Everyman & Playhouse Liverpool
This article provides suggestions for a trip to the theatre, amazing places to drink, before and after, as well as restaurants to eat in. It’s all based in or around Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter, the home of many TV films and Period Dramas. Easily accessible by train or car from Wigan. There are two award winning theatres on Hope Street. Both provide a wide range of entertainment to suit all sorts of tastes. So for more details on theatre pre-drinks and food then read on. Not got time for a show, then hey, you can still try one of the many bars or restaurants
The first theatre is the Everyman. You can find it at the Metropolitan Cathedral end of Hope Street. Then the second is the Liverpool Philharmonic just a few hundred yards along Hope street towards the Anglican Cathedral.
Not only are they great places to take in a show, but they are surrounded by incredibly tasteful restaurants, pubs and bars. So if you do decide to take in a show (there’s links for both later), then you can really make an event by exploring one of those numerous local bars.
What’s more, two additional stunning pubs have opened in the last week almost directly opposite the Phil. One is a Dickensian themed pub with courtyard, the other a traditional backstreet boozer adjoining the same beer garden. You will find a sneak preview below after getting access for a quick look round both.
If you wish to travel by train, the Georgian Quarter is a steady 1o to 15 minute walk from Lime Street station though slightly less from Central station .
The Two Theatres on Hope Street
So a street with two theatres. Not unusual I admit. Yet the fact that both offer so much may just make them different.
The Philharmonic
The Liverpool Phil at Night
The Liverpool Philharmonic is a great venue. It hosts a wide range of events to suit many different tastes. Locals refer to it as the Phil or Liverpool Phil and it is located in the Georgian District of the city roughly half way along Hope Street. A spectacular Grade II listed building completed in 1939 after the previous building was destroyed by fire in 1933. It provides a wide range of entertainment from classical, modern to stand-up comedians and much more. The satirist Jonathan Pye, popular on You Tube and John Cooper-Clarke, the punk poet are both appearing early this year. I’ve provided a link to the complete list of shows and more about the Phil at the end of this article.
The interior is vast with 1,700 seats on three tiers. Why not spoil yourself and go for one of the boxes? Of course the acoustics are second to none for the music lovers amongst you. You may well be surprised just what events are hosted, we were.
The Everyman
Everyman Bar and Restaurant Interior
The Everyman Theatre is situated within meters of the Metropolitan Cathedral . It has been showcasing spectacular performances since 1964, hosting stars such as Julie Walters and Matthew Kelly.
After undergoing an extensive rebuild, the theatre reopened in 2014, to turn it into the dazzling and inspiring theatre that exists today.
Another prize winning venue for shows and films.
Theatre Pre-drinks and Food Listings
Just a selection of places that I can highly recommend. Yes there are many more in the Georgian Quarter, nearby and across the city centre. Have a scroll down or pick one directly from the list below. The White Hart is a gem and only just opened after a lot of work and pennies.
The Vines
The Big House Billiards Room
First off, how about starting by turning immediately left out of Lime Street station and then south along Lime street itself. Although you will pass another wonderful pub on the corner called the Crown, arguably it’s worth a few minutes to walk a little further to The Vines, or locally referred to as the Big House. A recently expensively refurbished Grade II listed Edwardian pub. A central bar surrounded by cosy rooms. To the rear the opulent former Billiards room with a variety of small to larger tables suitable for the individual, a couple or groups. Of course the only table it doesn’t have is… a Billiards Table!
In winter the building has numerous real fires to ward off that chill while you choose from a huge range of real ales, ciders, gins or other tipples. Of course you could elect for a soft drink.
The Vines doesn’t provide meals other than a small range of snacks. Yet the place is breath taking and well worth a nose around. Think on, the Big House is also a handy stop of point for the station on the way home too!
Liverpool Brewing Company Tap
Architecturally at least a complete contrast. Directly opposite the Vines on Lime Street, a former retail premises. Inside smartly laid out with a predominance of modern wood panelling. The premises offers a great range of their own locally brewed real ales, craft beers, gins and far more. A relaxing ground floor tucked away basement and friendly knowledgeable bar staff.
Upstairs you can even find something a bit different to eat in the form of Momo’s. Even if you haven’t built up an appetite yet, you may do by the next venue.
Philharmonic Dining Rooms
The Philharmonic Dining Rooms
If you do fancy something substantial to eat and quality too, then try the Philharmonic Dining Rooms. I bet my colleague’s combined wages that you will find something you will love. From homemade pies, chicken schnitzel and plenty other options it hasn’t forgotten its history as a dining club. Take your food in the large open dining room or in one of the many beautiful smaller rooms including two called the Brahms and Liszt. As well as the food, the range of real ales is second to none.
Another historic building with the curiosity of the authorities awarding its Gent’s Toilet a Grade I listed status before the main building was. The Phil even caters for your dog with the Pooch station. Though pretty sure you cannot take the dog to the theatre!
The White Hart
Still not tickled your taste buds or captured your attention yet? Sadly, I can’t claim responsibility for it, but from this week there are two brand new stunning venues with an historic twist. is the carefully decorated White Hart at 23 Hope Street. From the outside the larger bar does have a Sherlock Holmes appearance to it with its resplendent light over the heavy front door. It’s a truly cosy Dickensian snug a range of eclectic wall adornments including pictures, mirrors, ferrets, goats and deer head. The sort of place that has your mind imagining how all those people of yesteryear passed their time while relaxing over a drink. Perhaps the underhand deals, the low lighting, the gaslit streets. The front fascia, formerly the back of a 19th-century church pew, was provided by Taylor’s classic furniture.
As for the excellent collection of six rotating real ales, on my sneak preview they had ales from around the country including Cornwall’s Proper Job and the more local White Rat.
The owners have put in a lot of thought to present a true Dickensian feel to the premises. They have achieved all of that in just about eight weeks!
As well as The White Hart, its sister pub, The Engineer shares a common beer garden and partly covered walkway. It is a veritable backstreet boozer but classy and quirky. Again the owners have not scrimped to achieve something exciting. It opens on to the parallel Arrad Street next to a music studio to complete a satisfying look and feel.
The White Hart and Engineer bars are just about halfway between the Everyman and Philharmonic theatres along Hope Street.
The Queen of Hope Street
A relatively new bar too, directly opposite the Philharmonic Hall. Perhaps the exterior is deceiving as once inside it also contains a unique collection of artwork and memorabilia.
Serving a great range of real ales, wines, cocktails and just about any other drink you might want. That includes coffees and teas until 7pm! The Queen also provides a range of bar snacks at selected times. As with all the pubs and bars covered in this article, impeccably clean.
Papillon
Papillon – Hope Street
Changing themes a little, moving along past the Philharmonic but still on Hope street is a delightful restaurant. Great food and drinks in a venue with a true Mediterranean look and feel. An outdoor set of tables for warmer weather too. serve up your favourite pub classics, rotating guest ales, beautifully crafted cocktails, and a broad range of delectable wines. An outdoor area wrapping around Hope Street & Faulkner Street, so you can take in the stunning views the Georgian Quarter has to offer
Peter Kavanagh’s
Peter Kavanagh’s has been a pub since the 1850s! Serving some great cask ales, It’s full of charm, original character and an extensive collection of memorabilia throughout the central open bar and snugs. It goes without saying, friendly staff too. Peter Kavanagh, the licensee from 1897 to 1950 carried out the current decor way back in 1929. Amazingly there isn’t a speck of dust to be seen either.
…a pub interior of exceptional national historic importance
Pub of the year 2019.
CAMRA
Kavanagh’s has its own Dickensian links too. One of the room names with a William English stained glass window. The pub was extended a number of times, taking in the former Grapes. While the pub dates back it was only given the current name in 1978 in Peter Kavanagh’s honour. He was actually an inventor. See if you can spot his caricature face paintings on the bench ends.
Roscoe Head
Roscoe Head
Our last theatre pre-drinks and food suggestion. Ideal if heading back to Lime Street. Perhaps you decided to pop in on the way to your show? Either way the result is good. A delight for real ale drinkers or those just wanting a quieter pub to chat with a small bar area and two compact cosy snug rooms. An absolute delight for those enjoying conversation or peace to have a read: there are no televisions, juke boxes or gaming machines.
…a true Oasis
The Camra published its first Good Beer Guide in 1974. Now a Free house, the Roscoe Head is the only pub in the North of England to appear in the guide every year since. In fact it is only one of five pubs in the whole of the UK to do so.
Much More than just Theatre Pre-drinks and Food…
Hope Street where the city’s two Cathedrals can be seen at either end. There is also much more to the Georgian Quarter than theatres, bars and cathedrals.
Liverpool Anglican Cathedral
I will follow up this article in the next few weeks with a number of other quirky and interesting tales including Ghost Walks, Time Capsule Museums and … ( more will be revealed )!
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
Theatre Pre-drinks and Food – Useful Links
(c) D. Foster
Everyman Theatre and What’s On
Liverpool Philharmonic Theatre and What’s On
And Finally…
Well if you have got this far through a lengthy article, then you can rightly say you have earned a drink, even if you skip the theatre. If you didn’t read this far, I expect a signed letter from your parents with a valid reason why!
Have you any other suggestions for or opinions on theatre pre-drinks and food ? If so leave a message. We’d love to hear from you.