Pub crawl through one of Liverpool's prettiest areas has become one of my yearly traditions
As the nights draw in and the temperature drops, the call of a classic pub gets ever stronger. Fortunately, a certain area of South Liverpool can boast a very high concentration of them.
The picturesque Woolton Village has the feel of an enclave in the south of the city. It has everything you would expect from such a village - quaint shops, family-run restaurants and cafes, several churches and plenty of very pretty houses. Crucially for this series on the ECHO's favourite places in Merseyside for a pub crawl, it has more than its fair share of watering holes.
As such, it has long been home to the '12 pubs of Christmas' that my friends and I enjoy every December. To get to a festive 12, you need to add in a visit to the neighbouring Gateacre village, which has a handful of nice pubs and allows you to fit a wander into your afternoon and evening of drinking. But if you're not being so ambitious, Woolton has more than enough pubs in its own right.
READ MORE: A new approach to a famous pub crawl that's been enjoyed in Liverpool for generations
READ MORE: Pub crawl down Liverpool city centre street unlike any other in the country
Now I'm not suggesting that you stop at all of the venues mentioned below - that would be irresponsible. I'm merely pointing out the many options in the area that you could build into a pub crawl.
In keeping with tradition, I'd begin this crawl in Gateacre, which offers you three pubs at the different points of its triangle. The Bear & Staff and The Black Bull are both classic pubs and safe ground on which to begin your crawl.
The third pub on offer in Gateacre is The Brown Cow, which has been transformed in recent years. A refurbishment, supported by a £275,000 investment in 2021, brought about the addition of its huge beer garden on previously unused land.
If you're looking to catch the last of the late September sun (if there will be any more), it's well worth calling in on. When the sun is shining, The Brown Cow's beer garden can compete with the best of them.
With potentially three pints under your belt at this stage, a wander from Gateacre through to Woolton comes at a good time. Once you arrive, you can make your way through several fine examples of what would affectionately be called old-man pubs.
As you walk down Acrefield Road and enter Woolton Village proper, the first spot you will hit is The White Horse - my favourite pub on this crawl. A brilliantly old-fashioned pub, its wood-panelled bar and various snugs make it perfect for winter. It's such an appealing stop that it has serious potential to derail any further crawling.
Fortunately, the next stop is within spitting distance. Just a minute down the road onto Woolton Street is gastropub The Elephant, which has long been a very popular spot in the village and was once run by celebrity chef Simon Rimmer.
The pub boasts a good selection of lagers and cask ales. Such is its popularity for food, you may have to huddle around the bar as tables cannot be guaranteed.
The Elephant's beer garden is also an option if the weather is on your side. Additionally, next door you will find the Liberty Tavern, which is another option if The Elephant is simply too busy.
Wandering further down Woolton Road will take you to The Coffee House, another reliable pub which also boasts a good outside area. Then, making your way onto Quarry Street opens up a cluster of great traditional boozers.
The first you will arrive at is The Grapes Inn, found next to the now-closed Woolton Swimming Baths. It is a compact and cosy classic street corner pub with its fine traditional bar at the centre of proceedings - and a jukebox with a wealth of great tracks. It's a very good spot to pop into as the evening becomes the night.
Just further down Quarry Street is The Victoria. A very friendly pub, it's good for live music and a game of darts if your evening needs some activities. Your next stop should be The Cobden Vaults - a pub very close to my heart as it is where I did a lot of my formative drinking.
It's very old-school and has two main areas which are both packed on weekend evenings. Friendly staff and a good range of ales make for a very enjoyable community pub. After a drink at the Cobden, you can loop around onto Vale Road, where you will find The Gardeners Arms, a pub that I have blessed with some truly awful karaoke renditions over the years.
To round off the crawl, if you have anything left in the tank, a trip to The Derby Arms beckons. Standing proudly on the corner of Vale Road and Allerton Road, The Derby Arms serves a wide range of lagers and ales - as well as a reliable Guinness.
After a trip to The Derby, you should probably head to bed, happy in the knowledge you've undertaken a crawl stocked to the brim with the types of old-school pubs that are essential to any community.