This Liverpool pub is perfect for a pint as you hide from the miserable weather

The bar and front seating area of The Baltic Fleet. Tables and chairs on the left of the photo and the bar on the right
-Credit: (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)


Though we didn’t have much of a summer at all, autumn’s weather arrived with a vengeance this week. Liverpool has been treated to some torrential downpours and, having spent the first half of the week down at the waterfront for the Labour Party conference, I’ve found myself caught in the firing line of the rain and the wind whipping off the River Mersey.

I find that weather like this makes an evening huddled inside a traditional pub even more appealing. Sheltering from the elements and enjoying a few pints with friends is the perfect tonic for a dreary night.

One of Liverpool’s many pubs which are well suited to this is The Baltic Fleet - located just spitting distance from the Arena and Convention Centre which held the aforementioned conference. It stands proudly on the junction of Wapping and Cornhill as you leave the city centre and head towards South Liverpool.

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Now surrounded by modern apartment blocks and hotels, the 19th century pub is a reminder of Liverpool’s seafaring heritage - not only by its name but its positively ship-like shape - and is complemented by the docking warehouses found across the road. It is a wonderful pub and one of my very favourites in the city.

The lack of shelter on The Strand means you will always arrive at The Fleet windswept - and this week - soaking wet. What a welcome it offers when you step inside, however.

Its attractive nautical exterior colours give way to a haven of an elegant bar. There are great German lagers on tap, as well as a fine selection of hand-pulled cask ales - proven by its inclusion in next year’s Good Beer Guide.

A wall decorated with countless different beer mats shows just how seriously the pub takes its ale. Trapper’s Hat from Wirral brewery Brimstage is always a good bet, it serves a solid Guinness, there’s always a good craft option like Black Lodge’s Baltic Pale and in Paulaner and Veltins, you’re very well served for lager.

The Baltic Fleet pub in Liverpool
The Baltic Fleet pub in Liverpool -Credit:Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo

Once you have a pint, the pub is blessed with many great seating options. Exposed brick, a real fireplace and vintage shipping posters create a very fitting and rather cosy atmosphere.

The church pews and stools at the front door give great access to the bar, while the seating at the rear allows you to enjoy the warmth of the fire, play a game of chess and chat the night away with a few beers. It's superb for unwinding at the end of the day and exactly how such a pub should be.

There's also a recently-opened upstairs area, which is well-suited for large groups. The first floor also has a snug of armchairs, which is a fine place for a beer on a wintry evening.

Its abundant outside space is also a draw - though I get the feeling that we will be waiting a long, long time for beer garden weather to return. As the nights draw in and the temperature drops, you’ll find few better places in which to take refuge than The Baltic Fleet.