Infinitely more pleasant than the Faculty next door, Slaters is still crummy enough to warrant two…read morestars. It does exactly what it sets out to do (i.e. be the dive bar to end all dive bars) but it's still the kind of place you need eighteen litres of ethanol swamping through your arteries before you can begin to enjoy it. The clientele are a mixed bunch. One half resemble the cast of Skins, the other look like Billy Elliot's dad. Infamously, the home of the 'Quad Vod', when I got one of these drinks, I found it to be half a single at best, while my mate had half a bottle of Asda Smart Price vodka in his coke. I got the feeling they'd just sloshed whatever amount of alcohol they felt like into the glass, with the inkling that nobody would bother saying anything. Shame on you, Slaters.

Slaters, the self acclaimed 'College of Knowledge', is somewhere you want to go if you want to get…read moreroaring drunk and still have change of a £20 note. Not just a karaoke bar, this has built its reputation on quad vods served in pint glasses (4 shots of vodka) with a bottle of WKD to top it up. And by heck is it popular. Not being a vodka drinker myself, I've always asked why they can't do four whiskeys instead, but apparently the name wouldn't catch on. This is a massive student pub and as a result, looks a bit grotty. Its had a relatively recent facelift on the exterior, but not a lot, if anything, has changed inside. Nobody cares though, because the music is like the stuff from your favourite radio station combined with that mix tape you made when you were younger, and the quad vods soon dim most people's senses. This place is right up there with The Raz as somewhere you have to go to if only for the experience.

Jacaranda is a record store inside a bar, or upstairs from a bar, depending on how you look at it…read more Either way, I always think this is an interesting concept and a fun way to combine experiences. The record store is on the small side - don't expect to find any deep cuts. On the other hand, they had multiple genres represented and the size of the hip hop and indie sections were quite large for the space. I didn't have a need to interact with the staff but appreciated the hands off approach (I don't like to be pestered when I go in a record shop.) So pop in if you're in the area--maybe you'll luck out!

Also known as The Jack, this is yet another of those pubs in Liverpool that lays claim to links…read morewith The Beatles. Full of memorabilia and nostalgia, this is a nice chilled pub both day and night. It consists of a basement, ground floor and upstairs, none of which are particularly spacious, but it's one of those places that no one minds rubbing shoulders with the next person. There's not a massive choice of drinks, but enough to cater for everyone. The music ranges from 60s onwards, and there is a jukebox that everyone seems to make use of, as well as some old fashioned sweet and nut machines - 20p for a handful of pistachios and then you can cause murder throwing the shells at people! Not somewhere for a lively night out, but at the same time, not always the best place for a quiet chat, especially as they tend to have the music quite loud. Still, if you want your Beatles fix and you're nowhere near Mathew Street or the docks, this is a good alternative.

I guess because I'm not as familiar with this place as I thought I was, I ended up walking into the…read morewrong pub. You see, I wanted to go and have a beer at the Cavern Club, and discovered that I had ended up walking into the Cavern Pub, which is the sister pub, but not quite the same one (though I believe that the original one is no longer there). Still, this place isn't bad, and you don't have to pay to go inside, which is cool. They also have regular bands, though these bands pretty much play Beatles covers. Oh, and you aren't out of place if you happen to be wearing a Beatles t-shirt (as I happened to be doing at the time).

Quaint , traditional and lovely selection of beers . Staff are super friendly and I was here alone…read moreon a business trip . Felt comfortable on my own .

We just traveled here from Snowdonia and were extremely hungry. My wife and I each ordered a…read moreSunday afternoon meal-one chicken dish and one beef dish. Each dish contained turnips, carrots, string beans, broccolini, asparagus, potatoes, stuffing, gravy, a bread muffin, and the meat. So much food that we couldn't finish it all even with our best effort and being extremely hungry. The owner, who is also the cook, who also helped carry our suitcases in since we are staying here too, was very congenial. He's obviously put a lot of hard work into this pub/ hotel. Great food! Congrats!

Great beer and atmosphere! They had live music on before…read moreCovid lockdowns. Only a couple of TVs for sports fans, so you can easily avoid them. The best proper pub in Chester!

Been a regular for a year but turned up tonight 50 mins before last orders and the landlady refused…read moreto serve me because I hadn't been drinking in the pub all night. I explained I'd been with a friend who's mum had died but she told bar staff not to serve me. Other regulars have told me about the landlady's rudeness to customers but this was the first time it was directed at me. It was humiliating and I won't drink here again. Avoid unless you want an expensive pint and poor attitude from the owner!

Philosophy in Pubs (PIP) happens here every week and it is really a good event. I have made…read morefriends, gathered further insights that without this group. Their website is here: http://www.philosophyinpubs.org.uk/venues/view/ce780115d412d1d9ffb2ffcb5e85136d The setting is also an historic Waterloo building... good service and drinks.

It took a few visits for me to stop hating Mojo. It just seemed like the kind of cretin-populated…read morewarehouse of smug bar staff and expensive tipple that the city centre is already straining under the weight of. Admittedly, there's still a fair bit of truth in that description (some of the punters are, of course, pricks and the drinks won't get you much change of a note), but there's an underlying warmth to the place that isn't immediately apparent on maiden voyages. Surrounded by seats and flanked by the bar, the dance floor that pretty much comprises Mojo's entirety is that size for a reason- the music. All the greatest tunes from a span of decades are belted out here, accompanied by screens helpfully declaring the song's title to an enraptured crowd. As for the staff, yeah sure they dance around as they fix you up with liquor (something that should be banned everywhere on the planet) but they are surprisingly eager to make you as joyous as they are. Despite my lack of cleavage, one barman spent a few minutes giving me a rundown of the beers and recommending the finest ales on offer. As a man, having a man barman who is a man actually going out of his way to help you and not just skipping on to the nearest girl, is so rare as to be miraculous. God bless you, sir.

Mojo is tucked away on a side street in the city centre. The outside gives no clue to what lies…read moreinside so we decided to go and take a peek. The bar in Mojo runs across the width of the whole club. It does not stock your normal beers like Bud and Corona but offers alternatives which are just as good, if not better, and are also cheaper. They have a huge selection of tempting cocktails available and also wine, spirits and alcopops. The staff in Mojo are friendly and give your night out a personal touch by actually remembering what you're drinking when you come back to the bar and asking if you want the "same again?". There is a large stage at one end of Mojo, on which I have seen a few bands play. The sound system is excellent and does the bands justice. The backdrop to the stage is an awesome Warhol-esque multicolour Elvis wallpaper. If I had the money I would wallpaper my entire house in that. This is an excellent little club and I continue to go back there for its welcoming atmosphere and personal touches.

A very popular bar with chicas and chicos in Liverpool, as Casa boasts some fantastic Salsa nights…read more Known amongst locals as a 'docker's bar', its generally somewhere that out-of-towners frequent because they don't realise everyone else thinks it's a dockers bar! Although it serves food and drink throughout the day, it was, at least in my day, most popularly known for hosting Latin American events. There is usually info about a dance class going on at some point during the week and you'd be surprised how packed the place can get - even if Ricky Martin is on!! There is outdoor seating when the weather permits and it is a surprisingly large venue. Probably best in the summer on a warm afternoon with some tapas and a San Miguel!

A mans pub if ever there was one - until salas night that is! Built largely with dontaions from…read morevarious illustrious Liverpool patrons and union organisations during the Docker's strike of the 1990s. This idea of solidarity and socialism - both political and very much in the drinking sense! - is still strongly felt here as the bar fills quickly on a friday afternoon as soon as work is done for the day and is an all lads affair enjoying the cheap beer. It is a very old fashioned idea but The Casa does show how much a place like this is needed as a hub for socialising. I looked around the place and noticed how it serves as a community hall of sorts with flyers and posters notifying the drinkers of business support meetings or amateur dramatics events and of course the well known salsa classes. I don't in any way want to encourage this idea but The Casa has also been known to look kindly on those who might not have too much to spend. As a student a friend of mine and myself have been in here on seperate occassions to get a coffee and somewhere to study in peace, nursing our drinks for far longer than they were drinkable. When eventually ready to leave some while later we were told the drinks were on the house. The Casa is open of a morning for coffees but is best enjoyed after work when the place is buzzing with loud laughter and anecdotes of the days events.

The Magnet is quite a funky place, and is one of the best bars for live music in Liverpool. It…read moreboasts a community of musicians and artists who give it It's identity. The resident DJ's play a mixture of jazz, soul and funk which really gives it a latin feel. The top bar area has a chilled out relaxing ambience where you can have a quiet drink with friends or snuggle up with someone in the cosy booths. The basement level, known as The Sink has a completely different mood, more of a club party atmosphere with a huge sound system. They host DJ's and live music throughout the week. Then there's another area, known as the Fish Tank which is really chilled but still has a decent variety of music, just not as "clubbish". Make sure you check out the website before heading down for a night out because sometimes it is ticket only entry which can be a bummer if you didn't know. Also, there can often be a big queue to get in, so expect to wait and even be turned away at the door if you don't look smart enough. Its 24 hour licence makes it extremely popular after hours so your best bet is to get in early.

The Magnet is the scene to be seen in the early hours of the morning. This is when it is at its…read morebusiest, as the late night license allows it to keep on partying once everywhere else has wound down. A venue that emulates 'cool', its history speaks volumes and promises that things can only get better. The venue consists of a ground-floor bar and seating area, and at the back you can usually find a DJ and an impromptu dancefloor just outside the loos. The vibe here is generally jazz, funk, soul and anything chilled out and groovy. Downstairs hosts various music events and is split into the main dancefloor area, with a stage and elevated DJ box, where you can hear anything from drum & bass to disco; and the fishbowl, which has more seating and a different atmosphere once again. The Magnet has been going since 1958 and was one of the city's first black venues, and you can still see evidence of this today. It is a club that has remained faithful to its roots, and always puts music and a chilled atmosphere top of its list of priorities. Whether its a stop-off on your way into town or a late night whistle-wetter, The Magnet is definitely the place to be!