The Pumphouse, Liverpool

This is a Greene King pub on the Albert Dock, housed in a distinctive building that I spotted from various parts of the docks and beyond thanks to its tall chimney that hints at its former use. The building was constructed in 1870 to provide high pressure water for the operation of various hydraulic appliances around the dock such as the dock gates, bridges, cranes and lifts. However, this past isn’t reflected in the modern style pub that Greene King have created. Split over three levels with plenty of exposed brickwork and new wooden floorboards, the pub has a rather bland appearance that belies its location. There’s a good amount of seating throughout the pub including some high tables and chairs opposite the bar and smart leather banquettes on the lower level. Decor is at a minimum and I didn’t even see any old pictures of the pump house in action. Loud music played during our visit and most people who were there seemed to be eating from the standard Greene King menu. Perhaps the main draw for this pub is that, as far as I can tell, it is the only place on the Albert Dock that serves real ale, albeit three mainstream Greene King regulars in the shape of IPA, Abbot Ale and Old Speckled Hen. The Abbot went off on my visit so I ended up with the IPA instead which was in reasonable condition. I had relatively high hopes for this place when judging it from outside, but it turned out to be a rather disappointing modern bar that is trying to fit in with the other bars around the dock rather than making use of the wonderful building it’s housed in.

Old Boots was right about the service,i think i must have been on when the service was like a Spoons on an average day.Anyway i gave it about 10 mins then called it a day and went to the Revolution further down.

Housed in a magnificent Victorian building still retaining its distinctive tall chimney from its previous use as a pump house for the Canning and Albert dock complex. It has views of the Three Graces although now hidden a bit by the new buildings going up on Mann Island; it sits on the dockside by the main road into Albert Dock opposite Liverpool One and near the new arena. Inside the building is broken up into numerous small spaces on different floor levels leading off a central bar area, some space is for sitting but most is given over to eating. The bar area is a modern light wood and tall dark wood furniture affair with a long counter down one side, there are a few tall tables and stools but vertical drinking is its main function. Ranged along the wood and chrome bar counter are a lot of single keg founts, all fairly standard lagers, smooths, cider and Guinness, a couple of jokers here from Hoegaarden, Leffe and Staropramen. Greene King provide the cask ales, St Edmunds Ale, IPA and Old Speckled Hen on 3 out of the four pulls, the GK badged ones are on their whizzy stainless steel pumps with the adjustable sparkler. Service was a little like ‘spoons on a good day, the pub not being overly busy early evening mid-week, just a few tourists and locals after work/shopping plus a couple of families with kids.