People travel from America to Liverpool pub that looks 'incredible'

The boozer's beer garden makes it a very popular venue

Louise Delaney's start to life running the Aigburth Arms was far from easy. The 43-year-old from Huyton took over as manager at the pub on March 20, 2020 - the day that then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the UK's hospitality businesses they must close to help the fight against coronavirus.

Looking back at that time, she told the ECHO: "I opened the pub and then closed the pub in the same day - so that wasn't great. I think we reopened in July-ish time, but we had about three closures (due to lockdowns) in that first year. But since then it's been going great, the customers are all lovely, they're all very loyal."

Found on Victoria Road in L17, the pub is an unassuming mid-20th century building - mostly encased by a flat roof with an elevated section on its right-hand side. It is the type of boozer you will find in suburbia up and down the country - but it has many assets which mean it stands out.

The Aigburth Arms is famous for being where the BBC sci-fi sitcom 'Red Dwarf' was conceived. The show's creators Rob Grant and Doug Naylor drank there as students in Liverpool and were said to have written their initial idea for the show on a beer mat.

A plaque inside declares it the "birthplace of Red Dwarf" and it features many times throughout the series. The show's episode 'Ouroboros' begins in a fictional version of the Aigburth Arms in November 2155, as Craig Charles' character Lister is found as a baby in a box under the pool table.

It means the pub has become a pilgrimage site for customers from far and wide. Louise explained: "There's the Red Dwarf connection as well. We have actually had people from America that make the venture down here and take pictures here.

"We've got a plaque on the wall, so people come down with their themed hoodies on and their memorabilia. Baby Lister was found here and the show was written on beer mats in the Aigburth Arms - it's great."

The venue has also just reopened following an extensive renovation. £150,000 was spent by owners Blind Tiger Inns to transform every single area of the pub, from the flooring to the lighting, toilets, bar and furniture. It now has an added children's play area, as well as more seating available in the beer garden.

About the renovation, Louise said: "Now that it has actually happened, we are literally blown away by the change. We love the pub and our amazing customers, and the incredible new look is just what our customers wanted and deserve.

"Feedback so far has been amazing and we can’t wait to get to see everybody this year at all the crazy and exciting events we have lined up."

Louise added: "We had a launch party last Friday (January 17). That went really well - all the customers loved it, they loved the new look, they loved the garden, they loved the play area, they love the new range of beers we've got - and the new offers. They love everything about it."

The beer garden is of particular importance to Louise. It has long been viewed as the Aigburth Arms' best asset and she believes the increased seats and tables it now boasts have made it even better.

She said: "Not being biased - I would say we have got the best beer garden around here. We're really busy for all the sports, all the events and we do all the kids' events as well. It's a proper institution.

"It's not just a pub - it's a community hub for everyone, a real family place. We're busy most weekends and we're really busy for the major sporting events. I would say, probably the events we put on at Christmas and Easter, afternoon teas on Mother's Day are always busy.

"The beer garden is amazing when we get the sun. We're hoping for a nice summer."