The Lord Warden, London Road

The Pub Column has many fond memories of the Warden. Like the deceased Clock a little further up and Ma Edgies across the way, it used to be a favourite fuelling station before invading the Empire for some rock revelry.
“Ah happy days!� as one Liverpool Daily Post Letters Page correspondent is wont to warble as memories of pre-gig guzzling before seeing the likes of Thin Lizzy, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band and The Teardrop Explodes spring to mind. Yours truly even remembers The Teardrops popping in to the Warden for a couple of stiffeners before their big hometown gig at the Empire in 1981.
Alas, for the time being at least, the pub’s golden years seem to be long behind it.
Prior to last week’s Wednesday night press show for Guys and Dolls and approaching it from behind the Empire and the adjacent Liverpool Odeon regular PC companion Post Arts Editor Phil “Wotcha cocker!� Key and I were faced with a miserable, neglected eyesore of a scaffolding-clad building which is really not good enough for a pub so near to two of Liverpool’s top entertainment centres.
“’Ere, mate,� said Mr Key. “It doesn’t look there’s anybody at home.�
But there was, thankfully.
Grantie and his new female companion Tugboat Cath had already scaled the pub’s floor which seems to have sloped alarmingly since the Pub Column last visited there. In fact the gradient is now on a par with the much lamented Vernon Arms in Dale Street. There, with the slightest touch of a little pinkie, you could push a drunk and watch as he staggered arms flailing uncontrollably from one end of the bar to the other before bursting out the front door with the force of a comet.
It’s not put off Grantie, though, who habitually partakes of his familiar Extra Cold Guinness especially while on reviewing duties over the road and talks to the old characters of which, says landlord of five years Paul McDonald, there are many.
“It goes ballastic here at the weekends - it's just that on Tuesday, Wednesday it’s a little bit quiet,� he said. As indeed it was.
The problem is the aforementioned scaffolding. Choosing his words carefully, he explained that the since brewery fixed the roof some months ago the ugly metallic bib and braces has remained as they wait for him to stump up some of the substantial cash to help pay for other essential repairs. Cash, he maintains, that he has not got - nor is likely to get.
“Trade has gone down 45 per cent since the scaffolding went up four months ago so I’m stuck in catch 22 situation where we could be out with just 24 hours notice,� he said..
Which would be a shame. He makes the effort to keep on up to three real ales on for the busy weekends when Deuchers IPA, London Pride and Bombadier are favourites with the regulars many of who are old timers who grew up in the Gerard Gardens, the legendary Bull Ring of flats nearby. They were demolished but replaced with the new housing estate in which many of the former residents now live and still regard the Warden as their local.
“They love coming here but I don’t know what the future jolds,� said Paul ruefully.
Time to praise the Lord, perhaps - and pass the ammunition to save it.