The Vines (The Big House), Liverpool

There are four entrances to the Vines, but two were secured by gates and another had a no entry sign on it so all visitors are directed into the right-hand bare boarded bar where there’s lots of wood panelling and stuffed animals, including a massive deer’s head above a tiled fireplace in the middle of the front wall. A curved L-shaped serving counter with an impressive carved wooden back bar sits on the rear wall, I counted six hand pumps, four of which were in use drawing Kirkstall’s Three Swords, Salopian’s Shropshire Gold, Theakston’s Quencher and a cider offering from Lilleys. There was some very low background music playing, which I didn’t really see the point of. A corridor behind the bar leads to a larger left-hand bar with a mosaic tiled floor and more wood panelling, and stuffed animals. The counter up the right supports four hand pumps that were drawing Titanic’s Plum Porter, Ossett’s Blonde and White Rat alongside Black Sheep. Up the left is some seating and a fireplace separates this bar area from a banquette seating area to the left. At the rear is a doorway to the large open plan Billiard Room where a bar on the left-hand wall faces rows of high tables. Raised seating runs across the rear, this feels like it is used as a stage when required. A log fire was crackling away on the front wall by the entrance and on the right-hand wall a television was airing muted snooker via BBC. The wood panelling in here is more impressive that the two smaller bars and in the ceiling is a stained glass skylight. The four hand pumps on the counter were badged with the same four ales as the left-hand bar, but it was not in use during my recent Monday afternoon visit. This pub wasn’t actually on my visit list due to its low rating, but it’s an impressive pub and I’m glad that I took a punt.