Thomas Rigby's, Liverpool

Thomas Rigby’s is a characterful grade II listed former coaching inn that was comfortably busy during a recent Monday evening visit. The serving counter runs up the right where premium keg is supported alongside six hand pumps, four of which were in operation drawing Okells’s Bitter, Hawks Head’s Windermere Pale, Kirkstall’s Three Swords and an offering from Vocation Brewery. The fittings and décor are very traditional and there’s a bit of lead lined glass around the top of the counter. The centre of the pub is mostly standing room and seating runs up the left, including a raised section in the left rear. At the end of the counter are steps up to a carpeted seating area with lots of naval prints on the walls, including one of Nelson above an aged fireplace with burner. Confusingly this room was full of French students chatting away in their mother tongue, so with the décor and a few pints onboard I thought I’d stumbled into an 18th century plot. They all thought that a chuckling nutter had sat next to them and decided to leave. Access from this room can be gained to a large rear outdoor seating area. On my way out I spotted lots more seating in the right-hand side of the pub, but it looked fairly empty. I liked it in here so next time I’m in the area I’ll pop back in to have a butchers around the parts I didn’t investigate.

A sizable former coaching Inn with several rooms and with a certain ambiance about it though also a little bit of a touristy feel as well, I had a pint of Brew York Calmer Chameleon which was ok as was the pub but not a place I'd linger too long in.

My first visit for 12 years. I really wanted to get a better impression of the heritage interior than I had retained, but I was very pleased to see the line up of beers on the hand pumps (see photo). Two were turned around (Theakston Best and Lightfoot), but this left some good ones, from which I decided on Hawkshead Windermere Pale 3.4% (NBSS 4). The downside for me was the rather noisy pop and disco music being blasted out to an almost empty pub on a Monday afternoon. Doesn't exactly encourage me to come back soon.

Quality pub. Grade II listed. Good Beer Guide 2023. Separate dining rooms, which you could be mistaken for thinking you are on a sailing ship. Huge external courtyard, with external screen showing the football. An interesting beer board - with sliding in/out indicators - shows a good mix of European Keg and British cask. Okells house but I boringly went with a TT Landlord in fine condition. A bit of something for everyone here and I would happily come back.

Our early Tuesday evening visit to Rigby's was the quietest I've seen this pub for some time. There were just a handfull of other people scattered around the pub. The pub looks quite impressive from the outside. Inside doesn't quite live up to the same expectations. Although the main front bar with its bare boards feels quite atmospheric and there is a more comfortable room at the rear. The courtyard behind the pub is a lively outdoor space to drink during the summer. Okell's Bitter is the regular beer. Guests were Northern Monk This Beer Sleighs, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Purple Moose Snowdonia Ale & Ossett White Rat.