The Empire

You'll find yourself in one of those increasingly rare Liverpool pubs that hasn't been stripped back to exposed brick and Edison bulbs. The carpet underfoot tells stories, while black and white photographs on the walls create a timeline of the city's past. It's the kind of place where regulars prop up the bar on weekday afternoons and weekend crowds spill onto Hanover Street. The draught selection does exactly what it should – decent pints pulled properly, with cider on tap for those who prefer it. This isn't about craft beer flights or artisanal anything; it's about settling in with a proper drink in surroundings that feel genuine. The Empire operates on that beautiful pub logic where closing on Tuesday and Wednesday somehow makes perfect sense, and weekend sessions can stretch well into the night.