Lounging Around It is quite difficult at the moment to find ...

2026-10-16T03:34:23Z

Lounging Around

It is quite difficult at the moment to find clusters of pubs overdue for a visit (Hence the taxi ride in the middle of last week's survey) and I was really struggling today, ending up with a plan in two parts with a train ride in between.
I started at James Street station, there are dozens of bars around here including two I have never visited. My notes showed one was open all day and the other opens at one, so where did I go at half twelve? Yes, the wrong one, what an idiot - I had a piece of paper in my bag noting the opening times but I still went to the closed one!
Anyway, a short additional walk soon found me at what should have been the first target, Brasco Lounge:
This is another member of the "something-o Lounge" chain, of which I see there are nearly 200 scattered all over the country. I have ticked a few of them and I quite like their decor style, and although food-led drinkers seem to be welcomed. Always popular, and they usually offer some interesting keg.
The standard formula of fun eclectic decor is what I found here, and this one has a bare concrete ceiling. A good range of craft from which I selected Kaleidoscope from Wiper and True, which I've never heard of before. As promised by the tap badge, it was a fruity IPA and I really enjoyed it.
The place was very busy at one on a Saturday, in fact I half expected to be rebuffed by the waitress guarding the door, instead she allocated me an armchair at a tiny table which would be totally unsuitable for dining. (To be clear, that's not a complaint, I had said I only wanted a drink so my place was ideal.)
As I enjoyed my pint the room seemed to empty a little, there were a few free tables by the time I left.
So, time to double back and try again. Can I be bothered? Well, there are umpteen bars on Castle Street, but just one I've never ticked, so I was keen to complete the set at Cactus Bar:
This Mexican themed corridor bar is pleasant enough. At half one I was the only customer, the barmaid who had rejected me an hour ago gave no sign of recognition. The draft beers were Mahou, Corona and Camden Pale, I suppose I should have had pseudo-Mexican Corona, brewed in Wales, but I chose Mahou which Google tells me is still brewed in Spain, although I'm not convinced about that. £5.50 for a schooner (2/3 pint) ouch.
The music was way too loud for an empty bar. The barmaid busied herself sorting things behind the counter and waiting in vain for another customer. I suppose if she's just an employee she might be happy to be idle all shift, if she's the landlady obviously not.
I rather wanted to criticise this place but I have to say it is pleasantly decorated and comfortable. Out of place at the back of the room is an old stained glass window which looks more appropriate to a hundred year old boozer. Is it original from a former use of the building, or bought in from reclamation, I wonder?
Next, back to the station and on to the second part of today's research, in New Brighton. I started with another never before visited member of the o-Lounge chain, this one is called Marino Lounge:
Exactly the same as the previous one, once again I waited briefly in the doorway before being pointed to a table. I repeated my Kaleidoscope as it was so good.
Again, the place was very busy, with just one or two free tables ready for the next diners. The waiting staff were very busy bringing food out, and I have to say it was tempting.
I had a quick scan of the menu which looks very good. They don't offer my standard price reference item, fish and chips, so I'll just report that the all day large breakfast is seventeen quid, so not the cheaper end of the market but, I suspect, worth it. Mind you, one could have a 'spoons breakfast and a pint for half that!
Speaking of Wetherspoon, it seems odd to me that the financial news headlines last week included "Wetherspoon revenue down, profits down" and yet my shares have jumped up by 25%. I'll never understand the stock market, this is why it's always a gamble!
That's it for new ticks, but there is one here which has passed the five year boundary, so I headed on to the New Brighton Hotel:
At first glance I thought this might be closed but fortunately I was mistaken. One large attractively decorated room with half a dozen or so customers spread out in the space. I think there's another room off to the side.
I had a cider here. The next customer ordered Neck Oil but there was a glass on the tap. The barman disappeared to the cellar to change the barrel and then poured umpteen pints of froth and eventually gave up and offered something else.
There is one more pub "in" New Brighton overdue for a tick but it's a mile walk each way to the Pilot Boat, so in view of the gale force winds and intermittently heavy precipitation I decided I couldn't be bothered! Four required ticks of which three were brand new is enough, so let's go home...
Literally as I typed that the rain stopped and the sun came out, but I've decided now!
And, if I might be permitted a non pub related bonus report, my ride back to Liverpool was in number 777004, the only one of the new Merseyrail trains I hadn't yet travelled in. TICK!!
Pub of the day: Marino Lounge
Beer of the day: Kaleidoscope
Miles walked: 2.4
Merseyside pubs visited in the last five years: 1,033

http://merseypub.blogspot.com/2026/10/lounging-around.html

Nostr notes by Merseyside Pub Guide (Unofficial)

Lounging Around It is quite difficult at the moment to find ...