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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
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Ma Egertons, Liverpool
Liverpool
L1 1JA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Ma Egertons
If you didn't know in advance, you would never guess that this modern-looking pub, squeezed as it is between high rises and the station, is a small slice of history. Never mind the famous visitors (set out by Pub Sign Man in his superbkly detailed notes below), this pub is on Camra's heritage list of well preserved pub interiors. It's not one of those spectacular pubs that Liverpool does quite a lot of, it's just quietly pleasant, a place where it's worth spending a few minutes looking around. I like the bar counter with its elephant-supported elbow rail, plus hooks, footrail *and* step; there are three hand pumps but only two beers on at the time of my brief early afternoon visit. The only down side for me: loud background music.
Date of visit: 4th October 2019
On 2nd December 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3733 recommendations about 3470 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about Ma Egertons
backstreet pub near Lime Street. two real ales on today but I was on a roll with stout so went for half a guinness served by an aloof barman. it's nice though and very much still a proper Liverpool pub unlike its rather pretentious twin Ma Boyles.
On 6th October 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Ma Egertons
Squeezed into an unassuming side street behind the Empire Theatre and next to Lime street station, this is a smartly presented pub with a theatrical theme throughout. The pub makes a lot of noise about the fact that a great many famous faces have visited over the years, most notably in the shape of a large board next to the front door which lists a variety of patrons, from the obvious (The Beatles), to the impressive (Sinatra, Davis Jr), to the contemporary (Amy Winehouse) and the bizarre (Henry Winkler, Pamela Anderson). The board also notes that the pub was the first place anywhere in the UK to use a cash register, sold to the pub by an American entrepreneur fresh of the boat at the nearby docks, and the eponymous landlady reputedly used to sit on a stool next to the till and have all the barmaids hand her the cash which she then rang through the till before handing back the change.
All seems normal inside nowadays though, with the entrance leading into a central space with the bar to the right and a lounge area on the left hand side. The bar area has some nice seating along the front wall in the form of smart benches and chairs, whilst the servery is on the rear wall with a lovely curved dark wood counter sporting a brass elephant's head rail. The bar back is set into a deep recess with decorative tiling and a pretty stained glass gantry. Space is a little limited on this side, so I moved into the lounge which is a bare boarded room with long button backed leather banquettes around the perimeter, broken on the far wall by a lit tiled fireplace. A single high table with stools stands in the middle of the room, rounding out the seating options and windows to the front were etched with the pub's name and the slogan 'Liverpool's most famous landlady'. The walls throughout the pub are covered with all sorts of theatrical memorabilia including paintings of theatre stars such as Charlie Chaplin, Ken Dodd and Vesta Tilley, a whole host of signed photographs, copious play bills and some great old posters. Music played away inoffensively in the background and there was a TV showing horse racing, which is seemingly the done thing in Liverpool during Grand National week. A menu on my table advertised pizzas at reasonable enough prices although I didn't see anyone giving them a try.
The pub went through a long period without offering any real ale, but there are now three handpulls on the bar, one of which was in operation on this visit, serving up a nice cool and crisp pint of Robinson's Dizzy Blonde, whilst the remaining two pumps remained unclipped. The bar staff seemed friendly enough and there was an interesting mixed crowd in at knocking off time on a Thursday afternoon.
I think Malden Man's opening line sums this place up perfectly - there is something eminently likeable about this pub despite the fact that it doesn't really compare to the best the city has to offer. I was hoping to sneak in a quick half at the Wetherspoons in the station before getting my train home, but I settled down so nicely here that I abandoned that plan and stayed here to soak up all that history. An interesting pub and a great option for a quick drink before hopping on a train.
On 31st May 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Ma Egertons
There are some pubs that somehow you cannot fail to like, they may not be the best pubs around but they have a certain something. This is one, two rooms, the front area has the bar and is fairly narrow but it opens out into another square room to the rear. There are loads of framed photos and billboards related to the nearby Empire Theatre, dark flocked wallpaper and a proper fire on the back wall with a tribute to "Ma Egerton" above. Banquette seating around the perimeter with some of the old bell pushes still in situ.
There is some stained glass above the bar, papers in a rack, TV muted on a news channel while low level background music played. A welcoming sort of place where your custom seems valued, as I entered a couple of blokes moved aside to make space and the landlady smiled and said hello. The beer range is not exactly exciting, there are three pumps, one was reversed. I initially ordered Robinson's Dizzy Blonde but it went three quarters through although I was offered it for the price of a half. Instead I went for the Purity Pure Gold which was in good nick (£3.40).
Food served, mainly pizzas which are named after stars of stage and screen plus charcuterie boards.
I did like it here. Four or five eclectic beers would make this a destination pub.
On 13th March 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Ma Egertons
A very neat pub, just around the corner from the North Western JDW. Two rooms, both decorated with theatre memorabilia. Some nice wood and stained glass in both rooms. The room to the left was being used for dining, but there was no problem with us sitting in there just for a drink. The bar area is much smaller and can get quite cramped when busy. Three handpumps on the bar, but only Otter Bitter actually available with a Theakston clip turned around during our visit, it was a decent pint though. Friendly barmaid and regulars add to the positives. The pub food is mainly pizza's and charcuterie boards and both looked good although we didn't eat here as we were booked into Zorba's an hour or so later. A good pub despite the pedestrian beer selection and I think we may well eat here next time we're in Liverpool.
On 4th March 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3223 recommendations about 3134 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about Ma Egertons
Hidden away at the side of Lime Street Station and to the rear of the Empire Theatre. A rich heritage of famous visitors from years gone by can be boasted/blagged by this pub. 2 rooms separated by a wooden and stained glass partition. Theatre style curtains decorated the windows. The larger room is to the left of the bar. 3 handpumps with Purity Pure Gold, Otter Bitter and a reversed Theakstons clip today. Outside street sitting is available. Lots of theatre memorabilia dotted around. Its an often overlooked pub, including by me, but its a nice pub that I should really make more effort to visit.
On 29th February 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Ma Egertons
Theatre pub, tucked behind the Empire building and very close to the side entrance of Lime Street BR. Enter to a small lobby bar with a nice dark wood servery with what looked unfortunately cheap plastic 'stained' glass in the bar gantry. There’s a larger room off to the left with bottle green banquette seating and sumptuous purple wallpaper, along with the obligatory pics of theatre stars and impresarios of days yore. Pizzas available - notably including gluten free - at surprisingly cheap prices; wish we’d known that beforehand as we’d have eaten here before catching the performance! Two pumps at the bar though just Robinsons Dizzy Blonde on, which in fairness was in good nick. There’s enough character here to warrant a quick visit I think.
On 17th January 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Ma Egertons
A traditional and comfortable small two roomed pub just next to the taxi rank at the side of Lime Street Station. This is a very respectable pub and was well worth a visit. I've seen this pub advertised in Mersey Ale on numerous occasions, claiming to have three handpumps exclusively serving Theakston's. No Theakston's on this visit. The pub is open 7 days a week from 11am to midnight.
On 31st December 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Ma Egertons
At last cask ales have arrived back at Ma Egertons, Theakstons and Robinsons in good nick. It also boasts pizza served from 12-12, Shameless's Tina Malone (Mimi Maguire) hosting a quiz on Monday nights, a singalong on Fridays and a music quiz monthly on a Thursday. Very handy for Lime St station especially so since the Head of Steam went downhill.
On 8th July 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3230 recommendations about 2939 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Rydings left this review about Ma Egertons
Call in here most times i am in Liverpool Brings memories back of the late sixties going to the Isle Of Man for our holidays it was the start of the pub crawl to pier head for the midnight boat happy days Ma Egertons as not changed at all its always worth a look in like old boot says sadly no hand pump beer
On 15th December 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 948 recommendations about 917 pubs]