Time at the bar: Old pubs in Liverpool
Updated 21 September 2026
As it gets colder, nothing beats the comfort of a traditional pub. If you’re new to the city (hello and welcome) or simply seeking a new old pub where you can while away the evenings – ideally in front of a roaring fire – this list brings together Liverpool’s best.
Updated for 2026 with our favourite new discoveries, this is your guide to slowing down and appreciating the small things. Good beer. Friends. Somewhere warm and welcoming. Take a break from your local and find real character and charm in one of these legendary drinking establishments.
The maritime business is thirsty work and Liverpool’s dockers and sailors all needed somewhere to drink. With 40% of the world’s trade passing through Liverpool in the 1800s, it’s no surprise that the city has more than its fair share of taverns and pubs that are soaked in tall tales and seafaring history.
If you’re looking for a cosy, traditional pub soaked in stories and a sense of the past, this list is for you.
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Baltic TriangleMore detailsBaltic Fleet
Liverpool’s Baltic Fleet is one of the city’s quirkiest pubs. It has pints of personality. This wedge-shaped building for wetting your whistle first opened in 1853 and was originally two adjoining premises. However, its unusual looks are only part of its charm. Baltic Fleet is a real old naval drinking den with stories of smuggling, press gangs and secret tunnels.
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Business District (Liverpool)More detailsThe Denbigh Castle
The Denbigh Castle is a characterful pub on Hawkins Hey, one of Liverpool’s most distinctive streets. Dating from 1815, the pub has come full circle, starting out as The Denbigh Castle before trying a few different names then reverting back to the original in 2020 when it was refurbished by the current licensees.
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Liverpool City CentreMore detailsDoctor Duncan’s
Doctor Duncan’s is named after Britain’s first Medical Health Officer, William Henry Duncan, who was born and raised in Liverpool. Its ornate, beautifully tiled interior makes it one of the North West’s most gorgeous pubs.
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Business District (Liverpool)More detailsMa Boyles
Ma Boyles, a self-described ‘ale house and eatery’, has been around in various guises since the mid 19th century. As such, it’s become a bit of an institution in this part of the city.
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Georgian QuarterMore detailsThe Philharmonic Dining Rooms
This impressively ornate pub was built over 120 years ago and stands proudly on the corner of Hope Street. The Philharmonic splits off into separate rooms, each more show-stopping than the next.
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Liverpool City CentreMore detailsThe Ship & Mitre
The Ship & Mitre is an imposing pub with some lovely Art Deco touches both inside and out. There are stained glass skylights, polished wood and the bar reminds you of a ship – albeit one with 42 draught beers on board.
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Liverpool City CentreMore detailsYe Hole In Ye Wall
Ye Hole In Ye Wall is not, as you might imagine, an ancient times ATM, but it is Liverpool’s oldest pub, dating from 1726. There’s a definite sense of history but one that hasn’t been beautifully refurbished; it’s still very much a boozer.
