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Detail Pages
The Excelsior, Liverpool
Liverpool
L2 2JH
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about The Excelsior
This is a smart, two bar pub on Dale Street with a pleasant traditional interior. The pub is bare boarded throughout with some very nice, low lincrusta wall coverings matched with a mix of plain wood panels, nice painted sections and some nautical themed wallpaper. Modern windows along two sides of the building have an etched glass-style pattern and have been fitted with heavy drapes. The rooms pop with colour thanks to attractive stained glass partitioning screens that break up the seating areas, a cool gold frieze beneath the lincrusta ceiling, and a few nice mosaic tile sections of floor here and there. Seating comes in the form of pews and chairs plus some button backed banquettes and low stools around the perimeter. The bar has a tidy, if somewhat boxy, dark wood counter which fronts a pleasant traditional bar back. The two main rooms are roughly equal in size and don’t seem to have anything that especially distinguishes one from the other, whilst a side room in a split-level space to the rear offers lots of additional seating. TV screens were showing muted coverage of a golf tournament whilst a plodding soundtrack failed to make itself heard over the modest hubbub created by a small Friday night crowd.
There were four ales available when we called in - Ossett Butterfly, Thwaites Wainwright and Taylors Landlord and Boltmaker. I ordered a pint of the Butterfly from the super-friendly barman, which was in reasonable shape but probably not as good as the Boltmaker, which I would’ve ordered had I not initially mistaken it for a double-clipped Landlord.
This is a decent enough pub that has a pretty good interior and a few solid ale options, but its location on the excellent Dale Street means that it all feels pretty average when compared to its neighbours. Some top service and comfy seating made for a pleasant visit, but it was notably quieter than a lot of other nearby pubs and would need to up its game to compete with the high standards set in this part of the city.
On 20th December 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Excelsior
With a pub like the Ship & Mitre nextdoor, we often overlook the Excelsior on trips to Liverpool. However, on a recent trip to Liverpool on a Saturday and having already had our fill in the Ship & Mitre, we decided to drop by the Excelsior. For me, this was my first visit in just over 6 years.
The real ale range in the Excelsior is much more mundane compared with its neighbour. However, there are still 6 real ales. Timothy Taylor Landlord is the regular beer. Guests on our recent visit were Ossett Butterley, Salopian Shropshire Gold, Rock The Boat Fab Four, Black Sheep Best Bitter & Kirkstall Three Swords.
The pub always seems to be busy, especially on a matchday. This occasion was no exception. Live sports are often shown on the various TVs, which clearly makes the pub a popular destination.
On 13th November 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2454 recommendations about 2453 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Excelsior
GBG 2023 - with some very stiff competition in the immediate area. Friendly bar staff and a chip heavy menu was my main memory. Mrs M incredulous that I had Mac N Cheese on Chips for lunch. Next doors Ship and Mitre has a more cardiologist friendly menu.
Beer was good - Kirkstall Dissolution IPA.
Decor was trad pub - rooms fanning out from a central bar.
On 25th April 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Excelsior
Traditional pub but with high ceilings and unexpected real fire, much needed in February, fine layout, wood floor, sripped back tables and good beer
On 11th February 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Excelsior
Called into this 2019 Good Beer Guide pub but found only 3 National Brands and a Salopian beer available. Pub looked decent enough and staff friendly, but it has too many beer tourist pubs in the area to compete. Maybe selects beers for the pub regulars, and nothing wrong with that.
On 21st August 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Excelsior
still the six real ales on with half being standard nationals and on the other side three more interesting options. all of these were from Salopian so (while I'm not sure) I think they may be running the place. It remains a reliable and really nice place to relax although I find it to lack atmosphere a little compared to the pubs nearby. Food menus now dotted around on most of the tables.
On 26th December 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Excelsior
Very busy post-football, so difficult to get a feel of the place, but the staff were efficient and I managed to take a quick look around the two bars plus a side room. Six real ales from the total of nine handpumps on the two counters, with a range of beers in different styles, including the regular Landlord, Rev James and Robinson's Dizzy Blonde and supplemented by guests such as Hafod HE (£3.00) from across the border in Wales.
On 16th April 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Excelsior
A classic old street corner boozer with high Lincrusta style ceilings and gold painted elaborate cornices. The main area around the bar was obviously once two rooms, still evidenced by the doors. There does however remain another separate room to the rear. Back to back fireplaces, wood flooring but with a tiled area around the bar, seating is of a regular type at small tables. The TV has Sky Sports News on mute.
A reasonable beer range, not able to compete with next door but one however, Landlord, Robinson's Dizzy Blonde, Rev James, Red Star Formby IPA (£3.00), Salopian Darwin's Original and Neptune Riptide. Food served, burgers from £8, Scouse with beetroot and cut bread £6.
A nice honest old school pub with a decent choice of ales.
On 13th March 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Excelsior
Though it can't compete with the variety of real ale available in the nearby Ship it does now have a better selection than the last few years.
On 28th July 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Excelsior
Nicely restored after that horrible make over of a few years back but the beer still needs work my Liverpool Organic 24 Caret Gold was flat, warmish and full of diactyl.
On 8th July 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]