CASTLE STREET & ST NICHOLAS’ QUARTER

Perfect for The Auld City & The Dead House

Castle Street sits at the heart of Liverpool’s historic commercial district, running from the magnificent Town Hall towards the waterfront. Around the corner, St Nicholas’ Churchyard brings you into one of the oldest parts of the city and an area packed with centuries of maritime history.

It is also one of Liverpool’s great places to eat and drink. Grand architecture, little side streets, historic pubs and a thriving collection of locally rooted businesses make this an ideal place to start or finish a Shiverpool adventure.

Shiverpool recommends...

Bacaro – 47 Castle Street
A Liverpool favourite for Venetian-inspired small plates, pizzette, pasta and drinks. Relaxed, sociable and particularly good if a group wants to order a tableful of dishes and share.

BoBo – 46 Castle Street
A little slice of Iberian café culture on Castle Street. Spanish and Portuguese influences, wine, cocktails and sharing food make BoBo a great pre-tour meeting place or somewhere to settle in afterwards.

The Denbigh Castle – 10 Hackins Hey
Step away from Castle Street and into one of the area's oldest little streets. The Denbigh Castle is a proper historic Liverpool pub, with cask and craft beers, plenty of character and a story stretching back more than two centuries. An excellent choice for anyone who likes their pint served with a bit of local history.

Thomas Rigby’s – 23–25 Dale Street
One of Liverpool’s oldest and best-loved pubs, Thomas Rigby’s is only a short walk from Castle Street and the Town Hall. Set within the Grade II listed Rigby’s Buildings, it is packed with historic character and remains a fine place for cask ale, good pub food and a proper Liverpool city-centre pint.

Ma Boyle's Alehouse and Eatery – Tower Gardens
Tucked away near St Nicholas’ Church and the waterfront, Ma Boyle’s is a Liverpool institution: cosy, characterful and good for everything from brunch to an evening drink.

Why we love this neighbourhood

This part of Liverpool captures exactly why independent businesses are important. Behind the monumental buildings and famous landmarks are individual pubs, restaurants and bars creating experiences of their own. They keep historic streets busy, welcoming and relevant, while giving visitors another reason to explore beyond the obvious attractions.

HOPE STREET & THE GEORGIAN QUARTER

Perfect for The Hope Street Shivers & The Secret Garden Cemetery Shivers

Few streets sum up Liverpool quite like Hope Street.

Anchored by Liverpool’s two cathedrals and surrounded by theatres, music, magnificent Georgian architecture and independent businesses, it is a neighbourhood where culture and hospitality sit side by side. It has also been Shiverpool territory from the very beginning.

There are some fantastic places to eat and drink within a few minutes of the tour, so arriving early or extending the evening is highly recommended.

Shiverpool recommends...

Frederiks – 32 Hope Street
A longstanding independent Hope Street favourite with food, cocktails, craft beer and a strong live-music identity. Frederiks has been part of the Georgian Quarter since 2013 and makes an excellent pre or post-tour stop.

The Pen Factory – 13 Hope Street
Hidden slightly below street level, The Pen Factory is one of those places that feels completely at home in the Georgian Quarter: relaxed food, good beer and wine and a lovely garden space.

The Quarter – 7 Falkner Street
Just around the corner from Hope Street, The Quarter is a bustling neighbourhood restaurant with an Italian and Mediterranean influence. Long established, informal and particularly lovely when the Georgian Quarter is buzzing.

Buyers Club – 24 Hardman Street
An independent neighbourhood restaurant specialising in handmade pasta, Neapolitan pizza, sourdough and natural wine. Its own description says it perfectly: a place for locals to gather, eat well and enjoy the independent spirit of the area.

Papillon – 31 Hope Street
A bright neighbourhood public house sitting between the two cathedrals, serving brunch, lunch, pub favourites, guest ales, cocktails and wine. Its outdoor tables are particularly good for watching Hope Street go by.

Liverpool Arts Bar – 22 Hope Street
More than somewhere to get a drink, Arts Bar is an independent creative hub founded by local artists. It showcases grassroots music, exhibitions, performances and local artwork, making it a natural Shiverpool recommendation for anyone who wants to support Liverpool’s creative community.

The Roscoe Head – 24 Roscoe Street
A tiny back-street Liverpool gem and a genuinely independent pub. The Roscoe Head retains its traditional multi-room layout and has long been celebrated for its real ale and wonderfully unspoilt character. It was named Liverpool CAMRA Pub of the Year in 2024 and is exactly the kind of individual local business that gives the Georgian Quarter its personality.

The White Hart – 23 Hope Street
Right on Hope Street, The White Hart occupies a handsome Georgian townhouse and brings plenty of old-fashioned pub atmosphere to the street. Think nooks, crannies, cask ales, roaring fires, pies and a characterful beer garden. A particularly atmospheric stop before or after The Hope Street Shivers.

The Pilgrim – 34 Pilgrim Street
A Liverpool institution since 1981, The Pilgrim occupies an eighteenth-century former warehouse and has spent more than four decades welcoming artists, musicians, academics, students and assorted Liverpool bohemians. Cask ale, craft beer, music and a sun-trap courtyard give it the kind of individual character that simply cannot be manufactured.

Keep Liverpool interesting. Spend local.

Independent businesses do far more than provide somewhere to eat or drink. They animate historic buildings, employ local people, support artists and suppliers, experiment with new ideas and give individual neighbourhoods their personality.

That matters to Shiverpool.

Our tours celebrate Liverpool by getting people out onto its streets, sharing its stories and encouraging visitors to look more closely at the places around them. Pointing our audiences towards neighbouring independent businesses is part of the same philosophy:

“Explore locally, discover something different and help keep Liverpool brilliantly independent. Eat local. Drink local. Explore local.”