BOLD STREET to DUKE STREET

INTRODUCTION:
Bold Street is the polite frontage to a grid of streets that was once a Twilight Zone. While there are still dark alleys, it has largely been transformed into a myriad of restaurants and bars large and small. Most of the restaurants in this area are in, or just off, Duke Street.

Bold Street has been a shopping area for 100 years. What has changed are the streets behind it. Running parallel to Bold Street are Wood Street, Fleet Street, Seel Street, Parr Street and Duke Street. These were dominated by warehouses built to service the docks. Over the last decade the warehouses have been converted, many into apartments. There are new buildings too.

The area is sometimes referred to as Ropewalks due to its history as a centre for rope-making. The long, straight streets were ideal for the spinning and twisting of the huge amounts of rope needed for the sailing ships of the 18th and 19th centuries. Now, at weekends it's so lively no-one would notice if the U.S. Navy rolled in.

RESTAURANTS
Not that long ago there were none, but with the spirit of entrepreneurship alive and well, there is an impressive collection. The ones around Duke Street are on the edge of this district, the fringe of the city centre, so you may wish to go by taxi. Black cabs in Liverpool city centre are cheap and plentiful.
VILLA ROMANA, an Italian restaurant at the foot of Wood Street, and only 50 yards from Central Station. Phone 0151 708 8004.
COLIN'S BRIDEWELL takes its name from the fact it was once a bridewell, a small jail, and its proprietor is film producer Colin McKeown. Situated in Campbell Square, off Campbell Street, near the bottom of Duke Street. L1 5BL. (0151 707 8003). Opposite is the modern VUE BAR AND GRILL.

A little further up Duke Street is York Street where a Russian restaurant sits on top of a Greek one.
ST PETERSBURG (0151 709 6676) is run by a Russian couple from that city and is thought to be Britain's only authentic Russian restaurant outside London. CHRISTAKIS TAVERNA (0151 708 7377) is open every night but steps up the tempo on Fridays and Saturdays with party nights.
If you are looking for either of these, the landmark to look out for is the modern HEMINGWAYS coffee house which sits on the corner of Duke Street and York Street.
On Duke Street itself is MAYFLOWER, a Chinese restaurant (0151 709 6339).

Walk further up Duke Street and you come to THE MONRO, an old pub named after a sailing ship, which has been charmingly refurbished to include a restaurant that appears to be increasingly popular. 92-94 Duke Street, L1 5AG (0151 707 9933).

At the top of Duke Street is the glass-fronted, sushi and noodle bar SAPPORO TEPPANYAKI (0151 705 3005). It is just around the corner from Chinatown which has its own page on this website.

A few blocks away, at the other side of this zone, at 45a Bold Street is QUYNNY'S QUISINE (0151 708 7757) specialising in African Caribbean food with Hallal meat, but often closes at 9pm.

BARS AND PUBS
Just thinking about the number of bars in this district gives me a headache. The focal point is Concert Square, a continental-style piazza surrounded on all four sides by bars, loud bars that tend to play dance music. But they can be so crowded on Friday and Saturday nights, no-one can dance - well I couldn't. Popular with stag parties, hen nights and, most notably, under-23s.

Similarly, nearby is Slater Street which cuts across the grid of parallel streets (Bold, Wood, Fleet, Seel, Parr and Duke Streets) and is home to the Jacaranda which has a place in Beatles folklore.

While 3345 Club in Parr Street tries to rise above it all with its arty ethos at 33-45 Par Street, L1 4JN (0151 708 6345). This area is also home to music venues such as Nation, Society, Aquarium, Masque, Zanzibar, Camel Club and Krazyhouse. (See the Music page in the Culture section)

REAL ALE
If you spot The Swan in Wood Street it is not a mirage, it is an oasis which has been there since before Steppenwolf. Steppenwolf? The Swan has long been known as a bikers' pub although most seem to get there by bus these days. Generally a good atmosphere and great ale. Also a heavy metal jukebox which may make you drink quicker due to the speed of the music.