Liverpool is famous for its rich musical pedigree, storied industrial and maritime history, and passionate football supporters. All of these things offer visitors plenty to do and see in the city, but those seeking an alternative Liverpudlian experience might want to look beyond the Cavern Club, Anfield, or the Royal Albert Docks. Luckily there are plenty of options which go under the radar, from old-school bingo to prison-themed bars.
Gaming Halls
For fabulous retro-futurist fun, a visit to a video gaming arcade is just the ticket. ArCains is a great place to spend a day — or an entire weekend — amongst classic arcade games such as Outrun, multiplayer Mario Kart, PacMan, and Streetfighter 2 as well as a host of vintage pinball machines. Hungry? Hotdogs, nachos, and pizza are all on the menu, as well as cocktails and soft drinks. Best of all, you pay an entry fee, stay as long as you like, and the games are FREE.
If you’re frantically looking for ‘bingo near me‘ you’re not alone — Bingo is making a huge comeback, both in bricks-and-mortar establishments and online, attracting a younger audience at odds with its traditional blue-rinsed image. Your best bet for bingo action is Buzz Bingo and the Slots Room, which, as the name suggest, also offers a large range of slot machines.
Lastly, there’s nothing like spending an evening at the pool table, and Liverpool has no shortage of places to play. Try the Boom Battle Bar which boasts five American Pool tables, as well as ping-pong, shuffle board, and augmented reality darts, whatever that might entail.
Great Escapes
Escape rooms, with their combination of logic, teamwork, and ingenuity have become a popular pursuit in Liverpool. Liverpool has not escaped this craze, and you’ll find numerous venues to go in — and hopefully come out of). Escape Live has themed rooms based on Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes, but if you’re after blood-chilling terror, check out Game Over Escape, where you’ll find yourself in the dark, only to realise you’re in the death chamber of a homicidal maniac (there are other less terrifying rooms as well).
If you prefer incarceration, where better than at Alcotraz – Cell Block Three Six, a prison themed speakeasy where you have to smuggle in your own drinks under the noses of watchful wardens. You and your friends will cosy up together in a tiny, metal-barred cell, and spend the evening enjoying the maximum security prison experience in your orange jumpsuit (yes, you’ll receive one upon entry).
Wacky Eats
Hotdog Pizza? Shredded duck pizza? Nachos served in a trashcan lid? If this sounds crazy, well, yes it is — you can find all those and more at Crazy Pedro’s, a place that describes itself as ‘part-time pizza parlour and full-time party bar’. As well as hotdogs and duck, toppings include steak with blue cheese, sushi, and fried chicken. And if you thought pineapple on pizza was controversial, how about blueberry?
Cheese fiends should look no further than the Liverpool Cheese Crawl. This walking tour takes in various places to enjoy your favourite cheeses, as well as discover some new flavours. Along the way you’ll find out how cheese is made, and be subjected to a constant stream of cheese-related puns, none of which I’m going to brie-peat here.
There are plenty of off-beat things to do in the great city of Liverpool. Scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find rich seams of quirky, exciting, and delicious ways to spend a weekend.
