Gallaghers, Birkenhead

Past the very clear signs in the doorway that children are not permitted in the bar, Gallaghers is a long and thin wooden floor split-level pub with a two table snug in the front window to the right of the entrance. Some steps lead up to a couple of tables to the right and the L-shaped serving counter that runs up the right-hand wall facing a long beer shelf up the left wall opposite. There’s some open plan seating in the rear where a kitchen serving hatch sits in the rear wall. The walls are all adorned with military memorabilia, it’s a real treasure trove of history that’s worth a look in its own right. There are televisions which were airing muted tennis via Sky Sports while some background music played at a reasonable volume. Regular live music is advertised for every Sunday from 18:30 and there’s a quiz every Wednesday. On the way to the toilet at the rear I stuck my head out of the back door to see a surprisingly large covered AstroTurf beer garden full of seating. This area is very much overspill and for the smokers. The bar supports Premium keg alongside Neck Oil and some German lagers, and of course Carling. Five of the six hand pumps were in use drawing Ossett’s White Rat and Take Rat, Brimstage Brewery’s Trapper’s Hat and Oyster Catcher as well as RedWillow’s Cryo Citra. I went for a pint of the Trapper’s Hat which is an excellent session ale. I thought the service was very friendly and the chatty locals around the counter generated a good jovial atmosphere. I really liked this pub and would go out of my way to revisit.

As the name outside suggests, this is a Traditional pub - quite dark and definitely for drinkers. Had a couple of halves from the selection on offer and sat at the 'shelf' opposite the bar but my beers didn't try to escape, so the slope on the shelf may no longer exist. There is a lot of military memorabilia around but not in an imposing way to me. Well worth a visit.

Over 5 years since I last recall visiting, I had chance for a quick half whilst changing trains at Hamilton Square, which is just a few minutes walk away. This is a long and thin pub. There is an area of seating near the door and then a slope up to the bar. Beyond that is further seating where the old barbers shop used to be. A corridor then leads to a rear entrance. When busy, there is also a drinking shelf opposite the bar. But be careful. Unless things have changed, it is on a slope and I have witness pints slide off! On this visit, they had Hawkshead Prime Porter, Brimstage Trapper's Hat, Ossett White Rat & Exmoor Pathfinder Hopchomper. Ciders were Gwynt y Ddraig Farmhouse Scrumpy, Lilley's Bee Sting Perry & Pineapple Cider & Thistly Cross Whisky Cross. My Pathfinder Hopchomper was a refreshing drop and was enjoyed despite being a bit rushed, as I still had a train to catch. Locals always seem a friendly bunch with typical Scouse humour. Still the best pub Birkenhead has to offer.

Split level long thin pub, wood floor bech seating, a bit over the top with the war theme but good beer and nice pub

still a very fine pub with a very good beer range. Long, thin, dark pub now with an emphasis on food (pizza and grill advertised). Nice, very pleasant and probably the first place to make a beeline for in Birkenhead.

This is still the cracking pub described by previous reviewers. The main bar area as well as the area behind and above the servery is covered by military memorabilia of all kinds, from all periods of our history. The display really is exceptional. Past the bar counter on the right, through a wooden archway, is an area that used be a barber’s salon, but has now been brought into pub use. Some reminders of its hitherto use are still there, such as the display of cutthroat razors on the wall and a couple of posts decorated in old barber pole colours. There’s a function room upstairs; I saw live music advertised; and there’s a largish suntrapnof a garden at the back. The ale selection was top notch as well, with a couple of Rat Brewery beers (Rat Tonic and Dirty Rat); Ossett brewery Yorkshire Blonde; Salopian Darwin’s origin; and Brimstage Brewery Trapper’s Hat all on. They were doing food during our weekday lunchtime visit with burgers and pizze available (full pizza £7 and £3 a slice). My group really enjoyed our extended visit here. Luckily our pizze took longer to arrive than expected thus forcing us to miss our intended ferry across the Mersey, necessitating the consumption of another pint. I think the technical term for a pub of this quality is “belter”.