Black Horse - Top toffee ale'ouses report

Juiced up in Rotterdam

Top Toffee Ale'ouse
Black Horse

Blue Kipper photographer was once again pissed (photo of pub to follow)

Black Horse (nominated by Mickey Blue Eyes)
County Road
Walton (next to Walton Church)

There's only ONE true Blue Belly ale house on County Road and it's the Black Horse. All the rest are full of trainers/Adidas striped kecks wearing fucking balloon-heads. I don't go into a pre/post-match ale house to listen to some sorry twat or twats of adolescent horses arses listening to head-banging SHITE on a juke box or to throw cheapo alkie into me gut. I go to meet EVERTONIANS who want to talk about their club and footy in general. Everything else is secondary. THAT'S what a footy ale-house is all about. And there isn't a true footy fan anywhere else on the planet who would say differently. Yours In Royal Blue Kecks, Mickey Blue Eyes.

Firstly the name, simply Black Horse (no 'The'). It was in the Seventies that me and the missus worked behind the bar for Sam & Rene Taylor,earning pin money to save up and get married (I hadn't seen the draught Worthy 'E' advert then), that was in the days of the 'Gold Room' and the 'Cocktail Lounge' boy how it has changed and apparently many times over before what we see today. Whilst me arl fella would turn in his grave (particularly to hear that the kids play footy on the bowling green in the Spring) we thought it was a sound place and where we received a fantastic welcome.

It is a crackin' place and a true Top Toffee Ale'ouse it is just a bit far from the ground that you lose VDT (valuable drinking time) we listened to Z Cars in Gwladys St!

Big Boss

Black Horse Team

Back Room Boys

Shirl's Gang

The Management * * * * *

Steve & June, ably supported by their kids Claire and Stephen are solely responsible for turning this once 'Shite' ale'ouse into the Top Toffee Ale'ouse it is today. There is no doubting Steve's allegiance and again he has the tattoo to prove it. They have been at Black Horse for 4 years, returning it to a proper ale'ouse from the previous Irish theme bar (hence the 'Shite' connection - they're all thick). An additional bonus was in meeting Assistant Manager Lynn.

Atmosphere * * * *

This is a huge open plan pub which quickly fills up with blue boys, plenty of kids in attendance and they are made welcome. So full of Toffees young and old alike and plenty of Toffettes too. Plenty of banter and songs over the Sky TV. Pre-match, whilst packed it was a touch mellow compared to some. Post match (Chelsea) it was rockin'!!

Ale * * * *

Whitbread house. New GB lager, Stella Tortoise, Draught Boddies, and of course the essential Guinness Extra Cold, every bottle under the sun also well chilled in multiple fridges around the bar, we also met Tony & Len who introduced us to a way to drink Jack Daniels - neat in a half pint glass and yes it was full when they started. A touch pricey and only one Scotch on the optic but Quasimodo would be pleased, it was 'Bells'.

Music, TV & Radio * * * *

Sky TV, big screen and numerous teles throughout, loads of them. Music behind the bar and by DJ.

Locals * * *

Wiggy, Big Johnny, Gary the Skier and of course THE Mickey Blue Eyes.' Everyone that drinks here seems to be a nutter' - Steve

Special Features * * *

Neon bog lights - very plush and extremely handy when you are pissed.
DJ on Fri, Sat, Sun (that well known Chinaman) so post match celebrations can be very lively!
The pub is haunted, Steve was in bed when accosted by a ghoul who was on top of him pressing him down onto the bed, he could not move and the bed was wet with sweat - well at least that's what he told June when she walked in on him later!!

Pictures from the visit