Review

The Boothill Saloon is to be found in Birkenhead, across the River Merseyside from Liverpool, in 'posh' Wirral. Around the demonic-head painted onto pub's window are four salient words: bikers, rockers, lovers and sinners - all of which are regulars at The Boothill Saloon.

Formally a Chinese restaurant with a penchant for banning rockers, The Boothill Saloon is similar in its tat and appearance to one of New York City's bars. Birkenhead is far less exciting than New York but is a haven for rockers, bikers and Goths. Since the demise of Stairways, one of the north's top rock clubs and venues, the quality of rock-nightlife has declined in Birknehead; however, there is still a variety of pubs and clubs to cater for the alternative clientele. The basement of The Boothill Saloon used to be a trendy winebar, yet is now The Boothill Vaults.

A life-size statue of a California Highway Patrol officer (ChiPs) stands in the corner of the pub, next to the large plate-glass window, and is seemingly about to shoot a motoring felon, of which plenty abound in biker pubs. It's unnerving to have a life-size figure lurking in the corner, as it continually demands a second-look after seeing it from the corner of your eye. The ChiPs office meets two of the many clichés in the pub: California and Motorbikes. Bikers and rockers appear so desperate to be in California that it must hurt, but the excess of corny bric-a-brac must go someway towards alleviating the distance between Birkenhead and the Sunset Strip.

If getting to the bar is either too difficult, as it's busy, or too risky, as you're barred, then a Grolsch vending machine is conveniently situated in the pub. Each table, formally a barrel, contains a hackneyed, wax-covered Jack Daniel's bottle functioning as a candlestick.

The pub's 'rockiness' is evident by the smashed cymbal next to the narrow entrance to the staircase, the walls of which are lined with rock posters.

Review by mr_psm