Liverpool Dining and Entertainment

Liverpool Hotels

Dining in Liverpool

A wise old sage once said that you could tell a lot about a city by its churches and its pubs, and Liverpool is a great example of this theory. The late 20th century saw a great influx of designer bars appearing at the speed of light, this was undoubtedly the biggest area of development in the city.

One of the first of these was the Baa Bar, located as the jewel in the crown of the Liverpool Palace on trendy Slater Street. Its streamlined architecture and late licence helped it gain cult status among students and music lovers, who would queue patiently to gain entry to this exclusive drinking den.

Mello Mello, also on Slater Street, was the second bar to gain kudos with the Liverpool in-crowd, as a well-known watering hole for footballers, celebrities and fashion-conscious clubbers on their way to Cream. Next to open was the Modo and Roccomodo complex, situated in Concert Square. The first major development dedicated to luxury entertainment, Modo combines dining and drinking with fabulous design and a laid back atmosphere. Check out Modo Bar and Grill for unusual, quality bar food.

For those seeking a more traditional approach to drinking, Peter Kavanaghs, The Albert, Ye Cracke, The Pilgrim and The Philharmonic Pub are well worth seeking out, while lovers of the Irish vibe should check out Pogue Mahone in the city centre and Flannagans Apple in the Cavern Quarter. For those who prefer a Beatle theme to their evening, the Cavern Quarter is the best place to begin. Have a look at the Cavern Pub and The Lennon Bar.

Eating out in Liverpool never took precedence over drinking until recently, with takeaways and curry houses the main fodder for that post-booze bellyache. Nowadays, the choices have improved ten-fold, with a wide variety of restaurants and café bars available to suit all tastes and pockets. The
St Petersberg Dining Club, situated slightly out of the town centre and hidden behind a shabby exterior, is the only fully authentic Russian restaurant in the country and offers a wonderful dining and drinking experience.

In the Lark Lane area, L'Alouette offers fantastic French dining, while Que Pasa Cantina serves South American style meals. There are two Greek restaurants also to chose from Akis Greek Taverna for a party atmosphere, and Romios for a more intimate affair.

The central area has the highest concentration of dining opportunities. A Passage To India on Bold Street has to be one of the best, with Musapir also on the same Street offering a vegan version of Indian cuisine. Hardman Street is home to South American Valparaiso, Greek Antonis Cypriot Restaurant, and The Italian Bistro, whereas Berry Street - leading onto Chinatown - houses Bijou, The Hub Café and Ziba.

For those seeking a lunchtime meal or post-work nosh up, Bucca Di Bacco, The Balti House and Not Sushi are all fine eating houses located in the business sector of town. Not Sushi is also the only Japanese restaurant in the city, and deserves a mention purely for its inventiveness, as does the Palm Oasis back in the town centre.

Café bars worth a mention include The Qube and The Life Café, although there are many more to choose from. Liverpool has so much to offer these days that no mere guide can do it justice. Whatever your preference and budget, theres something out there for everyone.

Amanda Caza

Entertainment in Liverpool

Museums and Galleries

National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside (NMGM) represents the full collection of museums and galleries in the city and offers the Eight Pass for a small fee, this enables the visitor a years unlimited visits to all eight establishments.

The major museum is Liverpool Museum, but there is also the Merseyside Maritime Museum at the Albert Dock, the Museum of Liverpool Life at the Pier Head, and the Conservation Centre on Whitechapel.

The Walker Art Gallery in the city centre is a work of art itself, set in a breathtaking spread of buildings encompassing the gallery, Liverpool Central Library, Liverpool Museum and situated opposite, the splendid St Georges Hall.

The Tate at the Albert Dock is a modern building, appropriately displaying contemporary art. The Bluecoat and the Open Eye feature less mainstream, smaller scale exhibitions. There are other art galleries outside the city centre, including the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight and Sudley House in Aigburth. There are also a number of informal displays of art in shopping centres, cafés and bars around the city.

Cinema

In the city centre, there is now just one mainstream cinema, the Odeon on London Road, which offers several screens of the latest releases and popular films. Out of town there are several multiplex cinemas, including UGC Cinema on Edge Lane, The Showcase on the East Lancs. Road and another Odeon near Switch Island. The Philharmonic Hall occasionally shows classic films. Art house cinema can be found in Bluecoat Chambers and the Plaza in Crosby, which strives to combine a popular cinema with a less mainstream thread. Worth a mention and well worth a visit, is the Woolton Picture House, a traditional twenties style cinema which still remains very popular.

Theatre

The Empire is the place to look for large touring productions, including musicals. The Everyman is a small, pleasant theatre hosting plays from a variety of companies. The Neptune also hosts plays. If you are seeking more experimental work, try the Unity or the Bluecoat. The Playhouse, recently closed for refurbishment is due to open in the very near future.

Classical Music

The Philharmonic Hall is the main place to go for classical music, with a large programme of events and a season of performances from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. There is an annual Summer Pops event in a tent at Kings Dock.

Popular Music

In the minds of many, Liverpool is forever associated with the Beatles. There is a Beatles Shop in the city centre, near the site of the original Cavern Club, where the infamous band performed and a Beatles museum/exhibition at the Albert Dock. There is also a Magical Mystery Tour, which offers a guided tour around Beatles related sites within the city.

Although it is mainly associated with classical music, the Philharmonic Hall has branched out into popular music and the varied programme now includes, country, rock, jazz and pop concerts; similar acts can be seen at the Empire. The Neptune hosts groups and artistes in the same category but with a smaller audience.

For traditional rock groups, the Royal Court and L2 are the major venues. The key smaller venue is the Lomax, now situated alongside L2. There is also the Picket on Hardman Street. The Life Café on Bold Street also has live music, including the occasional big name wanting to play in a smaller venue.

Nightclubs

The major nightclub in Liverpool is Cream, attracting visitors and coach parties from all over the country. Needless to say there are plenty of others, including Heebeejeebies, Le Bateau, the Krazy House, The Blue Angel, Garlands and the Zanzibar. Flares - complete with a fluorescent pink exterior - is a 70s themed club and is surrounded by a multitude of other clubs and pubs, including the highly acclaimed Modo & Roccomodo.

Comedy

Liverpool is famed for its sense of humour; it may be true to an extent that "comedy acts" continually take place in shops and cafés, and especially in the local pubs. However, if you want a more traditional comedy experience there is Comedy in the Late Room at the Life Café, the UpFront Comedy Club at the Everyman and the Orgasmic Comedy Club at the Picket. The Neptune Theatre, the Empire and the Philharmonic hall host well-known comedians and international acts.

Sport

There is an old joke that there are two football teams in Liverpool: Liverpool and Liverpool Reserves. Unfortunately Liverpools fall from the peak has made that joke less funny nowadays, except to supporters of Everton Football Club and, indeed, Tranmere Rovers, who have been raising their profile in recent years. All grounds are within easy reach of the city centre.

Springtime each year sees the Grand National race meeting at Aintree, on the outskirts of Liverpool. The event has now expanded into a Grand National Festival, covering live music, dance, drama and exhibitions.

Andrew Billington.