Roscoe Head, Liverpool

This is another famous Liverpool pub. It is a multi-roomed pub with no TVs or recorded music. The bar has six hand pumps which on my visit had Tetley's Bitter, Taylor's Landlord, Lytham Ice King, Hambleton Nightmare, Wentworth Flip Flop and Porter Street Brewery Oval 6. I thought compared to the Dispensary down the road that this was a pretty dull selection. I went for the Lytham Ice King (£3.30) which was in excellent condition but uninspiring. I think this business of being in every GBG is a poisoned chalice for the local CAMRA branch where they are damned for leaving it in and damned if they remove it. All I can say about this one is that it's a nice unspoilt pub with very well kept beers but I prefer the Dispensary.

A multi-roomed heritage gem (1930’s) that also has been in every Good Beer Guide. Well-described below so I’ll keep it basic. Located on a rather unassuming dark side street with little else of note on it. Enter through a small porch to the main servery. There’s a small standing bar through a door to the left, a small banquette snug room with old pushbells to the right and a slightly larger room further on. A fair selection of ales on, I tried Weetwood Cheshire Cat (ok), Rebel Brewery Bal Maiden (ok, though sweetcorn flavoured - blame the brewer?). Other beers were more mainstream - GK Fireside, Tetley Bitter and TT Landlord. Tasting trays (thirds) on offer, which is something I heartily approve of. Westons Perry also available. Maldenman will be happy to know that the Scouse Bet Lynch was serving me, proper career barmaid. An essential stop-off to sample the interior, though coming straight after the A1 ales in the Dispensary I felt a bit underwhelmed in terms of beer quality, neither I had were really GBG standard.

You don't often come across pubs like this anymore, a real old style multi-roomed little place that has not been mucked about with by corporate designers. The main bar is found immediately on entering, counter to the left, in front of this under the front window is a small snug with a window drinking ledge and access to the end of the bar. Another, slightly larger and more comfortable snug with banquettes along one side and a centre fireplace. An opening leads through to a rear room, carpeted and with further banquette and chair/stool seating and a preserved moulded ceiling.. The seat backs in here still have the old bell pushes in place. There is another fireplace in here with a large collection of trophies over and spilling onto an adjacent shelf. Not seeing a dartboard I investigated further to find they are for cribbage, I've not seen many pub games of "crib" for years. The main bar area has quarry tiles, a couple of framed brewery posters and a chalkboard, helpfully listing the ales which are split between this room and the small front snug. This occasion had Spitting Feathers Thirstquencher, Cheshire Brewhouse Cheshire Gap, Red Willow Reckless, Tetley Bitter, Landlord and Jennings Lakeland Bitter. The Cheshire Gap was a nice pint, in good shape too, served by a character of a barmaid who reminded me of a young Bet Lynch. Food is served, basic cheap stuff, sandwiches £3.25-£4.25, burgers from £3.25 or from the specials board, two for £7 such as sausage, chips and peas or cottage pie. As said previously, this pub is one of the CAMRA "magnificent seven", having appeared in every edition of the GBG since its inaugural issue in 1974. It is an excellent pub indeed, full of character, nostalgia and of course, well kept great beer. A must if in this part of town.