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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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Thomas Rigby's, Liverpool
Liverpool
L2 2EZ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Strongers . left this review about Thomas Rigby's
Thomas Rigby’s is a characterful grade II listed former coaching inn that was comfortably busy during a recent Monday evening visit. The serving counter runs up the right where premium keg is supported alongside six hand pumps, four of which were in operation drawing Okells’s Bitter, Hawks Head’s Windermere Pale, Kirkstall’s Three Swords and an offering from Vocation Brewery. The fittings and décor are very traditional and there’s a bit of lead lined glass around the top of the counter. The centre of the pub is mostly standing room and seating runs up the left, including a raised section in the left rear. At the end of the counter are steps up to a carpeted seating area with lots of naval prints on the walls, including one of Nelson above an aged fireplace with burner. Confusingly this room was full of French students chatting away in their mother tongue, so with the décor and a few pints onboard I thought I’d stumbled into an 18th century plot. They all thought that a chuckling nutter had sat next to them and decided to leave. Access from this room can be gained to a large rear outdoor seating area. On my way out I spotted lots more seating in the right-hand side of the pub, but it looked fairly empty. I liked it in here so next time I’m in the area I’ll pop back in to have a butchers around the parts I didn’t investigate.
On 4th March 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Moby Duck left this review about Thomas Rigby's
A sizable former coaching Inn with several rooms and with a certain ambiance about it though also a little bit of a touristy feel as well, I had a pint of Brew York Calmer Chameleon which was ok as was the pub but not a place I'd linger too long in.
On 10th June 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2151 recommendations about 2118 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about Thomas Rigby's
My first visit for 12 years. I really wanted to get a better impression of the heritage interior than I had retained, but I was very pleased to see the line up of beers on the hand pumps (see photo). Two were turned around (Theakston Best and Lightfoot), but this left some good ones, from which I decided on Hawkshead Windermere Pale 3.4% (NBSS 4). The downside for me was the rather noisy pop and disco music being blasted out to an almost empty pub on a Monday afternoon. Doesn't exactly encourage me to come back soon.
On 20th May 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Thomas Rigby's
Quality pub. Grade II listed. Good Beer Guide 2023. Separate dining rooms, which you could be mistaken for thinking you are on a sailing ship. Huge external courtyard, with external screen showing the football.
An interesting beer board - with sliding in/out indicators - shows a good mix of European Keg and British cask. Okells house but I boringly went with a TT Landlord in fine condition.
A bit of something for everyone here and I would happily come back.
On 25th April 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1563 recommendations about 1543 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Thomas Rigby's
Our early Tuesday evening visit to Rigby's was the quietest I've seen this pub for some time. There were just a handfull of other people scattered around the pub.
The pub looks quite impressive from the outside. Inside doesn't quite live up to the same expectations. Although the main front bar with its bare boards feels quite atmospheric and there is a more comfortable room at the rear. The courtyard behind the pub is a lively outdoor space to drink during the summer.
Okell's Bitter is the regular beer. Guests were Northern Monk This Beer Sleighs, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Purple Moose Snowdonia Ale & Ossett White Rat.
On 5th January 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Thomas Rigby's
Enjoyed our visit to this 2019 Good Beer Guide pub with it's Okells beers. We chose interesting guest beers though, Rock the Boat brewery Here comes the Sun, and Red Star Pogue Mahone both of which were fine. Lovely courtyard shared with sister pub, Lady of Mann.
On 21st August 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about Thomas Rigby's
update - The beer choice in here is now getting boring with the exact same ones on regularly. No dark beers and Dizzy Blonde a very dull choice of guest. Rating reduced as the ale is one of the main attractions of this pub.
still really like this pub and it remains a must-visit in the city. 2 from Okells on today along with 4 obscure guests. I had Mobberley Taking The Pith which was rather nice. the courtyard remains a great place to read the newspaper in peace over a fish butty. I don't rate the other Okells pubs in Liverpool but this has retained its character nicely.
On 6th July 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1174 recommendations about 1136 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about Thomas Rigby's
Just a note on Mr Rattus's review, the courtyard is shared with the Lady Of Man and not The Hole In The Wall as there is no access. Has just reopened after a couple of weeks closure for a slight refurb. Its the same layout as before but the cask ale choice has diminished. 3 Okells plus 3 guests. There was, prior to the refurb, at least a couple more. Please give Bobby a big hug if she's there too.
On 19th November 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Thomas Rigby's
This is an Okell's pub, which had four of their ales on. Pub grub seems to be available, with burgers and similar stuff around £7.50. This is still a multi room pub; as you enter the vestibule, fingers point either to the right to the public bar, which is apparently now reserved for diners, or to the parlour on the left. I didn't visit the dining room.
The parlour is a nice old room, traditionally furnished, with a small raised area at the back on the right, and with an opened up area on the left. There were football memorabilia around, mainly above the bar counter and mainly Everton themed as I recall. There's a garden at the back with a fair number of benches, and which looks to be shared with neighbouring pubs such as Ye Olde Hole in the Wall.
This pub can be a bit touristy (I know, I was such a tourist) being so prominent and near to the Cavern quarter, but it's a decent enough place. My Okell's Bitter was in good shape as well.
On 20th September 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Thomas Rigby's
A more traditional Okells pub compared to the Fly. Three rooms inside (I think – it was heaving with well-behaved Everton fans post-match). Ended up in the rear room which had a fairly basic alehouse feel; some stained glass, stripped floor and wood panelling. Noted the wall-mounted ‘in’/’out’ board for the beers, nice touch. Weather too bad to go exploring the rear garden that gets so many mentions here and elsewhere. At the bar were three Okells plus Purple Moose Glaslyn, Tiny Rebel Billabong and Jennings Dark Mild. I tried a half of each of the latter two and found them to be in very good shape. Also a good number of foreign bottles and higher-end kegs. Felt like a good unpretentious drinkers pub in here and I’d like to try it again when it’s a bit quieter and can have a proper look round.
On 16th January 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]