McCooley's Concert Square

You'll find McCooley's right on Concert Square, that buzzy stretch of Wood Street where half of Liverpool seems to congregate on a Friday night. It's the kind of place that gets properly packed — we're talking standing room only when there's something on — but it's the good kind of rammed, where everyone's in high spirits and the bar staff somehow still manage to get your drink order within minutes. The pub's got that authentic Irish vibe without feeling like a theme park version of Ireland, with decent whiskeys behind the bar and the sort of food that sticks to your ribs without breaking the bank. Whether you're catching live music, watching the match, or just getting stuck in with mates, it's reliably good craic.