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The North Western (formerly The Head of Steam) (Wetherspoon)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Banks's - Tetley's Christmas CrackerGood1
Blackpool - BPAExcellent1
Liverpool Organic - Iron MenExcellent1
Liverpool Organic - StyrianExcellent1
Phoenix - Tennis ElbowGood1
Phoenix - White MonkExcellent1
Temperance Union - Vfm SoftyExcellent1
Thwaites - Original BitterAcceptable1
Banks's - Central Cervercera Session Room IPANot Tried0
Banks's - Tetley's Gold CaskNot Tried0
Belhaven - Caledonian Deuchars IPANot Tried0
Black Sheep - Best BitterNot Tried0
Brecon - Red BeaconsNot Tried0
Cotleigh - Uncle Sam Hop BurstNot Tried0
Cottage - Ernie AlesNot Tried0
Greene King - AbbotNot Tried0
Greene King - Ruddles BestNot Tried0
Hook Norton - Old HookyNot Tried0
Liverpool Organic - JadeNot Tried0
Marston's - BassNot Tried0
Marston's - PedigreeNot Tried0
Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer, was Hobgoblin)Not Tried0
Peerless - The North WesternNot Tried0
Robinsons - UnicornNot Tried0
Rooster's - Londinium (Taylors of Harrogate Traditional Coffee Porter)Not Tried0
Rooster's - Wild MuleNot Tried0
Sharp's - Doom BarNot Tried0
Weetwood - AmbushNot Tried0
Picture 1. The North Western (formerly The Head of Steam), Liverpool, Merseyside
Picture 2. The North Western (formerly The Head of Steam), Liverpool, Merseyside
Picture 3. The North Western (formerly The Head of Steam), Liverpool, Merseyside

Visits Details

12 Nov 2015 (Alenomore)
19:00 visit.Final stop today and a Flaming Dragon ordered. Busy now. Another cavernous JD's, formerly the Head of Steam for many years, recently taken over and refitted to JD's usual high standards. Two levels, nooks and crannies everywhere. Must have been enlarged since HoS days I think, with an extra floor and a small patio added. Plenty of ales on too, service was acceptable. A nice end to only my third Merseyside visit.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Temperance Union - Vfm Softy1.00ExcellentUsual vfm curry/drink deal.
01 Aug 2015 (HSB)
08:50 Too early for breakfast at the hotel as we caught the Saturday's only 07:53 Chester Runcorn. The newly opened 'Spoons was the obvious choice. An incredible interior. Numerous rooms and levels including a first floor patio. There is a magnificent tiled railway map over the bar. I never visited when it was the Head of Steam so I don't know what changes Wetherspoon's have made. About a dozen other customers.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Hook Norton - Old Hooky4.60Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
Weetwood - Ambush4.80Not Tried
Rooster's - Wild Mule3.90Not Tried
Rooster's - Londinium (Taylors of Harrogate Traditional Coffee Porter)5.50Not Tried
Brecon - Red Beacons5.00Not Tried
Cotleigh - Uncle Sam Hop Burst4.30Not Tried
Banks's - Central Cervercera Session Room IPA4.00Not Tried
Peerless - The North Western4.00Not Tried
20 Dec 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Fewer in that I had expected bearing in mind the streets outside were bustling. 8 handpumps but only 2 in use both selling uninspiring beers of undeclared provenance. When one thinks what can be done with Euston Tap, York Tap, Sheffield Tap this place is wholly underexploited as a beer venue.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Banks's - Tetley's Christmas Cracker4.30GoodFull bodied and quite heavily bittered
Banks's - Tetley's Gold Cask4.10Not Tried
11 Nov 2012 (Alenomore)
12:30 visit. Day two of my Merseyside jolly. Having seen the parade and witnessed the good turnout for the Rememberance Parade, at St Georges Hall, directly opposite this bar, I called in here after the final march past and had a couple of ales. Plenty of proud ex servicemen in too. And I dont know who runs this outfit these days, but lots of vacant pumps here and a shadow of it's former self this once upon a time, very busy chain.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Liverpool Organic - Iron Men4.00ExcellentTop class.
Liverpool Organic - Styrian4.20ExcellentQuite a nice ale. These types from Organic have a very distinct taste.
Marston's - Pedigree4.50Not Tried
Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer, was Hobgoblin)4.50Not Tried
Liverpool Organic - Jade4.40Not Tried
04 Jul 2008 (Ian)
This pub has gone downhill beer wise. Someone told me that it wasn't as good, but even still I was stunned to walk in and see 12 handpumps, but only one in use. Not even pumpclips turned round. Down to just one cask beer. Amazing.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Phoenix - Tennis Elbow4.50GoodPale gold, thin off white head. Slightly sweaty sox, but a rather good citrusy hoppy beer. Some good hop aroma, nice bite on finish. Typical pale gold Phoenix beer, and I like it. Good biting hop.
20 Jan 2006 (Ian)
Located in the neo gothic magnificence that is the Great North Western Hotel and with access from Lime Street railway station, this pub has several bars. The main one has a long bar with numerous handpulls and normally stocks a good range of UK micros, some continental beers and UK ciders. Worth popping in for the building itself
BeerABVScoreNotes
Phoenix - White Monk4.50ExcellentBlond beer with good white head. Lovely US hops and citrus aroma. Pale, light and highly drinkable with some sweet sherbert in the mouth followed by long hoppy citrus finish
Thwaites - Original Bitter3.60AcceptableCopper colour, thin bubly beige head. This has a faint almond/marzipan flavour with yeast aroma. Fine in mouth. Finish has more marzipan/nut/yeast flavours. Odd but drinkable
Belhaven - Caledonian Deuchars IPA3.80Not Tried
Robinsons - Unicorn4.20Not Tried
03 Mar 2005 (Ian)
12 handpumps on dispensing british micros. 2 bar pub next to Lime Street Station. High Victorian ceilings and windows in Great North Western Hotel. Comfy white sofas in one bar. Main bar has a good range of ciders and lagers
BeerABVScoreNotes
Blackpool - BPA4.20ExcellentMid brown hoppy malty flavour leads to dry hop finish. Great balance on fruity malt and dry hoppiness
Cottage - Ernie Ales4.00Not Tried
Robinsons - Unicorn4.20Not Tried
Marston's - Bass4.40Not Tried
Black Sheep - Best Bitter3.80Not Tried

About The North Western (formerly The Head of Steam)

The pub sign. The North Western (formerly The Head of Steam), Liverpool, Merseyside

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent5
Good2
Acceptable1
Poor-

Website.

The pub is found in Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 1RJ.

Easy to find - it has a huge doorway directly inside Lime Street railway station concourse plus doors on Lime Street, directly opposite St Georges Hall, and in Nelson Street, directly next door to the Empire Theatre. How to get there ... Bus: Any that pass by Lime Street; Rail: Lime Street railway station. Would seem to be the only Head of Steam Group pub not sold to Camerons in a deal in December 2013, word it is was already under new ownership outside the group and allied to another house in Liverpool. Period without real has ended. 8 handpumps in the main Grand Hall bar but only several in regular use. To deter railway customers the toilets are accessed via a punched in key code which bar staff will advise upon request (if you are drinking!). Reported sold to Wetherspoon in Spring 2015 and a name change is proposed to The North Western. Expected to re-open 7th July 2015. Now open.

We have visited this pub 7 times, seen 28 different beers and tried 8 of them.

Map location

Postcode: L1 1RJ