Visitors full of praise for Liverpool's pubs after Labour conference

The Labour Party Conference in Liverpool has drawn to a close. There was a lot of rain, which threatened to dampen spirits, but saw plenty of people head for the cosy surroundings of this city's superb pubs.

This was the third year in a row that Labour's big annual get-together was held in Liverpool, the difference being that this time, they came to the city as the party of government. The build up to the conference brought some tough headlines around donations and internal rows that threatened to overshadow what should have been Sir Keir Starmer's general election victory lap.

But away from the policy discussions and the speeches, people escaped the rain by packing into the many great pubs, bars and restaurants that this city has to offer. Liverpool is very proud of its unique hospitality offering and it always rises to the occasion when big events are taking place.

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Those from outside the city had plenty of praise for the Scouse social scene. Sacha Lord, Greater Manchester's Night Time Economy Adviser took to X to state: "If there’s one take from the Labour Party Conference, it's that Liverpool's Night Time Economy is really flourishing. It’s come so far, especially over the last five years. Really pleased for our neighbours. The North West is leading the way."

Others agreed with him. Matthew Torbitt said: "I thought this, Tuesday night bars open and thriving at all hours, people having a good time. London pales in comparison."

Even the London journalists were impressed. In The Telegraph, writer Madeleine Grant didn't have many nice things to say about Keir Starmer's party, but she had a lot of nice things to say about Liverpool's pubs.

She wrote: "One of the silver linings of the great cloud that is attending the Labour conference in Sir Keir’s perma-January Britain, is it allows a chunk of time in Liverpool. Many cities might claim to have the best set of pubs...however Liverpool boasts a thriving pub culture like no other."

She waxed lyrical about live music at The Grapes and the 'splendid isolation' of The Baltic Fleet. There was praise for The Globe, Ye Cracke, The Denbigh Castle and The Belvedere, branding the 'joyously crowded' Peter Kavanagh as her personal favourite.

Ms Grant added that "London, a city that post-10pm becomes a bastion of Cromwellian dourness, could certainly learn a thing or two from the Liverpudlian nightlife."

After a good few days for the pubs of Liverpool, there was more positive news for many of our city's favourite hostelries following the publication of Campaign for Real Ale's Good Beer Guide 2025. There were 34 pubs named from the Liverpool and District branch including city centre venues like The Dispensary and The Vines.