This jewel of an establishment, characterised by its dry-bar concept, is located on Parr Street (just a two minute walk from Bold Street) and I was lucky enough to be introduced to this unsung perch by a budding architect – otherwise I may have missed out! Housed in what was formerly an inconspicuous garage, this is a quiet venue bursting with colourful character, not to be overlooked!

The Brink cater for a multitude of tastes and hunger scales…

For the an out-of-the-ordinary thirst quencher, the classy cordial range provides offerings such as Cream Soda and English Elderflower and Bramley Apple to name just two. Additionally, the fresh fruit juices and smoothies will happily provide you with a cheerful vitamin boost! For the tea enthusiast, the Teapigs menu ensures you are spoilt for choice with a huge range of varieties! During my visits, I opted for something different to the standard tea and went for the rooibos crème brulee tea which was just the right side of sweetness, with a gentle nudge towards the caramel undertones and not too overpowering! My next selection came in form of popcorn tea (awarded a Great Taste gold award 2011) which was refreshingly different and the likeliness to the taste of freshly popped corn was uncanny!

Head chef Tom Gill hails from the Everyman of Hope Street and breathes life into the menu with a diverse selection of local and organic creations from the kitchen. The food selection covers all needs from light bites such as vegetarian platters to heartier meals such as (I’ve heard!) the delectable fish with home cooked chips which was flying out of the kitchen during both my visits!
The contemporary and cosy interiors allow you to relax in a bustling and yet reposing atmosphere with an eclectic mix of furnishings which combine brilliantly to give the place some real character. Fascinating ornamentation such as the quirky upturned plants suspended from the ceiling communicate that you are seated in one a truly unique and extraordinary bar! To top all this off, visitors are entertained by live performances from singers, theatre and spoken word. The Saturday I visited the venue was also hosting an artful vintage and craft fayre.

Liverpool currently tops the league for alcohol-related hospital admissions in Britain and this bar surfaces as the fruits of the charity Action on Addiction’s labour. What is particularly striking is the bar’s hand-on approach with supporting the intended beneficiaries: all profits go into the local charity Sharp which helps rehabilitate people recovering from drink or drug addiction. The Brink’s fresh new concept and approach goes far in reconceptualising the stereotypical route to recovery for those who have had troubles with addiction in the past, with a rejuvenating environment for workers who may have had drug / drink issues in the past. On leaving, we were acknowledged with a friendly farewell from the manager: here, you get the impression they truly care about engaging with the clients and providing top class service, which makes it so hard to stay away!