The Dispensary, Liverpool

I seem to have memories of being here once or twice before, but didn't write a review. Hazy memories, so another visit was called for. I find it a little underwhelming, the dark interior not being helped by much in the way of lights on a gloomy January afternoon, and the only member of staff having her head buried in a book and barely engaging with customers. Five hand pumps on the handsome but dark and gloomy bar counter, with Ossett White Rat and two of its relatives from Rat brewery. (Also Titanic Plum Porter and Oakham Citra, which seem to be regulars) I went for Drowned Rat, a 4.3% "pale, hoppy bitter" which tasted bland and underwhelming - possibly even gloomy - to my quite possibly jaundiced palate. Time to find another pub.

Purveyor of Tayto crisps at a pound a packet, as well as cheap pies and sausage or vegan rolls. Also: beer! Ossett and Oakham seem to be preferred with 2 of each, but there's several more handpumps. TV screens are a bit annoying, but the sound was off when I visited. The Dispensary is well worth stopping at and I'd hope to revisit at some point.

I visited the Dispensary on the evening of the last bank holiday Monday when it was fairly quiet with a handful of people listening to jazz music in the background, I struggle to listen to jazz without thinking of Tom & Jerry. The first thing I noticed when walking in was a nod to this pub’s past where ‘the Grapes’ is written into the mosaic tiled floor at the entrance. Inside the thin bare boarded bar is seating across the front and up the left opposite the U-shaped serving counter that runs across the rear. Raised seating is found in the left rear and televisions for airing Sky Sports are hung very high up the walls, so with them muted they’re easy to ignore. I counted seven hand pumps on the counter, two were unused and Oakham’s Citra was off which left Ossett’s White Rat, Rat Brewery’s Robin Rat, an offering from Wild Horse Brewing and a very nice pint of Titanic’s Plum Porter. The food stretches to baked goods in a heated cabinet on the back bar, I went for a cheese and onion slice that tasted suspiciously like a Greggs, which I’m fine about because Greggs slices (when they’re hot) are actually banging. The bloke behind the counter was very friendly and I thought this place had a lot of character, so I’d gladly return.

A decent corner pub with an equally decent beer range albeit mid-range, I went for the Oakham Citra which was spot on.