please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Found it impossible to get served at 8pm on Friday evening. Gave up after three people jumped the queue. Perhaps I did not barge my way through or shout loud enough, not my idea of a good time.
|
Part of M&B's Nicholsons chain, The pub may look good but beneath lurks the typical m&B / brakes frozon food offer. more ales off than on when we visited last week, not the best in liverpool by a long shot...
|
A majestic establishment..! Always a regular on our Liverpool pub-crawls for all the reasons mentioned below. Generally, a good selection of ales available and have yet to be disappointed. A comfortable place to enjoy a drink and company. We're usually here early doors, so catch the Friday night offices turning out and they're always a good crack..! Off now to another pub with 'rooms off', but on a slightly reduced scale..! The Roscoe Head...
|
Whenever I have been here it's been crowded and it takes ages to get served. Several real ales at reasonable prices but be prepared to stand!
|
a must visit, when on tour to lverpool, simply for the interior.
havnt tried the food, but beer was nice enough.
|
beer's not as good as the Loaf but what an interior - easily the grandest pub I've ever been in. Take that Wetherspoons! Even with the after-work crowd in attendance there was plenty of space, I would reccommend coming here just for the spectacular decor!
|
Beautiful pub, but dodgy clientele (a drunk at the bar barely able to stand let alone speak asked me if I was German when I couldn't understand what he was saying to me), lack of atmosphere, bad music blaring out for no reason, only two real ales on (Cains and Roosters, all the rest off). It should be a great great pub, but isn't.
|
Generally accepted as the most ornate pub in Britain, this well-known pub is a must visit place for strangers to the City. Listed in CAMRA's National Inventory of Unspoilt Interiors.
It was built by the same architect as The Vines on Lime Street, another pub you should try and get to.
The room at the far end, entitled the Grande Lounge, used to be a billiards room and retains something of the atmosphere of a gentlemans club.
Note the splendid copper friezes and ornate plasterwork and the iron gates outside by the pub entrance.
In contrast to previous reviewers postings, there were half a dozen or so real ales on - I went for the Everards Sly Fox, a reasonably enjoyable pint.
However, it goes without saying that the beer is not the main reason that visitors to Liverpool make the short pilgrimage here.
|
OK, so this is a great looking pub with remarkable gents' toilets, but what has it really got going for it other than that? The beer has been substandard every time I've been there, the food is disappointing, and the bar staff seem to find customers an annoyance. It's a shame.
|
We met some friends in the 'Brahms' room late Friday afernoon and the six of us stayed for a meal which we had upstairs. The food was fantastic (quality & value) and ALL the beers were on! We were spolied for choice! Service was quick & efficient. My first time there, will not be my last
|
A really impressive interior and friendly enough place, though, as seems to be the case from other reviews, most beers were off. Slightly disappointing beer wise.
|
Great looking place with plenty of space - I used to have a biot of a love/hate relationship with the place because it was one of the smokiest pubs I knew, and though there were one or two non-smoking areas they were always so over-crowded that it was ridiculous. That's not an issue anymore though, obviously. Beer range is limited but there are usually a few real ales on.
|
Another pub I remember from a significant time: it was here that we went to drown our sorrows when the news of the Hillsborough tragedy came in, on a Saturday afternoon in 1989. In those days there was something worth drinking in the place: it was either a Higson's pub or at least a free house with various local real ales. Last year when I went in there it was impossible to find anything worth drinking. The atmosphere was good. But there again, what pub in Liverpool doesn't have atmosphere? Give us the decent beer back....!
|
Fascinating building, beer was OK...nothing special sadly. It was just so busy but we did arrive at the same time the Phil Hall kicked out which wasn't good planning!!
|
On a are trip to Liverpool, we were really keen to visit the Phil, not having been there for many years.
It was a big let-down though. Firstly, there were no Merseyside real ales available. The barmaid said they'd just run out and were waiting for another delivery (why don't pubs ever seem to run out of bloody Foster's or Carling???)
The once-beautiful decor looked quite dusty, shabby and neglected - and with notices telling patrons what they could and couldn't do tacked all around it felt more like a Sunday School than a welcoming pub. The huge slot machine in the middle of the bar area was incongruous to say the least.
A reek of chips and vinegar pervaded the place.
Ladies' toilets were grotty. In the famous gents' the hand drier wasn't working - just confirming our overall impression of a lack of TLC.
anonymous - 17 Sep 2007 23:28 |
This is one of the most beautiful pubs I have ever been in, it feels more being in a palace than a pub!
|
The Phil is a palace.There is no pub like it anywhere.
I have just spent a week in a remote part of Scotland where the two locals have no atmosphere at all. (Like a lot of Scottish pubs. Sorry Scotland). Bored to death with village life I made a beeline for the Phil almost as soon as I could. Sumptuous!Especially the dining room,formerly the Cocktail lounge.As for it being touristy so what, tourists are welcome as far as I am concerned and are part of living in a cosmpolitan city.
One small grouse though.If there must be piped music in the big room it should be classical piano not pop!
|
What an experience, BRILLIANT, there's not another "pub" like it! it really is that special!!! the beer is good and the decor amazing! You have to see it to understand!! Don't miss it!
|
Obviously one of the country's great pubs with gorgeous doorways and the best toilets around in terms of decor. This is an essential stop off on any visit to the city. Therein lies the sole caveat - this place is well touristed.
|
The beer was ok & the rooms are a bit cavernous, but who cares, just go to marvel at the interiors, as this must be the best Victorian Pub left intact anywhere in UK.
|
Three or four ales from various breweries. Beer was adequate enough. The pub itself is stunning; feels like an old fashioned gentlemen's club sitting in one of the smaller rooms in a leather armchair during a quiet session.
|
Looks awful outside the pub right now. Surrounded by scaffolding and very unwelcoming. Met unfriendly bar staff there Saturday lunchtime. Won't go back there again. Beer has always been unreliable here.
anonymous - 20 Jul 2006 19:31 |
Bad experience at The Philharmonic.
I normally go there for a drink after the concerts at the Philharmonic Hall. Last time, I asked for a bitter and they gave me a pint which tasted very strange both to me and a few of my friends who tried it. Naturally, I asked for a new pint but they refused to give me one because they didn't believe that there was anything wrong with it. Of course, I didn't drink that horrible pint and I said to the barmaid she should trust her customers more, especially regular ones, like me.
0/10
|
Wow, you just have to do this one !
|
One of the worlds greatest pubs
|
Apart from the architecture which everybody comments on - I've been in many worse pubs and have never had a bad pint in here. The food at lunchtime is excellent and will fill you up for the day. It may be a bit dusty but I would hate to be the cleaner here with all those carvings statues etc..............
|
Awful beer(as I`v learnt in the past)-so stick to something they can`t ruin....The pub itself is one of the best you`ll visit-the main room looks like its come straight from a 'members club,somewhere in London'...The gents is ornately tiled-it makes you want to drink lots more -thats if there was anything worth drinking(brewery take note)!!
|
A popular place with theatre goers from the adjacent Everyman, however as said by the sensible people below, this place badly needs a tidy up! It is one of the most famous buildings in our city and is getting left to pot! Managers, brewery - listen to your customers and spend some cash.
Saying that, the gents are still the most spectacular toilets in the country!
|
A beautiful building, such a shame it's been left so dirty. The brewery must spend some money to save the stunning architecture from becoming ruined beyond repair.
anonymous - 3 Jun 2005 16:19 |
Despite looking rarther impressive I'm afraid it is a thumbs down for The Phil'
Following a vile pint of Black Sheep last night I've been sick as a dog all day. Similarly my colleague who had a pint of London Pride was also struck down with a stomach complaint. Thanks for that Phil'.
Clean your pipes out, get your cellar sorted and whilst you are at it give the place a clean, it looks and feels tired and unclean.
|
the wonderful ornate entrance has been left to go to ruin, its dirty and such a shame to be left like that
anonymous - 14 Dec 2004 00:43 |
A must-see for the architecture and decor. Once you get over that however it's a pretty average pub. Beer is OK and the seats are comfy but it's more of a 'have one and then move on' sort of place.
Den - 4 Nov 2004 11:57 |
brill pub to go to on the way down the hill into town
h - 20 Oct 2004 15:09 |
Excellent beers,Friendly staff. a beautiful pub with a wonderful atmosphere.
jakob - 4 Aug 2004 19:08 |
This pub is a must if you've never been before. Must be one of the most ornate pubs in the country - and always has been a pub unlike the often splendid bank conversions. Became a bit pricey and touristy a few years ago but has evened out and back on my list of regular places to go to. Ladies are allowed to view the famous gents toilets with permission, although my female friends walk straight in - but they're not ladies!
palmwinedrinkard - 14 Apr 2004 17:31 |
Fanmous gents urinal (grade 2 listed), great interior,some decent beer, not my favourite though, maybe as it is not near enough the centre where I normally stay?
Acid Sorceror - 18 Feb 2004 10:03 |
The best pub I've ever been to. Awesome!
Geir - 7 Feb 2004 16:04 |
Beatifully ornate and highly recommended.
anonymous - 14 Jan 2004 19:36 |
