Alberts Schloss, Liverpool

The “German beer hall” chain, fairly typical of their outlets I’m guessing not having enjoyed their hospitality before. A big square room with long tables and benches plus a few low booths on the outside edges and a raised brick table with stools round it housing a fire. There’s a few taller tables and stools in front of the square-ish servery. There is a “schnapps store” to one side which also has beer taps and there’s a bakery section. There is a selection of over a dozen German and Czech beers plus the odd one from people like Northern Monk, a cider and a Belgian fruit beer. Pints are around the £6 mark. The list is given in other reviews and a drinks menu is available on the tables; it doesn’t appear to change much. There’s a stage on the left and a mezzanine balcony as mentioned. It holds an Oktoberfest in late September.

Albert's Schloss is a large drinking barn type of place that also caters for diners. In fact, on my Sunday morning visit, most people were there for food. On arrival, I somehow evaded the front podium where I later spotted a member of staff allocating tables. Instead, I made a bee line to the large almost oval-shaped bar towards the rear of the room. There are a number of T-bars around the bar, but all stock the same range of lagers and a couple of other drink options. Large boards also list the range of lagers and their provenance. The list comprised of Pilsner Urquell, Stiegl Goldbrau, Paulaner, Erdinger, Pravha, Spaten Oktoberfest, Lowenbrau, Krombacher, Hofbrau Lager & Oktoberfest, Hacker Pscorr Oktoberfest, Fruli Strawberry & Thatcher's Ambr. Until spotting the cider (which appears to be a new brand), I was really struggling to know what to order, as I didn't want a lager. I was even contemplating the schnapps selection. The drinks range is far more inferior to the nearby Albert's Schenke. However, the prices are just as steep. Ordering a half, I nearly collapsed with shock at the price, until I realised that the barmaid had served me a schooner instead of the half I'd asked for. Apparently they don't serve halves. The interior is a large open-plan affair with an upstairs balcony also having seating and from where you can look down on proceedings. There is also a separate smaller bar in the front right-hand corner. I can't say I'll ever be back to this place. It would need to stock a larger array of decent beers to get me interested. However, it's central location in the main shopping area and opposite the side entrance to Liverpool Central station, should always ensure a decent throughflow of customers.

Large new bright and shiny beer barn. Open plan with a large central island bar plus a smaller bar to your right on entering. Plenty of fizz-u-likes on the bar but no real ale. Tables everywhere including one with a roaring fire in the middle. The main bar has bar stool seating all around making trying to get served a bit of a pain in the arse. It's all a bit, well, crap to be honest.

Official site of Alberts Schloss - www.albertsschloss.co.uk