrub to get the black mould off the urinals. The actual pub though is well worth a look and I’ll pop back in next time I’m in the area.

It is obviously on the to do list when in Liverpool, however once will probably be enough. As nice as the interior is it was looking a bit on the tired side, the beer selection was pedestrian at best and I opted for the most exciting beer available in Salopian Oracle, normally a good doer but on this occasion it was very poor, to the extent I got it replaced, unfortunately there was no improvement and the beer was left unfinished, the pubs been ticked , I probably won't do it again.