The Bow-Legged Beagle, Wirral

This was the second outlet for the Bow-Legged Beagle chain of pubs and was also my second outlet visited. Unlike the vibrant New Brighton outlet, this one seemed much more subdued on my late Thursday afternoon visit. Just one other customer was in when I arrived, although a few more turned up later. Nevertheless, service was friendly and the beer range was much better than other micropubs I'd visited in Merseyside that day. The cask ale selection was Conwy Welsh Pride, Kirkby Lonsdale Jubilee & Salopian Honest Words & Walking On A String. There was no real cider. Craft beers were Staggeringly Good Souropod, Pentrich Hammock District IPA, Salt Jute Session IPA, Hammerton Crunch Peanut Butter Stout, Pressure Drop Visit The Mountains, Polly's Layers & Northern Monk/Patron's Project Sarah Harris Packin' Stout. One keg cider was Lilley's Pineapple. The single square-shaped room has plenty of seating and is locating along a lengthy shopping arcade, set back from the main road. There aren't many other options for a decent drink in Upton. So this one is certainly worth knowing about.

This micro was a former Lloyds bank, hence the couple of safes situated around the toilets at the rear of the pub. This is a good sized one roomed micro with the bar positioned along the back wall, which was finished in rough cut pine timber, which had a green colour to it, most probably the preservative added in the timber yard. Pine panelling also ran around the walls up to dado height and the floor was finished in laminate. The walls were finished in grey apart from the left hand side wall, which was a petrol blue colour. Low tables, made up from scaffold planks and school chairs provided plenty of seating choices. Five ales on handpump, on our visit, all displayed on a chalk board on the right hand wall. Their five beers were, Salopian Oracle, Beartown Crème Bearlee, Overkill IPA, 1924 Mobberley Brewhouse and Redwillow Faithless. I went for the Redwillow a decent 5.5% beer and only £3.40 a pint. This micro also had a choice of seven craft beers and three ciders.