The Masquerade is known as Liverpool's Gay Quarter's friendliest bar, and it's certainly welcoming…read more It offers some quality drag queen entertainment as well as being perhaps one of the busiest bars around, even on nights where everywhere else is quiet. Known locally as 'The Mazzie' just in case you get confused looks when discussing the Masquerade with groups of Liverpudlians, it's centrally located and there's a great community vibe to the place. It's owned by a couple who live in the area and know Liverpool like the back of their hands. It's definitely the sort of place to come if you like a down-to-earth bar and plenty of chatty banter.

Masquerade is a gay bar....a very, very gay bar. The campy chatty clientèle and basket of free lube…read morenext to my table made this really quite clear. There's no golden-thonged stallions pole-dancing around the place but part of me thinks that's only because of the economic downturn. Booming to classics from ABBA and Dolly Parton, this smallish downstairs bar isn't the best place to chin-wag with mates, what with the fact you'll be deaf sixteen seconds after walking in, but if you need to dance alone in the middle of the day with your bottle of Irn Bru WKD, I can think of no more suitable spot.

I think that the Kazimier has secured the top spot as the quirkiest venue in terms of decor and…read moreevents in Liverpool. It's one of those cultish venues that will go down in the city's history. They are well known for their bizarre themed nights that they put on either once a month or once every six weeks. These nights are so popular they often sell out within a day and are they hype of the week as they approach. They often have live bands and a great fancy dress theme, and it's a well known fact that people really make a big effort and go all out for these occasions. Other than these nights, the best promoters in the city seem to bring quirky bands from all over the world to play this fairly small venue as it has a great atmosphere that a lot of the bigger venues don't have!

The Kazimier is easily Liverpool's top venue for gigs and events. I have been coming here since it…read moreopened and have always had a great time. You get a varied mixture of bands playing here, from local legends and newbies all the way up to reknowed international acts. Most recently the Liverpool label Antipop put on their birthday event and it was the best night out in... forever. The old montly Psycho Motel night that was on here in the past is now a part of legend. There is a decent variety of drinks to choose from and while it's not the cheapest, it's not ridiculous either. Perfectly resonable! For you lot who smoke (poor you) there's an outdoor area with seating for you to puff away. It's good for non-smokers too to be honest, if you just want to get some air. The Kazimier, along with Mello Mello, is the musical hub of Liverpool and somewhere you should be spending the majority of your time. Absolutely essential venue that you CANNOT miss out on.

The Royal Court Theatre is the venue I attended my first gig many, many...many moons ago and while…read moremusic acts may have moved on to any of the city's plethora of dedicated music venues such as The Arena or O2, The Royal Court still holds an important place in the city's cultural landscape. The RC doesn't rely on public or arts funding so has to hold it's own and I think deserves praise for what it does. The theatre pieces here might not be high brow - Slappers and Slapheads being a notable example! - but these shows are mainly penned by local writers and performed by well known faces from across the Northwest. The RC has also become synonomous with stand up comedy as a venue for big touring acts and a regular comedy night slot.

The Royal Court Theatre has always been a landmark building in Liverpool and has seen truly…read morelegendary names perform over the last one hundred years. They are dedicated to producing the very best in comedy, drama and musicals. Since the summer of 2005 the building has been extensively refurbished - most particularly in the stalls which has been converted into cabaret style seating with tables for drinks and easy access for waiters and waitresses. The last time I went here, was to see a poetry performance on a school trip. I was impressed by the whole atmosphere and size of the arena as on first glance, it appears small from the outside but it has to be seen to be believed! Since then, it has dramatically changed and now it's even better.

The Liverpool Actors' Studio is a performance space in the heart of Liverpool city centre and the…read morecultural atmosphere of Parr St studios, rehearsal spaces and alternative clubs and bars. It is dedicated mainly to amateur and low budget productions but the LAS don't over stretch themselves keeping to more gritty, intimate and realistic productions suited to the environment. In keeping with Liverpool's theatrical traditions and spirit, the LAS is dedicated to encouraging talent from the local community and various workshops including acting classes are frequently staged.

Sell described as 'The secret well of talent boiling under the surface of central Liverpool', the…read moreLiverpool Actors Studio is tucked away on Seel Street bang in the middle of the bustling city centre. This talent hot spot is endorsed by many local celebrities and acts as a support network for many local amateur and professional actors. They stage a variety of performances every week and these can range from tragedies through to cabaret and comedy performances. They hold an annual festival known as 'Write Now Festival', this looks for up and coming playwrights to write a one act play to be performed in front of a panel of judges. They are currently taking applications for their 2011 'Write Now' fest! This month they will be showcasing a John Lennon play called 'One Bad Thing' from 17th to 23rd Aug!

Stupidly expensive for a drink. £4.60 is their cheapest for a pint and that's the price for…read moremembers! Goodness knows what it is for non-members. Other pints go up to £5.20. Go to other places like in Upton and you can get a pint for £2.95.

The Irby Club is a fantastic social club. It serves good beer at a low cost to both male AND female…read moremembers, contrary to what other reviews say on this site. It has free entertainment with live bands on every Friday which non members can attend and has something for everyone throughout the week. Visit the website for up to date details of What's On www.irbyclub.co.uk The club also shows live sports throughout the several different rooms, has two snooker tables a pool table and a darts board for use by members. With a great atmosphere and friendly people and reasonably priced drinks What's not to like about the place.

The Magnet is quite a funky place, and is one of the best bars for live music in Liverpool. It…read moreboasts a community of musicians and artists who give it It's identity. The resident DJ's play a mixture of jazz, soul and funk which really gives it a latin feel. The top bar area has a chilled out relaxing ambience where you can have a quiet drink with friends or snuggle up with someone in the cosy booths. The basement level, known as The Sink has a completely different mood, more of a club party atmosphere with a huge sound system. They host DJ's and live music throughout the week. Then there's another area, known as the Fish Tank which is really chilled but still has a decent variety of music, just not as "clubbish". Make sure you check out the website before heading down for a night out because sometimes it is ticket only entry which can be a bummer if you didn't know. Also, there can often be a big queue to get in, so expect to wait and even be turned away at the door if you don't look smart enough. Its 24 hour licence makes it extremely popular after hours so your best bet is to get in early.

The Magnet is the scene to be seen in the early hours of the morning. This is when it is at its…read morebusiest, as the late night license allows it to keep on partying once everywhere else has wound down. A venue that emulates 'cool', its history speaks volumes and promises that things can only get better. The venue consists of a ground-floor bar and seating area, and at the back you can usually find a DJ and an impromptu dancefloor just outside the loos. The vibe here is generally jazz, funk, soul and anything chilled out and groovy. Downstairs hosts various music events and is split into the main dancefloor area, with a stage and elevated DJ box, where you can hear anything from drum & bass to disco; and the fishbowl, which has more seating and a different atmosphere once again. The Magnet has been going since 1958 and was one of the city's first black venues, and you can still see evidence of this today. It is a club that has remained faithful to its roots, and always puts music and a chilled atmosphere top of its list of priorities. Whether its a stop-off on your way into town or a late night whistle-wetter, The Magnet is definitely the place to be!

Leaf is a beloved Liverpool institution and was one long before Bold Street cleaned up its act,…read moreMowgli moved in, and it became the hipster restaurant mecca it is today. I knew it initially as the upstairs was a venue for Liverpool Sound City, back when it took place primarily in the Ropewalks area. I've eaten there, I've taken tea there, I've had drinks there with my friends. The staff are great and the patrons often even more so: if Liverpudlians hear a non-Scouse accent here, anticipate their desire to start a conversation and help a visitor out. Choose a place to sit, order at the bar and tell the staff where you're sitting, and wait for your order to appear, delivered by someone with an adorable Scouse accent. The food portions tend to be pretty big: you're in the North, lads and lasses. The more you talk to English people of a certain age, and even a wider swath of ages the further north you go, the more you come to realize just how important the ritual of tea drinking is to them. The illuminated sign "Where there's tea, there's hope" in the shop isn't a joke. When you're at the bar, you'll see the coffee machine, sure, but you'll also see the many canisters of tea on offer. Tea here comes in individual see-through pots, showing Leaf's modern edge on a long-standing English/British tradition. You simply must order tea here because you're totally missing out if you don't. It's called Leaf for a reason! There is a small alcove 'shop' adjacent to the bar where you can pick up tea bags, diffusers, and the like. It gets very busy at lunch and brunch times; pack patience. There's a weird quirk about the front door: you need to push it because it opens inward, which seems odd because it's a really big glass door and oftentimes shop doors in England open outward. Also, you need to serve yourself water from the dispenser at the bar, something I always seem to forget until a staff member taking my order sets me right. A Manchester outpost of Leaf now exists, but I can't imagine it would ever compare favorably to the original location. I miss the pescetarian full breakfast and while they've now got small plate options, this is the kind of place I'd always order one big dish for either lunch or dinner. You'll be glad you did.

I can't get enough of leaf. Food and service are always top notch. Nice vibe and plenty of seating…read more Good for groups also.