THE LEAVING OF LIVERPOOL

No, I'm not going to play you a song by the Dubliners! We are, however, going to set forth out of Liverpool city centre, but not before finding a few pubs before that. A really good one is the Ship & Mitre.

In a Grade II listed building is Thomas Rigby's, an Okell's pub when visited in 2011. Through the arch was The Lady of Mann.

The Black Horse & Rainbow used to brew its own beer. Brewing ceased in 2004 and I think that the pub no longer exists.

Doctor Duncan's is no longer a Cain's house, but still serves loads of real ales.

The Lion Tavern is renowned for its real ales.

Ma Boyle's is a long established hostelry.

The Pig & Whistle is expected to reopen soon after refurbishment (Autumn 2025).

The Richmond is worth a visit.

Sadly, the United Powers has served its last customers.

Thankfully, the Victoria Cross is still seeing pints being pulled.

The Welkin is a city centre Wetherspoons.

Not far from the football stadium, in Anfield, is The Breckside, AKA The Flat Iron.

On the line towards Kirkby is Kirkdale station, seen here in 1982.

Kirkdale station and adjacent depot in 2011.

Moving onwards to Bootle. Arriva was the principal bus operator here in 2000.

Comfybus and Norbus also provided services.

Alpha Coaches were based in Bootle.

This ex Southdown Bristol RE, belonging to Magull Coaches, was found in Bootle in 1984.

Here's the L&YR station in Bootle, newly electrified.

On the same line, just to the north, Bootle New Strand station.

Further north, Seaforth & Litherland station, where the Liverpool Overhead Railway met the L&YR.

The Liverpool Overhead Railway had its car shed here and this steam loco was used to shunt the cars.

Onwards to Waterloo - not that one - the suburb to the north of Liverpool. Some Liverpool trams are seen at Five Lamps.

Stagecoach operate buses through Waterloo.

Merseyrail has a station here.

The Marine at Waterloo is no longer a Higson's house, but it is still open.

Another ex Higson's pub, the Volunteer Canteen, not to be missed.

There's a Wetherspoons in Waterloo, the Queens Picture House.

A newish addition was Stamps Too. It's still going, but now called the Shipwreck.

We conclude theis post by looking at the Anthony Gormley "Another Place" sculptures on Waterloo Beach (Creative Commons License).

Next time, we're off to the races and beyond. Don't forget, you can follow the route here.

LIVERPOOL PART 2

Let's start off with a visit to Liverpool Museum, where there are a few interesting exhibits.

Close to Lime Street railway station is Liverpool Coach Station, where varrious operators could be found.

Nearby, Liverpool's trams once passed the Art Gallery.

It's 1934 and we're celebrating the opening of the Mersey Tunnel.

Liverpool Corporation Transport was taken over by Merseyside PTE. Here, no. 1270 retains the old green livery.

More PTE vehicles in the 1970s.

The PTE later became Merseybus. Leyland Atlantean 1326 is seen in that livery, 1993 (Richard Huggins).

A batch of ex London Leyland Titans was obtained.

Merseytravel, who operated PTE sponsored routes, used this unusual Neoplan in 1996.

Merseybus was later split up. GTL took over part of the operations.

Arriva, if I remember correctly, took over GTL.

Stagecoach also now run a large proportion of Liverpool's buses.

Other major operators have included First Crosville and Halton Transport.

Since deregulation, many independents have tried running services in Liverpool. These have included Aintree Coachline, Blue Triangle and City Fleet.

CMT grew to become quite a large bus company.

Cumfybus run several tendered services.

Other independents included People's Bus, Fareway and Liverbus.

Yet another was Liverline, who also tried the use of ex London AEC Routemasters.

This Bedford VAL coach is used on Magical Mystery Tours of the city.

Phew! After all those buses, we must need a pint. Let's call in at the Vernon Arms, a classic city centre boozer.

That's where I'll call it a day. Next time, the rest of the city centre pubs (and there's some good ones), then we'll venture out of the city.