A beautiful theater and of course it sounds great. I came here for a rock concert and really enjoyed the performance and experience from the 4th row. The interactions we had with the staff were all very pleasant and they were very helpful. It was surprising to me how much food and drink was available here. In addition to the spots in the corridors they also were selling ice cream in front of the stage! Now, if only it had been plant-based, then I would have surely enjoyed a sweet treat at my seat. read more

A generally positive experience. You order via a QR code but it does not allow any modifications (ie No Mayo). If you want any changes you technically need to order at the bar but items will still come out the way they are listed on the menu even if you ask for a change. The fish and chips is good, as are the burgers although they come out your regular chips (not the large ones which come with fish). By the item my food came out my family was just about finished eating. They have a sign touting their toilets which are nothing special to be honest. Good food and nice ambiance as long as you are okay with no modifications to the food and ordering via a website or at the bar. read more

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Beautiful pub inside with immaculate woodwork and stained glass. The men's toilet has unique marble. The ladies is nothing special. The fish and chips was perfect with thin crispy breading and tender haddock. Crispy fries too. So tasty! We ordered at the bar, gave out table number and they brought the dishes to our table. Drinks at the bar with lots on tap. read more

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As Americans who live in Liverpool 6 months of the years (for the past 5 years), we've enjoyed trying different Sunday roasts throughout town. We saw the Philharmonic had reopened after their renovations so thought we'd give it a try. We regularly grab pints or a glass of wine in the cozy dark atmosphere that the Philharmonic offers. First off, the renovations seem great. Much cleaner, fresh but still has the vibe you want. More tables. Here is my feedback on the roasts, I had chicken and my husband had the beef but we each had a bit of each others. Chicken: the breast was a tad dry, but the remainder was tender and delicious...probably could have used 5ish minutes less in the roaster. Roast Beef: also generally dry and tasteless...definitely needed to add the s&p and gravy. Sides: potatoes were a bit dry, carrots were hard but tasty, parsnips and broccoli were fine. The gravy was delicious and kind of the savior of the meal. The Yorkshire pudding was flat, deflated. I prefer them puffy with some flakiness. The only time I've eaten there, I'm sure we'll pop back in for drinks but not necessarily as a food destination. Servers were attentive and great. read more

The Philharmonic - Roast beef Sunday roast - Pubs Near Me - Liverpool, XMS

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Stopped in for a refreshing pint after a day of touring Liverpool on bus and foot. Interesting historic rooms to sit in, with cool architecture and stained glass windows. Was drawn in by a sign out front advertising their bathrooms? Took a peek in the men's room when my husband said it was empty and the urinals in there indeed were fairly ornate but it was just a little weird peeking in. Women's bathroom is nothing special. Heard from someone who worked there that it's because it used to be a men's club only with women allowed only later on (and therefore the women's restroom added). read more

Great pub with an amazing old-fashioned ambiance. Food-wise it delivers - salad and pies were reliable. Service is fast, which is a definite plus if you are dropping by for drinks before a concert in the Philharmonic hall across the street. The well known attraction of this pub, the men's toilets, are indeed one of a kind - but the rest is nice too. Well worth a visit! read more

The Philharmonic - Pubs Near Me - Liverpool, XMS

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What an horrendous & unwelcoming load of staff culture is this??!! Planned a trip to Liverpool years in the making--Foul 1st stop experience even though was super excited to be here! Before opening my mouth was met with immediate disdain from 3 staff members behind the bar who not only blatantly tried to ignore me & act bothered to be interrupted on their 3some chat sessions, but outright poured disdain spitting out hardly one word answers, then turned back amongst themselves to continue their chatter rolling their eyes! To the female barkeep working Monday June 10th after 5pm---we can hear you muttering under your breath the rude comments about people who are simply there to be patrons. Continued gross vibes so walked out, and had the best time with vacation monies spent everywhere else! FYI--Everyone else in town we told the story to, laughed, indicated this behavior is wildly known. Cheers!!! read more

We arrived just as the after-work crowd was winding down. The main banquet hall was noisy but quieted down as people left. Jane ordered the shepherd pie and I ordered the ribeye steak. Jane loved the shepherd's pie, my ribeye was a bit too rare for 'medium rare' and was a bit gristly, but tasted fine. The greens on the accompanying salad were very good, but the dressing was nearly water. (This was true of other places we ate as well). Overall it's a lovely place and a must-visit stop in Liverpool. read more

The Philharmonic - Large dining hall with after-work crowds - Pubs Near Me - Liverpool, XMS

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This amazing pub is an essential place to see on any week-end visit to Liverpool. In a city full of astonishing Edwardian pub interiors, the Philharmonic's takes the first prize. It is a Grade II* listed building, features in CAMRA's National Inventory of Pub Interiors, and is regarded by many as Britain's finest pub interior. Built in 1898, there is a central bar, with four main rooms: a small front lounge; a pair of small lounges (called 'Brahms' and 'Liszt' in best Cockney Rhyming slang) and through a short passage, the former billiard room, known as the Grande Lounge. (The present dining room is on the first floor). Everything - and I really mean everything - is heavily decorated. The entrance, with its partly gilded ironwork screen, sets the tone. The floors have mosaics, the glass is etched and stained, the mahogany woodwork is carved, the bar fronts have more mosaics, the ceilings have elaborate strap-work plasterwork, walls feature panelling or glazed encaustic tiling, and there are Tiffany-style lights and chandeliers everywhere. An unusual feature is the series of beaten-copper reliefs set in some of the wall panelling, especially in the main dining room. But perhaps the most famous room is the Gentlemen's lavatory: the urinals are set in beautiful polished red marble, as are the sink surrounds, the walls feature yet more glazed tiles and the floor is covered in delicate art-nouveau mosaics. Thankfully, it's also a decent pub - there is usually a choice of half a dozen real ales, and they also do food (although I've not eaten here). Service is OK, although it can get frenetically busy at week-ends. If you've not seen it before, you have to go. read more

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This is a must-visit for the decor alone, although the dimmer switch lighting in the main room isn't always on the most favourable setting. It's large with lots of seating of various types, including in small rooms. Getting drinks took about 15 mins but food arrived relatively promptly - decent pub grub of bangers and mash and scampi and chips. I didn't fully check out the ale situation but my impression is there's not exactly a load of real ale on cask here but you probably will find something drinkable, even if it's in a can. I had a reasonably priced and drinkable glass of chardonnay. I really think a trip here, even just for 1 drink, would enhance any visit to Liverpool, so definitely recommend. read more

Loved it. Iconic stop in Liverpool. Good beer and G&T. The ambiance is not to be missed. You slip back into another time. We enjoyed an odd hour afternoon so it wasn't busy and we had a nice corner table to watch the coming and goings. read more

Been going to Phil for many years on and off.. atmosphere is wonderful.. from Famous Irish bands.. Christmas carols for children.. classical music ... so much more... great night out read more

Why a lovely pub, great atmosphere, great service, nice drinks served by friendly bar staff

Great pub opposite the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. This is a great place to hit after a concert at the (admittedly mediocre) Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, or ahead of a concert. Comfy seating, very pleasant dark wooden interior with a bit of a musical bent (there are opposing "Brahms" and "Liszt" rooms, alluding to the feuding late-19th century schools of classical music. Decent selection of hand-pumped ales, plus the usual roster of lagers. Generally nice staff. Beer prices okay. Warning: Does get very busy on concert nights. read more

The Philharmonic - Inside the Liszt room. - Pubs Near Me - Liverpool, XMS

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Mention the Philharmonic pub to a scouser and I guarantee you they will mention the toilets. I'm not joking, the toilets are even mentioned in pub guides or tourist information about the city - that has to make you wonder what the place has to offer when you highlight the loos. The talking point about the toilets are the ornate, marble features of the gents but I've been many times and they're not that special - makes me think maybe it's the ladies and I'm missing out? - at the end of the day you only spend a couple minutes in there and I'm not shifting my mates and all our drinks in there for the night. The rest of the pub is quite a grand venue - overlooked and often with all the hype around the toilets - and has a gentleman's club feel to the wood paneled walls and chesterfield chairs of the lounge. It's a good starter to a night at either The Everyman theatre or Philharmonic concert hall situated nearby. read more

The Philharmonic - Pubs Near Me - Liverpool, XMS

It's always good when a pub becomes a landmark in its own right and if you were going to jot this very sentence down in a book of quotations, you'd be a fool to not have an illustration of the Philharmonic next to it.... and not because I mention its name just there. John Lennon once complained that the price of fame was "not being able to go to the Phil for a drink" and it's not hard to see why. From the outside it has all the stone grandeur of a Munich beer hall and inside its rich, dark wood-panelling and brass ornaments continue the effect. If you just got rid of all the people cluttering up the place, this would be like Prozac for the eyes. The obligatory toilet mention may disappoint you. I just don't think they're such a big deal. The rest of the pub is so much nicer, and not just because it isn't consistently doused in urine. On an odder note, I once met Aled Jones here. After building up the courage to speak to him, he invited us across to the quiz machine where we managed to lose him three quid on stupid football questions. When he asked us for any good chippys we told him to go to Shiraz round the corner. For a bloke whose flown with a magical snowman and drank in Liverpool's most opulent pub, that must have been a bit of a come-down. Plus, he swore like a docker. read more

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This place has history and is reflective in a way of Liverpools' structural and musical history. The decor is grand and inviting and it really is an experience to stop off and grab a drink here especially if you have never visited before. Despite all its' grandeur and pomp the prices are reasonable too meaning the ordinary person can feel a little more important for the duration of a pint which is a nice touch. There is a good variety of ales ect on offer which is exactly as it should be with regards to an historical old building. The crowd is a mixture in here and changes day to day but it is always a nice spot to drink before heading to the theatre providing you don't get carried away by the pleasant atmosphere and have one too many. The Philarmonic pub seems to be an ordinary pub in extraordinary surroundings and I hope it never changes. read more

The Philharmonic - Pubs Near Me - Liverpool, XMS

HORROR of HORRORS...one of Liverpool's most iconic and TRADITIONAL pubs (been going in there for many, many years) now has piped music...awful...and it is too loud...This is NOT what we want at "THE PHIL"....please....turn it off.... Otherwise a great place to be... read more

I love the phill so much. I've pretty much grown up in there with some of my family members even being in the philharmonic choir and I've played with an orchestra there a few times too. My family always books one of the boxes and we go and watch the Christmas show. The atmosphere is lovely and you can marvel for hours at the beautifully painted walls. The sound in there is amazing too!! I've seen many of my favourite bands play in there and they're memories I'll hold forever. The bar area is usually PACKED at the intervals so I'd recommend avoiding there or being noise cancelling headphones if you struggle with loud sounds or large crowds of people . The staff there are also very helpful and always happy to greet you at the doors! Overall one of my favourite places to go. read more

We were looking for a place to eat lunch while visiting Liverpool and this place was recommended by a friend. The Hop On Hop Off stopped right in front so that made it easy to get to. They have a number of small rooms with tables that have numbers on them. So you pick out your table and go to the bar to order and give them your table number. We picked a little room off to the side with a beautiful stained glass window. We started out with drinks. They have quite a few kinds of beer so to make it easy they have a sampler of three kinds in small glasses. So you choose what three you want to try. I picked a Hopopotamus, Black Sheep and a Doombar. They were all good but, probably the Hopopotamus was the best. For lunch I picked the Shepard's Pie and my wife got the Fish & Chips. They were both delicious. The wait staff was friendly and helpful. The men's restroom is an amazing room with antique marble uranals and sinks. You will not go wrong eating here. read more

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Beautiful pub but confusing to tourists who are unfamiliar with the ordering process at bars that serve food. After being told we could sit downstairs we waited for quite some time for a server. Finally out of sheer thirst my father went to the bar to get a beer and discovered that we place our order there. The food was good, especially the steak and ale pie. We were there just after Graduation for Liverpool university so it was hoping. read more

Lovely experience. Food is delicious. Love the friendly and smiley staff. The decor is high class and absolutely eye-satisfying. My full course was: - Drink: Little Rebel. British craft beer. Tropical flavor. - Starter: Pulled Pork Hamhock and Pitaschio Rilette. The pork was flavorful and go nicely with pitaschio and piccallili on side. - Main: Grilled seabass with hollandaise sauce and fennel relish. Fish should be marinated more with fennel. Skin wasn't cripsy. Sauce is a little buttery. But lovely overall. - Dessert: Rhubarb, plum and cherry crumbles. Should have more cream on side. The portion is enough for 2 people, or 1 sweet tooth like me :) read more

Another of Mr Lennon's supposed favourite pubs, and how. Quick bit of trivia for you here - Liverpool has the most listed pubs in of any city in the UK. You know what that means, don't you. It means that the majority of the pubs here are staggeringly beautiful, and this piece of architectural splendour is perhaps the most impressive of all. Famous for its ornate marble toilets and absolutely incredible interior, the Liverpool Phil is without a doubt worth a visit. It's near both the cathedrals and if it's sightseeing you're after, this isn't just a place to grab a drink, it's a place to drink in. From the gorgeous chandeliers to the cosy snugs and the grand room which genuinely takes your breath away, all chockfull of original features and stunning finishes, it's complete and utter eye candy from start to finish. Looking past the stunning visuals (it's difficult, granted), there's a range of real ale to choose from and a restaurant upstairs which serves really lovely pub grub. Even if you're not planning on having some food or even a drink, just pop your head in to have a look. It's incredible. read more

This is a review of the restaurant rather than the pub. Yes, that's right - the Philharmonic Pub also has a restaurant. I don't know how long its been there but to be honest, it's more like somone has decided to convert the flat above the pub by sticking a few chairs and tables in it. No, I'm being overly harsh because of a recent bad experience there. You see, I went there over the weekend with family, having already made a reservation that afternoon. After battling through the busy bar to get to the staircase to the restaurant (which is conveniently situated right next to the famous Gent's toilets and you'd have no hope of finding if you didn't know it was there) we were met with a less than enthusiastic welcome: "We're fully booked for the rest of the evening" After explaining that we had a reservation and watching the poor lad who must've been duty manager run around like a headless chicken for two minutes, we established that our table had been double-booked (as we could see by casting a glance around the room full of people eating) and that we could come back in half an hour but they couldn't guarantee a table. On that occasion, we went elsewhere. However, the only other time I've been the food was lovely but limited, the service slow but polite, and the atmosphere lacking but pleasant enough. Their speciality is pies, and it is well worth sampling them as they do seem to be of the homebaked variety that you see that chap doing on the lurpak ad. The Phil's saving grace? According to my friend, the chocolate cake. The portion was enough to feed a family for a week and it was so nice apparently that she wouldn't let it defeat her and we all had to order copious amounts of coffee while she polished it off over the space of, oh, lets say half an hour. read more

The Philharmonic - Pubs Near Me - Liverpool, XMS

The Philharmonic Dining Rooms is located in Hope Street in Liverpool, opposite the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. A few yards down the road from the Liverpool Metropolitan RC Cathedral, John Moore's University & Everyman Theatre. It was recommended to my friends and I by a fellow guest at the Days Inn, on a recent trip to Liverpool (to see Neil Young and Crazy Horse in concert in the Liverpool Echo arena). It has been described as one of the most ornate pubs in Liverpool and it does not disappoint in its Victorian splendour. It is beautifully preserved and is Grade One listed, the building was commissioned in 1898. The pub I am led to believe is a former gentleman's club too. It is a traditional pub with ornate period details. The walls have very ornate polished and carved mahogany wood panels. It also boasts a mosaic faced serving counter. It has a high plaster work ceiling, copper panels featuring musicians and stained glass windows featuring Boer War heroes. Two side rooms or snugs called Brahms an Liszt (no rhyming slang there then). One of the must see "tour attraction" is the original gentleman's toilets, which is an original 1890s Adamant lavatory with its mosaics & pink marble. There is choice of between 8-10 real cask ales, with tasters available (x3 half pints for £3). I tried a Leeds Brewery Dark Beer called Midnight Bell on my visit. The food seems reasonably priced with a pub lunch and a drink for £7 or something from the main menu from £10 to £15 I.e. Venison & Sloe Gin Pie. Seemed a very busy pub on my visit even more so with graduates from John Moore's University (with their caps & gowns on). I cannot recommend this place highly enough and I am looking forward to my next visit there. read more

The only place I've ever deigned to visit the men's toilets on recommendation (The most ornate urinals known to man!) The Phil is a true piece of Liverpool heritage. From the gold gilded entrance, the grand and ornamental traditional fixtures and fittings, down to well, the loos, it is the business. Real Ales selection? Exceptional. Food? Perfection in pub gastronomy if I ever did see-saw it. And relatively cheap, (of course this is slightly biased, their speciality is pies and I am a Wigan girl at heart.) You need to experience The Philharmonic pub for the sheer grandeur in which you can enjoy the simple pleasures of eating and drinking. It turns out that with all this class it's not a bit condescending or snobby. So kick back and enjoy a pint of their best in glorious surroundings and comfort and don't forget to pop to the loo for a gander, I know it sounds odd, but I'm serious! read more

Interior feels every bit steeped with history and tradition; depending on your mood, could be overly stuffy. Bar has good choices for drinks and the food was pretty good. We had the extra lg fish and chips to share, but literally received 8-9 chips. The much noted men's loo has the same wall of porcelain urinals as you'd find at McSorleys in NYC (oldest bar in NY) - but painted. BTW, an old man swung the door open to show the loo to his wife and daughter - good thing I was done with my business. read more

The Phil is such a good pub to look at. In fact so many Nicholson's pubs are, but this may well be the most impressive. In fact is probably a bit too grand for my taste, which just shows how hard I am to please. Cherry Porter Dark Angelor some other combination of those words? Whatever - it made for a decent pint. read more

The Phil has twice been my local and during those periods I seemed to live in either the dining hall or one of the hidden side rooms. The Phil is a CAMRA approved pub so the beer is always worth trying out and the wine, cheap plonk as it is, is well priced. Food is good value and a bit more interesting than the normal pub fayre of burger and chips (although I think you can get burger and chips) and service has always been good. There are set times for serving food so worth a check if you are making a special trip. As with every other review about The Phil, the men's toilets are fantastic. The staff will let ladies in for a peek if you want to look. read more

My uncle used to go here back in the 1980s I was told.i didn't believe e stories but was more than pleased with the the selection if cask beers and the general cosy feeling of the "snugs" off the main bar. Told it gets really popular before concerts at the Phil .... Maybe next time read more

I don't get the hype. I came in for a beer and it was uncomfortably busy - it took forever just to get one beer, and then no place to even set it down, let alone sit. Drink choices are average. Prices are slightly above average. Service is poor. The space is lovely, but might as well just walk in and out. With it being so busy, that may take 10 minutes anyways. So many better pubs in Liverpool. And even nearby. read more

A lovely pub to visit in Liverpool. I've never been to a pub. This is exactly what I had imagined it would be like. Great decor...the lady's loo is not to be missed! We had fish and chips which were quite good. Not crazy about peas, but that's just a personal preference and they let me choose a substitute. The staff was friendly and efficient. I would be a regular here if I lived in Liverpool. read more

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If the breathy exhortations of the bloke who was talking about Liverpool on Radio 4 this morning are to be believed, Hope Street is the North West of England's answer to the 'Boulevard Saint Germain' - and the Philharmonic Pub is its gleaming, elegant epicentre. Whilst I'm not entirely sure that I agree with the first part of the above statement, it's difficult not to agree with him that the Philharmonic pub is a very special drinking establishment indeed. It's a testament to stunning Edwardian design, and every single part of its interior is swathed in gleaming mahogany, beaten copper reliefs, elegant tiles, and art-deco chandeliers. No wonder then that it's a Grade 2 listed building, and is frequently cited as being one of the most beautiful pubs in the UK. If rumours are to believed, The Philharmonic also has the best gent's toilets in the whole of Liverpool, if not the world. However, not being a bloke, I can neither confirm or deny this statement - although I have been temped to drag up and sneak in on more than one occasion just to check out their splendour for myself. But enough about the interior - what about the beer? Well, being a CAMRA approved pub. it has a wide selection of delicious artisan ales which a comely barmaid will recommend to you with a nod, a wink and a sly sample if you're lucky. They also do a great selection of wines, and a halfway decent selection of pub grub standards - although don't come here expecting anything particularly brilliant on that front. But what I love best about The Philharmonic are its little side rooms, all named after different composers. Back when I was first courting my beloved, we would regularly hide away in one of these and plot world domination over a nice glass of red, and I still love coming back here with him to celebrate the fact that we've managed to remain together for so long without throwing crockery at each other. The Philharmonic is a beautiful beautiful pub. If you only go to one boozer the next time you're on Hope Street, make sure that it's this one. read more

Great interiors. Check out the toilets. Food is ok, discrete value for money but you're mainly paying for the internal sightseeing. read more

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A stunning interior, regarded as one the best in the UK by architecture aficionados and pub buffs alike. It's an essential port of call on any trip to Liverpool: and, with a beer selection like this, why wouldn't you? Even going to the Gents is an experience. It's also mid-way between the Roman Catholic and Anglican Cathedrals, so it is a perfect point to stop off for some refreshment during a sightseeing trip. read more

Great and interesting venue...place where Paul McCartney played on carpool karaoke...but food was disappointing. I had pumpkin and lentil soup and calamari... calamari was described as lightly dust ... tasted like microwaved, frozen, heavily battered calamari, and the soup was average. Many other menu items were not available. Possibly a bad week being the Christmas/NY fortnight...worth a visit to enjoy a drink in the historic setting. read more

How many places have you been to where the star attraction is the men's toilets! Seriously, the mens toilets in this pub are so beautiful and lavish (plenty of gold!) that even if you're a lady like myself you can still visit them to take a look. Do ask at the bar first though, don't just walk in! The mens lavatories are a well known tourist attraction in Liverpool so I recommend a visit even if it's just so you can say you've been. Other than that, this place is best described as splendid. I love all the different rooms. If it's not too busy you can have a room to yourself and your friends. It is very fancy and the decor is very classy. Despite all that, the drinks prices are reasonable. read more

Beautiful interior. Worth visiting to sit in the comfy chairs and take in the view :-) Bottle of red wine was about £7 which is pretty good by Liverpool city centre pub standards ( I had to pay £12 for a bottle in another pub closer to the centre! ) The staff all look under 20. Haven't tried the food so can't comment on that :-) read more

Stunning building with men's toilets that are definitely worth a visit (or a peek through the door). The food is pretty good and the beers available are varied and reasonable. It does need a revamp though and perhaps a change of hands, the last time I was there it felt very much like a place trading on its reputation and nothing more. read more

The Philharmonic has a super cozy and amazing atmosphere; when you walk into this place it's like walking into a different time. I was there on a fairly busy night, and getting drinks took some time, but not too long. The beer selection isn't great, but there's something for everyone. This is a great venue for the larger groups, but also as the ending of a romantic night out; a night cap before going home. It really is the most beautiful pub I have ever set foot in! read more