Siren's Bar & Clubroom, Warrington

Facebook page of Siren's Bar & Clubroom - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Siren's Bar & Clubroom - www.facebook.com

Two real ales at the bar leaving two hand pulls unclipped. Merlin Sir Galahad and Lymm Bridgewater Blonde were the two available. The Sir Galahad was pleasant tasting but had a rather offputting sulphuric smell, and set me back £1.95 for a half. The World Cup was showing on the TV screens. If paying by cash you put your note into a machine at the end of the bar and your change is dispensed, which felt a little odd and is something I have only ever seen previously in Barcelona. Most punters seemed to be drinking the Coors, one of several fairly mainstream drinks available on keg. Gins and cocktails are also served on tap. The pump clips behind the bar suggest they've had a good selection of ales on previously and there is a sign up advising that they are GBG 2023 listed. No strange chiselled chin dude this time, and the experience was more comfortable than I remember from my previous visit, but not somewhere I could see becoming a regular haunt.

Re-visited yesterday. It has now dropped its American diner themed décor in favour of a more dark subdued colour scheme. The booths have also gone and seating is now mainly high chairs and tall barrels, with a couple of couches near the door and more stools at the bar. There is also a fish tank which I didn't notice on my previous visit, so may be new. It still has five hand pulls at the bar, at the time of my visit offering a cider (possibly Old Rosie), Epic Pale by Epic Brewing, Coach House Blueberry Bitter and Lymm IPA, leaving one unavailable. CAMRA discount is advertised at 10%. There seemed to be a bunch of regulars round the bar but nobody else in, around 5:30pm or so. I got a bit of a funny look off the barmaid when I asked for a half, as if she couldn't quite believe it. I then got a funny look off another guy who came in apparently to get something and then left again. You know the type, tight white shirt, tattoos, chiselled chin, neat beard. Overall not a hideous experience but it didn't feel massively welcoming and would probably be better when busy. My beer was £1.85 for a half and a pack of Kettle crisps set me back £1.15.

Liberty's is in the building that was formerly the Common Room in Culcheth. It seems to be trying to market itself as a gin bar, but is decked out like an American diner and has real ale. At the time of my visit a few weeks back the bar had five hand pumps, of which one was off. I had a Wobbly Weaver by Martland Mill, as recommended by a group of people sat at the bar. There was also something by Camerons and a couple of others which weren't mainstream. Pleasant enough, though I didn't find the booths that comfortable to sit at.