Baltic Fleet, Liverpool

This interesting brewpub, situated opposite the Kings Dock and Echo Arena was partially closed on my recent visit, meaning that it wasn’t possible to get a proper feel of the place. Externally the pub bears more than a passing resemblance to a ship thanks to its wedge shape and liner-style chimneys. Entering through the back door due to the work being done at the front, there is a narrow back room with bare floorboards and scrubbed tables and benches plus a few small marble topped tables with low stools. Pictures from the docks in their heyday cover the walls and the eye is drawn to a fireplace at the end of the room which also serves a small cosier section at the thin end of the wedge. This seemed to be the best place to get a view out towards the dock, but it was full on my visit, so I had to sit near the short remaining stretch of bar counter and admire the old pub sign hung over the fireplace. The barman explained that the refurb, which resulted in the complete closure of the front room, began on the 27th February and the intention was to restore the pub’s original layout including a new servery and to make more of a feature of the outdoor patio area. There were four beers on the bar, all from the Wapping brewery which is located in the pub’s basement. I tried the best bitter which is also called Wapping (£2.40) and thought it was a nice enough pint. The three other beers were all over 5% - Stout, Baltic Hefe Weiss Bier and Ten Years On which celebrates the brewery’s recent ten year anniversary. It’s difficult to rate the pub given that half of it looked like a building site, but there was plenty of promise from what I saw and the good beer and friendly staff certainly make me keen to revisit so I can enjoy the pub in its proper state.

Distinctive wedge-shaped building with bright red chimneys that can be seen from some distance along Liverpool's main dock-front road. Inside, the bar is rather smaller than you might expect, but there is still room for a proud display of handpumps from the in-house Wapping Beers microbrewey (including delights such as their fine stout at £2.65). With light paintwork, plain furniture and decor limited to a few nautical pictures and prints, it gives the impression of being part-way through a refurbishment (which may well be the case). Would particularly recommend getting a table in the little room at the pointed end if you can.

Had the pleasure of sampling the excellent brews this week when at a conference and staying accross the road. Unfortunately the drinking time was curtailed as the pub opening times on a wednesday are not as shown in GBG 2010. Note the pub closes at 11pm Wednesdays.

The ongoing refurbishment continues. The toilets have been moved upstairs since our last visit, still not fully painted up yet but they are much better than the cellar hole on offer previously. Now opens for breakfast on Saturday & Sunday. All handpumps on the go on Saturday evening, I tried three of the beers and all were excellent if a little similar to each other. The other half liked the wine, which is why we had 3 and the fact that it was lashing it down outside. We sat at a window table right at the pointed end. Candles on the tables, very cosy. We'll be back the next time we're in Liverpool.