Good Beer Guide, and the only one in the North. Opened in 1870, this unspoilt pub consists of a main bar, two small rooms and a tiny snug. As there is no jukebox or fruit machine, conversation, good beer and a warm welcome are what you get.
Despite its obvious attractions and the success of the business, this pub has been at risk for many years with the owners charging inflated prices for supplying a limited choice of drinks, unreasonable rent, and plans to redevelop the site. The licensee, Carol Ross who took over the running of the pub in 1997 from her mother, has campaigned for many years for a fair deal for pub licensees in general, and for the Roscoe Head in particular.
All her exhausting and stressful hard work has finally paid off: the pub's owners have just agreed to sell her the freehold. This classic pub is a popular destination across Merseyside, not just for real ale drinkers, but for anyone who likes to enjoy a drink with friends in a relaxed, friendly and welcoming environment. This sale ensures that the Roscoe Head will provide just that for generations to come.
Carol had a special word for the pub's supporters: ”I want to say a very special big thank you to all my Roscoe Head family of supporters who have continued to fight this battle with me for over 10 years.”
CAMRA Liverpool & Districts branch announced: “We were just as surprised as everyone else but this is absolutely tremendous news and of great significance. Carol has managed to prise this CAMRA award winning pub from her Pubco owner New River Retail who are renowned for converting pubs into retail and residential units.”
Carol at the front of a demonstration
in support of the Roscoe Head in 2015
With our unique heritage of British locals in even more danger than usual because of the pandemic, such good news makes an encouraging change.
The
Roscoe Head is on Roscoe Street, Liverpool L1 2SX, less than 10
minutes' walk from Central Station, just around the corner from
Liverpool's iconic Bombed Out Church. Do pay it a visit when you can.
Website.
► This is one of a series of articles that I write for the CAMRA column in our local papers, the Southport Visiter and Ormskirk Advertiser. Older articles on local pubs are here.
That's fantastic news, Nev. I look forward to visiting the pub, once this pandemic is over.
ReplyDeleteIf you're in the area post-CV19, we'll have to meet there for a pint and I'll also show some other great Liverpool pubs.
DeleteI look forward to that Nev, and will be in touch, once this is all over.
DeleteGood pub but a bit pricey - pre-loading is the way to go here.
ReplyDeleteAs a regular drinker in Liverpool, I don't agree that it's any more expensive than any other pubs in the area. I've explained in previous posts why we have to pay the pub prices that we do, and it's rarely to do the licensee ripping us off.
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