Matchday pub crawl that will change forever after this year

They say all good things must come to an end. Today, Everton fans feeling a combination of excitement and nerves will descend on L4 for the start of Goodison Park's long goodbye - their final season at the ground kicks off against Brighton at 3pm.

Goodison has been Everton's home since the club crossed Stanley Park and moved from Anfield in 1892. However, the start of the 2025/26 season will see the club move into their state-of-the-art new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, bringing an end to 133 years at Goodison.

It will undoubtedly be an emotional year for Blues, for whom Goodison holds such a special place in their hearts. The ground is one of English football's last great traditional arenas - famed for its fiery atmosphere - and moving on will be an emotional wrench.

As any match-going fan knows, the area around the ground is almost as important as the ground itself. The matchday atmosphere is generated by fans going about their fortnightly rituals - popping into the same bookies, chippy or pub that they've been going to for years.

County Road and the area around Goodison Park are blessed with many great matchday pubs, perfect for settling the nerves before a game and celebrating (or drowning your sorrows) afterwards. With only one year to go for County Road as the base of Everton Football Club, here, ECHO writers have put together their pub crawl for an Everton matchday. However, we will begin in town - before you make your way on the train up to Kirkdale.

The Denbigh Castle - David Humphreys

Nestled in Liverpool’s Beer Quarter on Hackins Hey, off Dale Street, the Denbigh Castle has gone from strength to strength since it was taken over and rebranded back in 2020. Run by the team that also operates the Bridewell in Campbell Square, the Denbigh is a traditional wet-led pub offering an excellent alternative to the Madri and Carlsberg monopolisation of some bars and pubs in the city.

The Denbigh has become a haunt of choice for the discerning Evertonian pre and post-match, becoming a home for the Blue Room podcast as well as several live events with legendary former players. It offers a warm welcome, regardless of your footballing loyalty and while steeped in history - with the building dating back more than 200 years - has a contemporary and authentic feel that any beer enthusiast can enjoy.

That said, short of the noise of Goodison Road, there’s no sound quite like ‘Spirit of the Blues booming onto Hackins Hey’. Once you’ve finished your German lager at the Denbigh, it’s time to head to Moorfields and get the train up to Kirkdale.

The Leigh Arms - Dan Haygarth

As I walk from Kirkdale Station to Goodison, I find it very difficult to walk past the Leigh Arms without going in for a pint. Found on the corner of Chirkdale Street at Barlow Lane, it’s a small, traditional boozer that’s at its best when people spill out onto the street.

It’s always served a reliable pint of Guinness, which is very important in my book. Drinking one while standing outside on Barlow Lane gives you a great view of thousands of Blues descending on Goodison - one of the best places to drink in the L4 matchday atmosphere.

To make matters better, a recent renovation saw it replace its red frontage with green. That's far more agreeable for an Evertonian.

The Royal Oak - David Humphreys

At the start of a new season, even with a summer as turbulent as Everton’s, nothing beats a pre-match pint in the sun. 2pm comes and for the next hour, anything remains possible.

One of the best places to do that is the Royal Oak. On the corner of Spellow Lane and County Road, it looks straight up to the Park End of Everton’s famous home. Come rain or shine, you’ll find Toffees packed outside and in on a matchday, right up until kick-off and sometimes beyond, as a way to either prepare for 90 minutes of Everton or hopefully celebrate in the beer garden after Dyche’s men have done the business.

While the future remains uncertain for businesses on County Road with Goodison making her final bow, one thing is for sure, the Oak will stand tall to serve passionate Blues for Everton’s final L4 fling.

The Brick - Dan Haygarth

The Brick, appropriately blue and white, stands out on County Road. It is a fantastic-looking pub - with more than a touch of Victorian Gothic style to it, which has always reminded me of Lark Lane's The Albert.

Inside, it is appropriately decked out with Everton regalia. It’s an incredibly popular pub and there's often a scrum to get to the bar, but that’s part of the fun. There’s plenty to discuss with your fellow Blues while you wait to be served.

Predictions are shared, and everyone is happy to tell you exactly who should be starting and why. It's a hive of Evertonians - a matchday pub that has a real community feel. It feels like an Everton pub should. After the game, if Everton have taken all three points, it is bouncing.

The Winslow - David Humphreys

The Winslow Hotel is arguably Everton's most famous matchday pub, lying in the shadow of Goodison Park. Known as the People’s Pub, it was voted the best match-day pub for Toffees by ECHO readers back in 2017.

The last stop for the Blues on the journey into the cauldrons of Goodison, the Winslow is as much a landmark as it is an alehouse. Walking down Goodison Road on a match day you’ll see swathes of people packed in and out and the atmosphere builds to kick off.

On a bad day, you’ll see just as many about half an hour after the whistle has blown in the first half, too. Ahead of the new season, the famous pub has had a fresh lick of paint inside and out in what is sure to be an emotional nine months for club and business alike.

The Black Horse - Conor O’Neill

You know you are getting close to Goodison Park when you head towards County Road after crossing the Queens Drive flyover and you see the Black Horse pub. Situated right next to Walton Church, the pub is a permanent fixture for plenty of Blues supporters for pre-match and post-game.

The traditional local serves pub classics and offers a wide range of drinks. The large beer garden is also a bit of a hidden gem and proves popular on matchdays given the flat-screen TV outside to enable supporters to watch the live television games.

As well as a warm welcome, you are always guaranteed an electric atmosphere - especially after a big win, when local residents can be treated to a number of classic Everton songs being belted out by happy Blues supporters in the beer garden. It is easy to understand why so many see the Black Horse as the perfect watering hole to celebrate a big win or drown your sorrows after a disappointing defeat.