Bundobust, Liverpool

As said it’s a similar winning formula to the original in Leeds and subsequent outlets, Indian street food and beer. The 14 beers, 12 keg and two cask are mainly from their own brewery in Manchester with some Co-labs with Leeds neighbours Northern Monk and a couple of guests. This one is up a flight of stairs leading to the usual canteen layout of benches at long tables. The counter is to the right but you are encouraged to wait to be seated. There are some tall stools to the left as you enter possibly for casual drinkers. The toilets, labelled as “washrooms”, are at the back and are communal with a washing vestibule and undesignated stalls. The challenged queue in single file here to order beer and food at the bar.

I have been to a couple of these in Manchester and this one follows the same formula. Bavarian beer hall meets India, with a varied selection of their own keg beer plus a couple of cask (one being a guest from local Carnival brewery). Very light and bright with full length windows looking up Bold Street. I tried some of the Indian street food this time and was pleased with a very generous pot of paneer, sauce and bread. I imagine it can get pretty noisy in here and it’s not really my kind of place but it’s cheerful with good beer, so a welcome addition to the area.

Official site of Bundobust - bundobust.com

Official site of Bundobust - bundobust.com

If you've been in the Leeds Bundobust or any of the Manchester ones, which we have, you'll know what to expect. One large room with refectory style tables, a decent selection of vegetarian dishes and a bar with a couple of cask ales and loads of craft keg. No variation here with both the cask being from their own brewery in Manchester. The pint I had was in good nick, but I don't feel an urgent need to visit again, unless it's lashing it down again as we're passing. :-))

I'm still not sure what to make of Bundobust, either the Liverpool branch or the one I've been to in Manchester. I like the beer range, despite it focusing on its craft range. There's always a good variety and range of beers. Whilst I've never tried the food, it looks both intruguing and tempting despite it being all vegetarian. This branch can be found up a set of stairs on the first floor overlooking the busy Bold Street shopping area. Tables are canteen-style with long parallel tables and bench seating. Think Wagamama's and you won't be far wrong. There is also an open kitchen. Toilets are unisex. I think the whole environment is meant to appeal to young and trendy types, of which I am neither. This is probably the reason something doesn't quite click for me. Nevertheless, I am still happy to pop in here for a quick one whilst passing and one day I'll inevitably sample the food. On this Saturday afternoon visit, cask ales were Bundobust Dark Mild & Chapter Kandata. Craft beers were Bundobust Manak, Peela, Chaitro, Roggen Pils, Ekla Triumph, West Is West & Dhania Pilsner, Top Rope Bobbymania, North/Bundobust Mango & Lime Lassi Sour, Northern Monk/Bundobust New Delhi Dazzler & Kirkstall Virtuous.