January 2026. Liverpool.
A third new Liverpool GBG tick in barely an hour brought me to the scruffier bit of the modern city, not far from Toxteth and Cains and all that.
Love Lane is notably quieter than the Ropewalks pubs,
but seems to have the smartest menu and they’ve pulled out all the stops to make this an “event” space.
They’ve even stolen that bird off the top of the Liver building to obscure the Higsons Bitter clip,
so obviously I choose that one. A plain bitter, well executed (NBSS 3.5).
The Higsons memorabilia will appeal to those of a certain age,
and I know some of you love the sight of shiny brewing vessels as much as I enjoy the yellow light from Chinese takeaways,
but with exposed ducting, toilets up two (2) flights of stairs, and industrial warehouse chic it’s not getting on Stafford Paul’s “Proper Pub Day Out” any time soon.
And if Paul does crave those Love Lane beers he should know they’re available cheap in Home Bargains.
I headed into the Pool of life at dusk.
retiredmartin 
A newspaper and an individual I follow on Bluesky both rated Liverpool number one in UK cities to visit. Not long ago it seemed like Manchester filled that spot on most lists I read. I know we all like new lists, but I am curious if you see any changes that would explain this very small sample size shift.
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Matt thinks that too, and I suspect many young people would agree.
I think that Ropewalks area between the station and Chinatown has got some really smart places to eat now,
it edges museums, has the sea of course, and a lot of money has been spent on the pubs like the Red Lion, St Peters and the Vines.
I’d still have Manchester ahead for live music, particularly now they’ve got the huge Co-op and New Century, but in many respects is quite similar. It doesn’t have Stockport 10 minutes away though.
Personally I’d still pick Newcastle and the Tyne over both if I could only pick one.
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Newcastle and the Tyne rated highly on both lists I referenced. I’ve been to all three and liked them all. My time hasn’t been equal in each city so that makes it hard for me to contrast them fairly.
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I think it’s a good point about familiarity. Liverpool still seems to have a few streets I’ve never explored, and a lot of pubs I haven’t been to for years. I haven’t to the World Museum in 20 years. In contrast, I’ve covered every inch of central Manchester, but not the subirbs.
Like asking you what’s your favourite US state (don’t say Greenland).
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No, ducting, flights of stairs and industrial tat won’t get me leaving Vines, even with it being only a couple of streets away from that lovely red triangle where I usually stay and with it displaying those fourteen proper Higsons characters from the 1980s.
Ten nights each in Liverpool and Manchester over the past thirty years might suggest I like both equally, although I do have a slight preference for Manchester.
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