BEYOND THE ROPEWALKS

January 2026. Liverpool.

My son Matthew has just had a curated exploration of Stockport’s superior public houses. Well, Runaway, the Crown and the Magnet, for a start.

Sending me photos of him drinking Bass under the viaduct creates a feeling of both immense pride and jealousy.

Despite living in the heart of Manchester, Matt and Emma are big fans of Liverpool’s Ropewalks quarter, the bit between Lime Street and Chinatown with the Irish bars, night clubs and occasional Bass “Lennon drank here” signs.

When folk run down our great country and complain about the lack of a Woolworths or John Lewis on the high street I realise they’re just too old to appreciate the wonder of city centre rejuvenation in northern towns.

So here’s the Ropewalk highlights. Sorry, Mark, you’re not one of them.

The Ropewalks isn’t a “Big Area” (see what I did there ?), but there’s a lot to take in, and on Parr Street the promise of pre-emptive GBG pubs.

No idea what this was.

Apart from a raft of Black Cats and craft brewery taps, the big development in the Pool is the 1936 Pub Co‘s collection of gorgeous pubs. The Vine, the Red Lion, St Peters and now the Monro.

I mean, how could you walk past that, with its Bass sign, floral artistry and fourteen (14) changing beers ?

Well, I did, but will no doubt be back when it debuts in GBG27, but for now I press on towards the Baltic Triangle and a third GBG tick in an hour.

A world away from the glamour of the Ropewalks, I love this bit of town.

The old Nordic church,

the colour,

the unsafe structures.

And somewhere round here, a new GBG brewery tap.

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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.

9 thoughts on “BEYOND THE ROPEWALKS”

  1. Don’t keep me in suspense, did you visit the NEW 1936 Pub Co one on Hope street? I’m told the Shandon Bells opened last week, but I haven’t been there yet.

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  4. “Sending me photos of him drinking Bass under the viaduct creates a feeling of both immense pride and jealousy.”

    I can well understand that!

    “Matt and Emma are big fans of Liverpool’s Ropewalks quarter, the bit between Lime Street and Chinatown with the Irish bars, night clubs and occasional (Bass) “Lennon drank here” signs.”

    (slow golf clap)

    “When folk run down our great country and complain about the lack of a Woolworths or John Lewis on the high street I realise they’re just too old to appreciate the wonder of city centre rejuvenation in northern towns.”

    That’s a fair point. Our small town (about 40K people) is working hard at revitalizing our small downtown core. They had events on almost every day this past summer, and will do so again this summer. I have a feeling I’ll be down there two or three times a week, watching my wife get her 10K steps in while line dancing or doing the Salsa, whilst I sit watching with a pint. 😊

    “The Ropewalks isn’t a “Big Area” (see what I did there ?), ”

    No. But then, I’m not from around there. 😉

    “and on Parr Street the promise of pre-emptive GBG pubs.”

    Oooooh.

    “No idea what this was.”

    (looks down)
    Baby-back pizza?

    “the big development in the Pool is the 1936 Pub Co‘s collection of gorgeous pubs. The Vine, the Red Lion, St Peters and now the Monro.”

    Nice!

    ” and fourteen (14) changing beers ?”

    Was that written somewhere on the outside?

    “but for now I press on towards the Baltic Triangle and a third GBG tick in an hour.”

    A pint in each? No wonder you walk to all of these!

    “A world away from the glamour of the Ropewalks, I love this bit of town.”

    (looks up)
    It has its own gritty glamour.

    “the unsafe structures.”

    At least they give you fair warning (mind you, just looking at it should give one pause).

    “And somewhere round here, a new GBG brewery tap.”

    Aha!

    Cheers

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