The Bridewell, Liverpool

Visited on a Friday back in April, and shortly after midday it was already getting busy. At the bar were five or so hand pulls, with one cider (Seacider). I went for the Kirkstall Bitter at £2.25 for a half. The cask line-up was not especially exciting, but the booths in former cells are an obvious highlight. The young barmaid serving was pleasant. There is a small 'walled in' external seating area to the front of the building and a stone floor awaits inside, with the former cells being converted into seating areas on both sides of a fairly narrow corridor. Watch out though, there were a group of tourists on a guided tour all waving their mobile phones around filming everything indiscreetly. I get that it's a curiosity, but have some respect for actual paying customers who may not want a camera in their face! I may return at some point, but I think now I have satisfied my curiousity there isn't a need for me to rush back. However it is certainly one of those places that you must do, even if it is only once.

The Bridewell used to be a… erm… Bridewell, which was a sort of prison for tramps and petty criminals. The entrance in the prison boundary walls opens into a compact courtyard that is full of seating that was all being used during my recent early Monday evening visit. The entrance to the old cells opens onto a flagstone bar area with banquettes to the right that are overlooked by a television that was airing muted Sky Sports and a serving counter to the left that supports craft lagers alongside Guinness, Thatcher’s cider and five hand pumps that were drawing Kirkstall’s Bitter and Three Swords, Ossett’s Riwaka and Cheating Rat as well as a Lilley’s cider. I went for the Three Swords that went down a treat. The old cells towards the exposed brick rear are still obvious, but all the old thick wooden doors now remain open, and the cells have been turned into booths. There were some locals at the bar, but I think many customers were visiting to have a nose around, much like me. This place is certainly different and worth a look.