PRESCOT – TO BARD OR NOT TO BARD

January 2024. Prescot.

Six months ago I hadn’t been to Prescot in 20 years; now I’m planning a third trip in rapid succession.

Geographic boundaries are dangerous, but I think this map shows Knowsley. But can that be right ?

10 minutes on the train from St Helens, just before you hit the motorway that divides “Proper Liverpool” from Woollyback-land, I can’t say I was thrilled to be back in Prescot,

but I did get chance this time get a shot of the famous cables for which the town is famed,

along with clocks, and Shakespeare.

Shakespeare ?

Well, they’ve already got a GBG micro named after the Bard, though it was shuttered at 3pm when all sources said it should be open.

I sent a message asking if they were open, guessed that 3 might become 4, and “did” the town a second time.

A strong feminist graffiti game,

a decent non-league ground,

and some great sculpture outside the Shakespeare North.

But it was the little social history museum, as so often, that’s the star.

It takes a bit of finding, tucked away in the library on the second floor of the shopping centre, but once there you get a history of clocks,

some old comics and Hornby memorabilia (from up the road in Formby, I think).

The ducking stool though, is from the Spoons.

Still no sign of life at The Bard, so I took a pic of the Knotty Ash Ales pub for Paul,

admired the wedge house that ought to be a pub,

and stared at shutters for 20 minutes before trudging back to the station.

How I’ve missed unexpectedly closed micro pubs in the GBG.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

20 thoughts on “PRESCOT – TO BARD OR NOT TO BARD”

      2. The hare and hound sign might be a century old . That was the name of the pub from the 1970s into this century but it was always called Tommy Hall’s. Not sure when it officially changed. Further back it was known as the weighing machine. Regards Bill051
        Have you got your settings so that non WordPress members are anonymous?

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  3. The random openings (or closings) of micros really try your patience don’t they?

    Surprised you didn’t pop in for a consolation pint at The Thomas Hall….

    …though at least you were able to make up for the lack of micro, with some top town culture.

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      1. When I were a lad, pubs opened at 11.00, closed at 3.00, opened up again at 5.00 and closed at 10.30. (Unless it was market hours in Wrexham when they opened much longer) You knew where you stood.

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      2. It’ll be all right once the 2025 GBG has been published, with all the opening times set out for every pub. That should instill a bit of discipline in these micropub operators.

        And if not, you can just write to Camra and complain.

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  4. I take my hat off to them that they’ve managed to turn a rather slight association with Shakespeare – as a young man, he reputedly worked as a tutor for one of the Lancashire Catholic recusant families nearby – into a grant to build a new theatre dedicated to him.

    The area abounds in sporting connections. Apart from St Helens, the Stanley family, the Earls of Derby, who live at Knowsley Hall have given their name to a horse race, the French rugby league and North American ice hockey trophies, and the park which, at least for another season, divides the grounds of the two Liverpool football clubs.

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  5. Regarding impersonations this is how you welcomed me nearly six years ago.(Zico?)
    <>
    Lots of different commenters in those days. Regards to my namesake.
    Bill051

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  6. Apparently you can’t post into the comments box.The quote between disappeared.
    It was
    “retiredmartin says
    February 17, 2018 at 8:21 am
    Bill is the New Kid on the Blog. ”
    I’ll get my coat.

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