The Saddle Inn, Liverpool

Dreadful! - The only real ale (Deuchars IPA) was totally undrinkable and I was refused an alternative. You won't see me back again!

Between the Hole in the Wall and Rigbys/Lady of Mann in Dale St, a lesser and duller pub than any of those three. A fine victorian exterior and hints of victorian grandeur inside, high ceilings, lincrusta wallpaper to the dado level, wrought iron bars on the windows other wise a fairly bland modernish décor. The usual screens on a music channel and fruit machine in the front section of what was obviously a two bar set up in the distant past, the rear section with a separate door onto Hackins Hey is a bit quieter and more lounge like albeit with a dart board hidden in one corner. Nautical themed pictures through out with the front page of the New York Times reporting the sinking of the Titanic taking pride of place. Four unused handpumps on the bar including a nice original looking set of three, the beer range is a standard non descript UK keg offering; Tetleys, Carling, Carlsberg, Becks, Stella, Guinness, and Gaymers for the cider. Furnished with traditional brown pub tables, chairs and stools, the customers were a mix of mainly male 30 to 60 somethings.