Kensington, Liverpool

Re-opened November 2016 after an uncertain future, it has a lovely brown glazed brick frontage with a ceramic band of turquoise. A vestibule entrance left inner door leads to the public bar with three old window screens containing modern glass. The disused corner door and two side doors indicates the room may have been split by partitions into 2 or 3 rooms originally. The public bar has a modern tiled floor, Edwardian bar counter curved at the left and right ends with brackets on the front, an old bar back, old dado panelling and fixed seating which looks post war. The door at the end of the public bar has three etched and frosted panels, the top one having ‘Lavatory’ in it (toilets are modernised).

The front right small room has another old counter with a screen on top containing a number of stained and leaded panels and an area below for service which is similar to those at the Prince Arthur, Walton – note the bell push. There are two sections of fixed seating that may be inter-war, there are old bell pushes, an odd match striker but the cast iron fireplace is modern. More old window screens containing modern glass. Some panelling above the fixed seating has been added in recent years and some dado panelling near the servery looks modern.

Widish doorway leads to a larger rear room, which could have been two small rooms in the past and has more old fixed seating with modern bell pushes all around the room. The good tiled and wood surround fireplace may be old but it has modern tiles of fruit in relief. Service is from a doorway with a flap to the back of the servery. Note ‘Lavatories’ etched panel in the top of the door at the rear left.

Up to 2009 this was one of a number of pubs offering table service but the bells no longer work – however, new licensee wants to re-instate them.