The Albert & The Lion - JD Wetherspoon

You know what you're getting when you walk into a Wetherspoons, and this one on Bank Hey Street delivers exactly that – reliable, no-nonsense pub food and drinks at prices that won't leave you skint after a day on the Golden Mile. The Albert & The Lion does the chain's greatest hits well: proper all-day breakfast, curry club, and pints that cost less than a coffee elsewhere in town centre. It's nothing fancy, but sometimes that's exactly what you need. The staff keep things moving efficiently, the place stays open late enough for post-Tower or post-Pleasure Beach wind-downs, and you can actually have a conversation without shouting over thumping music. When you want somewhere dependable that opens early and serves food all day without any pretension, this does the job nicely.