The Bridewell, Liverpool

Locating this pub inside Liverpool’s main Bridewell (a type of prison for petty offenders), shows a touch of genius on the part of the people behind the Liverpool One Brewery who run this venture. The prison, which in 1991 was deemed to be the worst in the country, was built back in 1859 and has had an interesting history. As well as holding criminals prior to deportation to the colonies it also played host to Charles Dickens who worked here as a police officer for a day as part of his research for one of his books - a fact commemorated by a plaque on the front wall. More recently it has held the likes of Shane McGowan, Everton footballer Michael Branch and Princess Anne’s stalker Bernard Quinn, but it was closed in 1999 after the police authority decided it no longer wanted a prison once described by the European Commitee for the Prevention of Torture as ‘inhumane’ on its books. Visitors nowadays no longer need to fear the high walls that surround the building and now form a pleasant compact front courtyard. You enter up a few steps to a front room with flagstone floor, plain walls and a vaulted brick ceiling, with the bar to the left of the front door displaying a nice ‘Liverpool One Bridewell’ sign. A TV screen was on showing muted coverage of the afternoon’s big match between Liverpool and Arsenal whilst music played quietly in the background. A corridor leads from this room to the old cells which are still behind their large, heavy numbered doors. Most cells have been filled with variations on a long table with bench or banquette seating although there was at least one with high stools and drinking ledges instead – obviously the compact nature of each cell restricts the layout options. It’s certainly an unusual format and I think it looks great and would probably be the perfect place to visit with a large group assuming you can reserve the cells. Frustratingly there were no Liverpool One beers on the bar when I visited, so I had to choose between Peerless Dark Arts and Triple Blonde and Lee’s Governor, plumping for the Dark Arts which the barmaid was careful to pull through before serving me what turned out to be a nice drop. Food is available, with traditional meals like fish and chips, hot pot and full English breakfasts prominent. This is a great place to visit to take in part of the city’s history that might otherwise have been lost to a hotel chain or the like, had the brewery not stepped in. I had no inclination to visit this place which I had expected to be a fancy novelty bar, but I have to thank those who recommended it to me as I certainly enjoyed my visit.