The Crow's Nest - fine, fine beer (Pubs in Merseyside in general)

Member Name: fionajm

Product:	Pubs in Merseyside in general
Date:	04/01/02 (464 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Super beer, Unspoilt

Disadvantages: Not for people who hate old fashioned pubs

A pub for old fashioned beer drinkers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I thought I would drop a few lines down on my favourite pub in the whole world. It isn't old and tudoresque, it isn't modern and all jazzed up... in fact it is just like the pub your grandad used to drink in... in fact mine did!!

The Crows nest is on the outskirts of Liverpool, 6 miles north of the centre in a small town called Crosby. It is tucked away up a side road of Victorian terraces, cottages and a duck pond.

Unspoilt~~~~

The Crows Nest is an unspoilt local pub probably built in the 1920's (I hedge a guess from my knowledge of Crosby architecture but I am willing to be corrected!). The clientel is a bit old and wacky but can prove to be superb entertainment.

Split into two areas, a public bar from the age of when men were men and women were scared of the talk of football and man's things, and a lounge to the rear. Both with separate doors of course (so as to not have to speak to the riff raff), although there is a link between the two down the side.

Layout~~~~

The layout of the pub is quite interesting and unusual. The cosy small bar servery is set in the centre of the pub and the main bar area is to the front, but in the rear snug (I love that word) there is a small hatch to stick your head through to get served. The snug is split into two at the back.

The whole bar is very nicely decorated with the usual pictures and old plates, but not to excess. And all the old fireplaces are still in there to give it that extra cosy ambiance. All the old wood features are there such as dado rails, picture rails etc in a dark oak.

The pub really is tiny, I popped in at New Year's eve to find it crammed to the hilt with about 50 people sardined inside. But in reality I have never seen more than 20 in there before then so there is always room for another welcome bottom on a seat.


Music and entertainment~~~~

The juke box is none existent (they didn't really get into pop music in times gone by) and there is no food. This is a pub to drink your beer and enjoy the fine local company with jolly japes and talk of rugger and merriment. A time to remember the art of conversation and tussle with your mates. Newspapers are available to read by the clientel.

Drinks~~~~

I have to mention the beer! They serve Greenalls, Cains, and always have guest beer (there are no beer ties here)- Theakston's Old Peculiar and Jenning's Cocker Hoop were the order of the day last week at a superb £2.20 a pop. And because the cellars are old and traditional too the pints come out creamy and smooth just as the brewery intended. YUM! The problem is their beer tastes so good you can get a bit tipsy if you're not careful of letting it slide down your throat too quickly. Stella is the order of the day on the lager side but I am sure Kronenburg has popped in there too a couple of times. There are plenty of wines, bottled lagers, alcopops, spirits and soft drinks too- or you could have a cup of tea or a coffee if you want something lighter. Prices range from £1 for coffee up to a few pounds for a more select whisky.

Clientel~~~~

Being the Blundellsands end of Crosby (i.e. the posh bit where Ann Robinson and Cherie Blair would be more at home- being local lasses), the people it attracts are more affluent than the usual pub rabble and quite a few rugby players drink there from the local Old Boys Network. But this all adds to its unusual qualities of a timeless unspoilt pub. It also has the reputation of being the favourite pub of many freemasons so I have been told, but as they are a secret society I don't see how this nugget of information has slipped out...

The wonderful thing though is that time has stood still in the Crow's because they still do waitress service. And the bar staff are
warm and friendly. Put simply, nothing has changed.

So if you are in the area, may I heartily recommend a pint at my local...

The Crow's Nest
63 Victoria Road, Crosby, Merseyside, L23 7XY
Phone: 0151 931 3081

Summary: