Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Philharmonic Dining Rooms, Liverpool
Liverpool
L1 9BX
Pub Type
Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Strongers . left this review about Philharmonic Dining Rooms
The Philharmonic Dining Rooms has been on my visit list for many years so I was pleased to call in on a recent weekday evening when there were hardly any other customers, which surprised me a little. The ornate black and gold gate at the entrance hints at what is to be expected inside, and it doesn’t disappoint. I could right pages on the interior, but I think it’s best to just go have a look for yourself if you’ve not been. The circular island bar supports two banks of five hand pumps that were drawing an offering from Purity Brewing, Old Peculiar, Stroud Brewery’s Tom Long, Wainwright Gold, Black Sheep, Stewart’s Edinburgh Black Stout, Laine’s Doublon and St Austell’s Tribute. Standard and premium keg were also available from the two friendly barmen. I did think that the dance music in the background detracted somewhat from the splendour of the building. I made sure to have a bulging bladder so that I could check out the toilets, but I wasn’t that impressed if I’m honest, they could certainly do with a scrub to get the black mould off the urinals. The actual pub though is well worth a look and I’ll pop back in next time I’m in the area.
On 21st March 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Moby Duck left this review about Philharmonic Dining Rooms
It is obviously on the to do list when in Liverpool, however once will probably be enough. As nice as the interior is it was looking a bit on the tired side, the beer selection was pedestrian at best and I opted for the most exciting beer available in Salopian Oracle, normally a good doer but on this occasion it was very poor, to the extent I got it replaced, unfortunately there was no improvement and the beer was left unfinished, the pubs been ticked , I probably won't do it again.
On 15th June 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2151 recommendations about 2118 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about Philharmonic Dining Rooms
Dire selection of real ales here compared to how it used to be, just a few national standards yesterday. Several of the pumps had 'cleaning in progress' clips so maybe I just visited at a bad time. amazing pub architecture - does it really need the pop music and the wall mounted TVs? Nicholsons need to get a grip here, it should be so much better.
On 25th July 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1174 recommendations about 1136 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Philharmonic Dining Rooms
A must do pub when in Liverpool. The interior really is something else and we managed to bag a couple of the large comfy sofas in Liszt. So full marks to Nicholson’s for maintaining another piece of wonderful British pub heritage. But marks away from the management of this place for having a fairly pedestrian beer offering available. A pub of this quality deserves a strong beer range to support it and compared to what is available from the current Nicholson’s seasonal offerings, six beers only on the ten available pumps which included Sharps Cornish Coaster, Old Golden Hen, Black Sheep Bitter and Nicholsons Pale Ale really was a poor offering. Fortunately one from Liverpool Organic and one from Broughton Hopopotamus were also on and the latter was a decent enough pint to sub whilst reclining in the Liszt room. But I’m not going to penalise the pub for some inept thinking from its management team..
On 30th August 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2236 recommendations about 2098 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Philharmonic Dining Rooms
A must visit pub to anyone with an interest in pub heritage and architecture.
Simply wonderful inside.
Decent pint of Landlord and food was very good and quickly served.
Photos at my blog - http://bit.ly/2csv7Qs
On 5th September 2016
- rating: 10
[User has posted 277 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about Philharmonic Dining Rooms
This place has also, like Peter Kavanaghs, recently reopened after a spruce up. Exactly as before but now a bit shinnier (or is it shinier? Who cares? Its all pointless anyway apparently.)
On 30th October 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about Philharmonic Dining Rooms
This is a truly grand pub but please please please don't fall for the "you've got to see the gents" rubbish that's spouted about this place. They're not that great.
On 19th September 2015
- rating: 10
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Philharmonic Dining Rooms
This pub surpassed my expectations in terms of grandeur, and that's saying something. I reckon that this is the most magnificent pub I've been in, and that's also saying something. This place has been well and truly described previously, and there are enough photographs on the site to show just how special the interior really is. The City tour bus stopped outside and when I dropped in at around 11.30 AM the place was fairly busy with non-drinking visitors. But they soon dispersed leaving the place pretty much to me and Mrs R, so that I could enjoy a quiet pint in one of the rooms (Liszt I think). I can't recall what beer I had, but I do recall that I enjoyed it.
This pub is an absolute must for any pub enthusiast visiting Liverpool.
On 19th September 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Jillings left this review about Philharmonic Dining Rooms
A sumptuous interior, good food friendly staff and above all, a fine selection of well kept ales. A well deserved 9 out of 10.
On 4th April 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 59 recommendations about 54 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Philharmonic Dining Rooms
Many words have been typed describing the interior of this magnificent heritage pub so I won’t add too many extra. In short, an entrance lobby to a main island servery, Brahms and Liszt side rooms off that with a grand high-ceilinged room beyond, all ornately decorated in a Victorian/neo-classical style like a lavish gentleman’s club (which it originally was) – carved dark wood, mosaic flooring, ornate glasswork, coloured tiling, brass plaques – it’s a riot of style. Ornate red marble toilets in the gents (which are pretty small in size given the capacity of the pub). Not a brilliant ale selection on and the resultant beers were so-so - Liverpool Organic was middling and Great Yorkshire Top of the Hops which was awful ("smells of ladies knickers", commented the lady I was drinking with). Uncleared tables, surly staff, crap piped music - on it went. Quiet for a Friday night and it’s not hard to work out why on this showing. Lovely pub, terrible management; which given it’s a Nicholsons is even more perplexing. Go see it by all means, but I'd be seriously thinking twice about visiting next time.
On 15th January 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]