More than just bevvies: 12 Liverpool bars that offer a great experience as well as a big night out

These Liverpool bars serve up much more than just fancy cocktails.

Much as we love sitting in one of our fave Liverpool bars for a bevvie, there are nights when we want a bit more adventure and a laugh, especially when we’re with a group of mates.

So you might want to check out one of these great venues which offer a beer, a glass of vino or a cheeky cocktail, and tons of fun.

Roxy Ball Room – Hanover Street and Rainford Square

As Liverpool bars go, Roxy is definitely up there for us. The home of booze and ball games, there’s not just one but two Roxy Ball Rooms in the city so you can choose which one you go for. It’s great for groups because you can play plain old ping pong, ten pin bowls, shuffleboard or crazy pool while enjoying some food – their stonebaked pizzas are amazing! – a beer, or a cocktail (try their signature Ping Star Martini with Absolut vanilla vodka, Marie Brizard triple sec, passion fruit liqueur, passion fruit puree, pineapple, lemon and vanilla syrup).

As we head into spring and summer, Hanover Street also reckons it’s got one of the best sun terraces in the city if you just fancy chilling or relaxing after a stressful game of pool.

Find out more here.

Alcotraz, Seel Street

Calling time has taken on a whole new meaning with Liverpool’s new prison-themed bar where guests become inmates and part of the story, as cocktails meet theatre.

Alcotraz is the bar behind bars, where ‘inmates’ are tasked with smuggling liquor past the warden and getting it into the hands of some of Alcotraz’s longest-‘serving’ inmates, who’ll transform the contraband liquor into amazing and delicious cocktails.

Alcotraz is a unique drinking experience with a cast of actors bringing your evening very much to ‘life’ once you’re inside.

Find out more here.

On the Green, Liverpool ONE

On the Green is the city’s great new golf bar, where you can ‘play’ more than 150 famous golf courses around the world. There are four golf simulators to allow you to channel your inner Scottie Scheffler or Jack Bigham on Pebble Beach Golf Links in the US, Le Golf National in France, or local favourites Hillside and Royal Birkdale, among others.

You can enjoy every swing of a championship course – there are also virtual games like Magic Pond, Bullseye, Hit It! and Capture the Flag – before heading to the 19^th hole for your favourite tipple.

Find out more here.

Point Blank Shooting, Castle Street

This Castle Street bar is bang on target. Point Blank Shooting is a state-of-the-art simulation shooting range launched in the former basement site of Olive.

There are no real-life targets or graphic imagery, it’s all about speed and accuracy, and the chance to test your aim and trigger reflexes against your mates or your own personal best. You can get a drink or a bite to eat, with American classics likes pizza and wings, and an extensive drinks menu including cocktails.

Find out more here.

Junkyard Golf Club, Liverpool ONE, Paradise Street

This is deffo one to ‘putt’ on your list.  Junkyard Golf Club is a three-course playground at Liverpool ONE. The first of the golf courses is ‘Gary’ with nine holes of fun created from written-off cars and auto spares (there’s a scrapyard slide and UV rave room too), joining Gary is Pablo who invites you to take a shot at an urban jungle course, and third is Bozo’s twisted and scary fairground course (if clowns give you the creeps you might want to miss this one!)

The music’s fab, and you can get themed cocktails, kiosk snacks and pose for all your pics in the photo booth.

Find out more here.

Boom: Battle Bar, St George’s Way

Set up in the old Poundland store in St John’s, this is a bar with real attitude: “We have a whole load of crazy games to give you the chance to take home the bragging rights…”

Challenge accepted! You’ve got Bavarian axe throwing, electric darts, Crazier Golf (it’s 100ft long!), shuffleboard, American pool and interactive beer pong.

And as well as drinks including the best ‘Instagrammable’ cocktails, they’ve got street food – nachos, ‘burgas’, steak and chicken.

As Mr K might say – Boom!

Find out more here.

NQ64, Colquitt Street

Another Arcade classic, perfect for those who love a bit of retro gaming.

It’s an underground neon-lit drinking den where you can find the best retro arcade games and classic consoles: for the ‘80s think Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and classic Space Invaders, for ‘90s fans you’ve got N64, Megadrive and SNES (that’s Super Nintendo for those who don’t know), and there’s even Guitar Hero for Generation Z!

The old school games’ll take you on a trip down memory lane, as will the drinks with games-themed cocktails alongside specially selected beers.

Find out more here.

PINS Social Club, Duke Street

From bowling to shuffleboard and first-rate food to the best behind the bar… “we’ve got it!”, say PINS, and they’re not wrong.

They’ve taken socialising back to the good old days when a night out was a real event, with music, games, and the chance to have a laugh and catch up. You can even tailor your evening to suit with the promise that ‘it’s your purpose-built playland’.

Plus, PINS is also home to one of Liverpool’s biggest rooftops, complete with its very own bar and full-sized shuffle court. Loving that!

Find out more here.

ArCains, Grafton Street, Cains Brewery Village

Sister site to Punch Tarmey’s, ArCains comes in with great gaming fun, from the past, present – and future.

There are dance mats, shuffleboard, pinball and basketball, as well as PlayStation and Xbox games and tons more, so let the competition begin.

It’s a great family day out as well as being a good shout for a first date (no awkward moments!) or a works’ do. Admission to ArCains is simple with a single entrance fee and then you get all your gaming for free.

Find out more here.

Liverpool Gin Distillery, Castle Street

The Liverpool Gin Lab

This is certainly one of the classiest Liverpool bars you’ll visit. Consider it an education! At Liverpool Gin Distillery you can see its distillers in action, producing its very own Liverpool Gin on-site while you relax with a drink at the bar.

Or you can choose from one of its three different experiences: The Distillery Tour, the Distillery Tour and Gin Tasting, and the Distillery Tour, Tasting & Gin Lab Experience.

There are four floors including the basement lounge which offers dark spirits from around the world and whisky tastings (it’s also where the kitchen creates handmade pizzas, tapas, flat breads and nibbles); the ground floor which is home to the still producing premier-branded Liverpool Gin, and the first floor housing 32 mini copper pot stills which is where you can make your own bottle of gin using a selection of botanicals.

Find out more here.

The Oracle, Duke Street

And, as if by magic, you’ll have a great night out!

Located on the second floor of an 18th century merchant’s house its interior’s inspired by a Victorian gambling den, with an ornate marble fireplace and 18th century wooden floorboards, and an atmosphere that’s warm and cosy.

But the Oracle is an old-fashioned cocktail bar with a difference – so prepare to be amazed and astonished by world-class sleight of hand from close-up magicians performing at your table to keep you entertained.

Find out more here.

Laughterhouse Comedy Club at The Slaughter House, Fenwick Street

Have a belly-laugh with your beer as Laughterhouse lines up some of the best comic acts from Merseyside and across the country.

Chris Cains and Neil Fitzmaurice regularly introduce three headline acts including some very special TV names every Friday and Saturday night.

Doors open at 7.15pm for an 8pm start, and the fun continues after the show upstairs with music from a live band and a free shot from the bar with your first drink!

Find out more here.