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Pen Factory, Liverpool
Liverpool
L1 9BQ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Pen Factory
It's very easy to walk past this bar without noticing it, even if you're actually searching for it. Also, be aware that the bar only opens 5 days a week (closed Sunday and Monday), something which has caught us out a few times before.
This is a subterranean bar that still manages to attract lots of natural light and it also has a pleasant courtyard garden to the rear, which we sampled for the first time yesterday.
Whilst it has the feel of a cafe bar, the Pen Factory still has a good selection of real ales and ciders and regularly features in the Good Beer Guide. Titanic Plump Porter is the regular beer. Guests yesterday were Lister's IPA, Beartown Lit, Salopian Shropshire Gold & Kirkstall Pale Ale. The 3 ciders were Farmer Jim's Dry, Thistly Cross Whisky Cask & Seacider White Peach. In addition, craft beers are also represented with The Kernel Table Beer and Beartown Rinse & Repeat.
Staff are friendly and there's a nice, relaxed vibe about the place. If it wasn't so far from the station, with a reasonable hill to negotiate on the way, I think we'd be here much more often. As it is, if you are doing the pubs in the Hope Street area of Liverpool, this one should be close to the top of your list.
On 8th October 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Pen Factory
Open plan cellar bar specialising in food but also serving good beer. Softy industrial finish with school canteen tables and chairs but does have a certain charm
On 11th February 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Pen Factory
Finally got to visit this place during an afternoon trip to Liverpool on a Tuesday. Much bigger than it looks from the outside. You go down a few steps to a large refectory style room with refectory style long tables. Loads of bare brick and an industrial look ceiling. 6 handpumps on the bar, all on, one of which was a cider. There's an outside courtyard, but as it was raining this wasn't an option. My pint was in good nick, but I didn't feel at home in here at all.
On 4th September 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Pen Factory
According to the opening times on their door, this was supposed to be open until 18:30 on a Sunday. Definitely closed at 17:30 and looked like it had been all day.
On 14th February 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Pen Factory
This pub always has a decent choice of cask ales and are always well kept. The two young barman are extremely passionate about the quality of their beers, which shows. The pub also serves food which is at a very high standard and not overpriced. Six pumps with four on serving Castle Rock In Bloom, Neptune Nelson Sails Again, Listers Best Bitter, Titanic Plum Porter. I enjoyed the Neptune and they were putting another beer on as we were leaving. This pub is close to the Philharmonic, so this is the better choice, unless you're sightseeing.
On 1st March 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Pen Factory
Difficult to find,down a flight of stairs the large glass door opens into a refectory area to the right with ranks of dining tables and a seating area to the left with large tables and metal chairs a bit like you might find at school.The ceiling is high and the flooring industrial but the long bar does indicate that this is more than an eatery although it doesn't have a traditional pub vibe.
I suppose you could call it a modern and trendy bar.There are 6 handpumps offering on my trip Five Points Pale,Moor Raw,Wild Beer Madagascar Milk Stout,Higsons Porter (NBSS 3.5) ,Mallinsons Mosaic and Amarillo (NBSS 4).That's a very decent line up for Liverpool City Centre with a mix of styles .There are also 4 genuine craft keg beers too.
I would certainly return,it deserves it's GBG listing and IMHO is one of the best ale houses in a City that can sometimes disappoint.
On 9th February 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Pen Factory
this is indeed a bit of a strange one and very difficult to rate - basically a tapas/small plates restaurant and set out for this in canteen style. Lots of CAMRA types were in, obviously for the beer and not the food, but there were also a lot of couples and groups enjoying expensive nights out. Real ales were three from Five Points and three from Kirkstall, and my porter from the latter was beautiful. I’ll make a note to come back for a meal but as a pub i’m not so sure.
On 9th November 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Pen Factory
Visited this 2019 Good Beer Guide pub, but it has to be said it no way resembles a pub. There is a lift to get disabled down to the lower ground floor, and it is a very large canteen style room with the kitchen at the bottom, the bar on the left hand side and doors out to a pleasant garden area on the right hand side. The masses of tables in front of the bar were laid for food, and the few tables at he back were for drinkers. Beer choice was Titanic First Class, Titanic Plum Porter, Sonnet 43 Abolition, Salopian Oracle and Tiny Rebel Juicy. We chose First Class and Abolition, both of which were fine.
On 21st August 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Pen Factory
This place, though still the same layout as an industrial canteen, has in recent times upped its real ale quality. Interesting and ever changing breweries are now to be found here. Happily there is always a dark ale on.
6/1/15:
Bar/Restaurant serving real ales and ciders. Run by the same lot who ran The Everyman Bistro next door. Has 6 pumps,4 were on, and 2 6 pump t-bars for Europops.
On 8th March 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Pen Factory
Very modern bar / restaurant located down a half-flight of stairs from the street and with a rather inconspicuous entrance. However, the interior is lighter than you would expect because there are some additional windows at the back beside the patio beer garden. Little in the way of decor, with mostly bare or painted brick walls and industrial pipework, but overall effect isn't unattractive. Six real ales in a variety of styles from the six handpumps, and my pint of the local(ish) Red Star Lakota (£3.20) was in good shape. Unexpectedly good.
On 16th April 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]