The Scene spent the day in Liverpool with The Zutons. Do you have a favorite hangout on Merseyside? What's your favorite Zutons track? Send us your suggestions and read your comments below.
From: Dawn W, London, England Posted: Nov. 28, 2006 Comment: I have lived in London for 9 years but still go home regularly to Liverpool, in fact this weekend I am going to have my 40th in this fine city. I am delighted to see the incredible changes to Liverpool and people should be proud to be from this place. I am looking forward to taking a load of visitors out over the whole weekend to show them the real Liverpool and all the great pubs, restaurants and spectacular sights. Nothing like an early morning coffee at the Albert Dock and a walk along the riverside to take in all that history, then later a glass of wine in the best pub in the world, The Philharmonic pub.
From: Peter Carr, Liverpool, England Posted: Nov. 25, 2006 Comment: Liverpool actually holds 4 festivals. Liverpool Music Week is a week long event focusing on lots of top home grown talent in Merseyside. Its not just bands either, there's a whole host of multi-cultural events.
From: Dunk, Liverpool, England Posted: Nov. 8, 2006 Comment: Decent recommendations Jake. I'm not sure who these Liverpudlians with an inferiority complex about Manchester of all place might be. I've never met any.
I suppose Manchester's not a bad place, as regenerated milltowns go, but an object of envy or an abiding presence in the consciousness of Liverpool? Not at all. Liverpool's sister cities, be they New York, Glasgow or Dublin figure more largely in my mindmap, believe you me.
If anything, it appears to be Mancunians with their deperate need to attack Liverpool, one of the UK's safest cities about its crime whilst they live in on of the UK's most dangerous urban areas seem to be the ones with a an issue they really need to work through. What is it, Liverpool's superior architecture, its wonderful riverside location, its greater worldwide fame that's eating away at them? I can't say I care myself, that's their problem.
From: Jake Potts, Liverpool, England Posted: Oct. 27, 2006 Comment: It's a shame that some scousers can't get over their in-built inferiority complex about Manchester. They are both great Northern cities. Here are some of my recommendations:
Eating: Liverpool is pretty limited for good tandoori restaurants - but try the Gulshan on Aigburth Road and Indian Delight on Renshaw Street if you want somewhere nearer the city centre. Good quality Chinese food is far easier to find, Yuet Ben, Mayflower, Far East, Mie-Mie, all doing good stuff. Gastro-pubs - Blackburne Arms Hotel on Catharine Street - expensive and a bit on the stingy side portion -wise but very tasty, The Monroe Duke Street, bigger portions but unlike the B. Arms a bit smokier.
Drinking: Liverpool is great if you like your beer good and cheap. Real ale enthusiasts should try the Cains-owned Dispensary on Renshaw street (full range of excellent Cains beer plus decent lagers and guest beers), the newly refurbished Belvedere off Faulkner Street (owned by the same guy that runs the Blackburne Arms), the Roscoe Head on Roscoe Street (which also does good, basic pub grub), and the palatial Philarmonic on Hope Street. The Fly in the Loaf is also popular with Camra types but I don't think the beer is kept that well. For those who prefer their liquid refreshment to be blonde and fizzy, I would go with Lynn B's recommendation of Korova - it's the only place in Liverpool I know that does Cruz Campo. For a non-plastic Irish drinking experience, go to Pogue Mahone for a Guinness.
Culture: FACT, Wood Street-free exhibitions of video art, art house and Hollywood films on good sized screens with comfy seats, plus you can take beers from the well-stocked bar into the cinema. Liverpool World Museum has mummies, dinosaurs and some rather disappointing fish (forget about the sharks on the posters). Tate Liverpool for excellent modern art exhibitions, the Walker for the best collections of pre-20th century art outside of London.
Music - the Liverpool Academy venues are pretty dire, but the Carling Academy (especially the smaller upstairs Academy 2) are pretty good places to catch bands. I am too old to know about clubs, but Magnet on Hardman Street is pleasantly seedy.
From: Phil Smith, Liverpool, England Posted: Oct. 25, 2006 Comment: Who writes this stuff?? Your piece about Liverpool is the most cliche ridden piece of claptrap I've read in a long time.
I'm left to believe that the idiot writing it is doing so from the designer comfort of a Herman Miller chair deep in the bowels of CNN's Atlanta HQ.
Anyone who has been to Liverpool recently, or knows and lives in the city would scarcely believe their eyes. No mention that Liverpool will be the European City of Culture in '08. No mention of the consistent economic revival that has transformed the city since it's heart was indeed ripped out with the decline of it's manufacturing base in the 80's.
Instead, the writer falls back on the cliche's about the city only a Man. Utd supporter would believe.
The only thing they got right is that Liverpool is a party city. That it's people like to have a good time. Could that over-arching sense of optimism really come from such a downbeat city as described in this article?
Go there. Liverpool is a vibrant, alive, surprising, funny and electric place to be. And I don't just mean the writer of this piece. Everyone should go to Liverpool once before they die. It's unlike any other place on the planet.
From: Linnie, CNN Posted: Oct. 25, 2006 Comment: Hi Phil, thanks for your feedback. As the writer of the pieces on Liverpool, I'd just like to reassure you on a couple of points.
First off, I've lived in Liverpool for the past three years - I'm sorry if my Liverpool doesn't match yours, but it was, I felt, a fair representation of a city which has - let's admit it - been through tough times, and is now undergoing a very visible renaissance. I certainly don't feel that Liverpool is a downbeat city, and I don't think it was portrayed as such, but we have to give people an idea of the city's history.
Secondly, Capital of Culture is mentioned on the insider tips - but bear in mind that we're writing for an international audience, and most people outside Europe (and many within) won't know what Capital of Culture is.
PS I am definitely NOT a Man United supporter!
From: Jo Jo, Liverpool, England Posted: Oct. 24, 2006 Comment: Dragon Bar is a little-known, little-sized haven on Berry Street. Often hosts pre-Chibuku parties so ace music and good mix of people guaranteed. Funky east Asian decor and a menu to match make this a great place to start your night. Head round the corner to Heebiejeebies on Seel Street for two (soon to become three) floors of Motown and other old school classics, and rub shoulders with the odd celeb from the city's vibrant music scene. Live music on a Monday and jazz on Thursdays make this a venue worth returning to...
From: Lynn B, Liverpool, England Posted: Oct. 24, 2006 Comment: The Barfly on Seel Street is a great bar/club location. With regular nights from up and coming indie bands, and a Saturday night 'Le Bateau' a great mix of old and new rock and indie trackts is a crowd pleaser.
And Korova on Fleet Street is definitely worth a visit. This late night bar is styled impeccably with gorgeous murals, booths with orange 60s lights. It's the only bar in Liverpool that plays an ecletic, surprising, high quality and always good selection of indie, rock, dance and electronica. Old and new.
From: Peter & Dianna, Calgary, Canada Posted: Oct. 23, 2006 Comment: We had never been to Liverpool, but this past August we spent part of our honeymoon there (our girls were on a friendly football tour to Liverpool and Belfast). Of course we had been well familiar with the stick that Liverpool has long (forever?) been the recipient of, but we found straight away and above all else that the people were so markedly polite, friendly, and helpful, especially after they discovered that we really were actually Canadian (not Yanks). We thoroughly enjoyed that portion of our trip and would love to return someday, but with a little more time to spend there.
From: Steve Price, Liverpool, England Posted: Oct. 20, 2006 Comment: If you want a quiet drink in the city centre, you could do worse than the 33/45 - it's a world away from all those dreadful vodka bars off Bold Street.
From: emma f, chester, England Posted: Oct. 20, 2006 Comment: liverpool is great, its come on loads, the met quarter is brilliant, the clubs are fantastic and the people are top! its where its at, much better than manchester these days, lets hear it for liverpool!
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