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The Vines (The Big House), Liverpool
Liverpool
L1 1JQ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about The Vines (The Big House)
Well, I wrote "what a pity there's no real ale" when I was here in 2019, so I have to give it a bump this time, because my Salopian Shropshire Gold was at least NBSS 3, and possibly 3.5. Service was a bit perfunctory, but kids today, eh? Anyway, it's definitely great to see a pub like this given a bit of an enthusiastic shove in the right direction.
On 20th May 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3795 recommendations about 3523 pubs]
Ian Mapp left this review about The Vines (The Big House)
Saved in my Google To Visit list but I need to make better use of the "add notes" feature to remind myself why.
I'm guessing it was the internal architecture but alas, I didnt actually spend too much time exploring. Just lots of wood panneling in the one bar.
Possibly need to revisit and explore after reading notes here.
Beer range was not too inspired, settling on Lancaster Brewery Blonde.
On 11th March 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1355 recommendations about 1340 pubs]
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Vines (The Big House)
Recently re-opened by the same team that run the Red Lion on Slater Street, the Big House has been refurbished and really looks the part. The last time I was in here was in January, 2014 when the pub was competing against local Irish pubs on Lime Street and nearby Ranelagh Street and Great Charlotte Street to see which could be the loudest, with pretty awful karaoke sessions on almost every night.
Now the pub is much more civilised. I'd seen that the real ale range was fairly ordinary shortly after re-opening. But now, it's clear that they have built up trade and they can now start to stock a few more adventurous beers.
On this visit, the regular beer (Titanic Plum Porter) was supplemented by Ossett Yorkshire Blonde, Timothy Taylor Boltmaker, Salopian Shropshire Gold, Carnival Dreaming of Twinships, Kirkstall Pale Ale, Dark Star Hophead, Brains The Rev James & St Austell Cornish Best. A cider (Thatcher's Stan's Big Apple) was an unexpected bonus.
The three rooms that front Lime Street are masterworks in themselves, but the real star is the large room to the rear (the Billiard Room), which is a joy to behold. After almost 10 years without a visit, the Vines is very much on my list for much more regular visits. Judging by the huge number of people in for our Saturday evening visit, it's on quite a few peoples' lists these days.
Not a new pub for me, by any means, but my score increases from a 5/10 to an 8/10.
On 13th November 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2505 recommendations about 2504 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Vines (The Big House)
Now a beautiful pub exactly as it should be, after a full refurbishment. Rather disappointingly no local beers over a vast range of handpulls, and it really doesn’t need the sports TVs dotted around the bar and billiard room. Otherwise a must visit pub, one of the most impressive interiors in the country.
On 29th April 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1062 recommendations about 1027 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Vines (The Big House)
Totally refurbished and is now a very impressive pub. All 4 rooms are now in use including the the former Heritage Suite but now known as the Billiard Room (minus any billiard tables). 3 bars with a total of 14 handpulls for real ale with up to 10 different beers. Lots of stuffed animals dotted around so the squeamish animal brigade may not be impressed. A few tellies dotted around but none in the right side bar.Can now rival The Philharmonic for granduer and it has a better beer selection and is much cheaper. Definitely a destination pub now. Owned by the same lot who have The Red Lion on Slater St.
On 30th March 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Vines (The Big House)
This spectacular building has well earned its "Big House" sobriquet, totally dominating this part of Lime Street and the top end of Ranelagh Street too for that matter. It's truly outrageous, and the interior goes a long way to match it. The corner door leads into a rather shabby public bar, but don't be put off by this or the absence of anything worth drinking on the small bar counter (I had a Jamesons whiskey). Have a wander around - or should that be wonder? Each room has something to wonder at, and when you've been in all the open rooms, just try the door of the Heritage Suite. If it's locked, you'll just have to make do with my photo or the description on the Camra pub heritage site. A truly stupendous building. What a pity there's no real ale.
Date of visit: 4th October 2019
On 2nd December 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3795 recommendations about 3523 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Vines (The Big House)
I live in hope that someone will only day reinvigorate the faded pub that is the Vines. the fine interior remains but the ripped upholstery and poor beer sadly lets it down massively. at the moment it's a nothing boozer when it ought to be a glamorous destination pub.
On 3rd November 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1062 recommendations about 1027 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Vines (The Big House)
This has indeed reopened. It has had a bit of a tidy up interior wise and has been restored to its 'grand interior', just. That said its still not a destination pub beer wise. No real ale and a generic choice of blandlagers and kegobitters. Irish music wafts its way through the rooms. I've never really took to this place and this version hasn't done anything to change my view.
4/8/18:
UPDATE: Closed.
This pub is to close. If not already closed, which I've been told has. I haven't seen it open at any point over the last week, w/b 23/7/18.
18/5/16:
The Vines is usually closed midweek afternoons except Fridays. The whole block between this pub and The Crown is due for demolition but the Vines and The Crown are staying and remain open.
On 31st October 2018
- 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 The Vines (The Big House)
There was no real ale on in here, with the best being (in my opinion) the keg Mann’s Chestnut Mild. I didn’t see any sign of food during our late afternoon visit, but there again we weren’t looking for any. This another CAMRA Inventory pub in central Liverpool, and this one retains loads of original Victorial features, including a superb wood panelled heritage suite function room complete with bell pushes, plus ornate marble fireplaces. A full description can be found on the CAMRA Pub Heritage Group website for those who are interested in such things. Unfortunately some original features in the corner room are obscured by posters warning of random alcohol searches (presumably that not bought in the pub) and the like.
They had a singer performing during our visit, with his young daughter doing a song. This is another pub worth a visit, for the decor if not the ale. But watch for the unusual opening times.
On 5th July 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
peter ashworth left this review about The Vines (The Big House)
Yesterday when I passed around 2pm the pub was closed and think the reason is from the Vines to just before the Crown the pavement on Lime Street is cordoned off ready for demolition.I think those 2 pubs are not affected although the 2 in the middle will suffer.
On 18th May 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2321 recommendations about 2277 pubs]