Philharmonic in Liverpool now Grade I Listed!

The Philharmonic Dining Rooms in Liverpool, 36 Hope Street L1 9BX (website), opposite Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, and built at the end of the 19th century (historically a Cains pub but now a Nicholson's pub), was upgraded to Grade I Listed earlier this month because of its "outstanding architectural quality and magnificent interior" (Historic England website). The Philharmonic was first designated Grade II Listed in 1966, and now this wonderful building has become the first pub built during the reign of Queen Victoria to be Grade I Listed!

 The Bar

I have visited The Philharmonic quite often, but not for a few years now, both before and after football matches in the Liverpool area, have met up with friends with no football involved, and have just visited when in Liverpool for the day alone, it's that good! I have even been contacted on the 'spur of the moment' by a friend asking for suggestions where she should drink whilst in Liverpool, and The Philharmonic was my suggestion, for which she thanked me whilst in the bar and sent photographs to me at the same time. Oh yes, and it sells decent ales and good food too.

The Philharmonic has an impressive interior, with stained glass windows, copper panels, wood paneling, stucco ceilings, and a mosaic bar counter. There are a few different seating areas and rooms, including a large room with comfortable sofas and chairs you could fall asleep in. It also has the original, and famous, gents marbled toilet that women are invited to visit (see photograph above), with the proviso they ask a member of staff first, of course.

The Gents

So, I add my congratulations to The Philharmonic Dining Rooms, and well deserved, which reminds me, I must be due a visit to Liverpool before too long, cheers!

1st Day of the Tower Beer & Cider Festival in Hastings

I got to the Tower, 251 London Road TN37 6NB, early for the festival (21st to 23rd February) because I was to help set up the separate festival bar, and above you can see the bar on my arrival with a dozen ales extra to those served from the handpumps on the main bar, looked more professional, obviously, once I got to it... 😉 

I've updated my previous blog a wee bit, mainly correcting errors in my original (OK, I own up, I do make errors now and then, but it was just fine tuning!); also, above you can see a list of the ciders available this weekend, in addition to the ales detailed previously.

I shall be writing a more detailed report of the fine ales available at the festival after the next few days, but I had to mention a 'stand out' beer today, a half of which I drank before leaving earlier, and following Louisa's giving me a taster earlier, so it had to be done. The Kent brewery Iron Pier (website) and their wonderful 9% Speyside BA Imperial Stout, that is, aged in Speyside whisky barrels, and matured for another few months in Louisa's cellar, gorgeous! Well that's what I wrote in my notes, and, with a "big dark fruity aroma with hints of roasted barley and whisky, tasting like a stout should, big flavour and body, sweet to start with, but drying out into a bitter finish." I already know it will be my favourite ale of the festival, but you never know... 

Beer Festival at the Tower in Hastings this Weekend!

This weekend, Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd February 2020, sees the third Tower Beer Festival, at the reigning 2019 South East Sussex CAMRA Pub of the Year (see blog from last year): The Tower, on the corner of London Road/Tower Road, Bohemia, Hastings & St Leonards, East Sussex TN37 6NB. Opening times are 11 am to 11 pm every day.

Above are the tasting notes for the ales being sold over the weekend, and there will likely be a few more available too, and there has always been a rather tasty stew served up so you don't go hungry (there is a vegetarian option too, today {21st} I enjoyed eating a very tasty, not too spicy, bean and vegetable stew). The previous 2 years have provided a lovely range of ales, also they will be selling 9 real ciders, and you may just see me serving a few ales up too, as I shall be there every day, cheers!