Hannah’s

Brilliant live music venue, friendly bar staff and very reasonable prices. Not eaten in the restaurant yet, but very much looking forward to. This place is fast becoming a staple for me and my friends, because we know the place will be lovely.

I have a real love-​hate relationship with Hannah’s, as I’m sure a lot of people do. On one hand, it is genuinely one of the most welcoming drinking establishments in Liverpool. On the other, it has some of the least appealing clientèle in the city centre. In essence, Hannah’s is the home of the aspirational scally. You know, the school bully who somehow wound up in a mid-​management role, the town bike who wangled herself a job in a bank. If you can stand to be around these people after a stiff drink or two, you might just be able to make a good night of it.
There are a number of things Hannah’s can be commended for, and other areas where it could improve. One thing it is very good for is live music. They have live performances 7 nights a week, and the standard is very high. It’s usually 6 or 7-​piece bands playing, who tend to meander around the old funk and soul standards, which always goes down a storm with the tipsy students who populate the dancefloor. There are also two open mic nights a week, which, last time I checked, were run by a guy called Ogo, who is extremely friendly and accommodating, as well as an incredibly talented performer.
The staff consist almost universally of attractive young women, whose smiles are always welcoming, even if they do often seem painted-​on. This hiring policy has been put in place by the owner, whose approach to customer relations is arguably something to put in the minus column here. While he’s ostensibly extremely friendly and prioritises good customer service, there’s a very unpleasant side to him, which will become immediately obvious should you ever meet him. I’m being careful what I say in case of repercussions (legal or otherwise), but let’s just say that, if you’re an attractive young woman, you’d probably be best giving him a wide berth.
The bar also prides itself as a great venue to watch live football. Perhaps that’s why their latest refurbishment has seen them install about 15 new TV screens across the (averagely sized) floor. While you certainly wouldn’t be lacking a good view of the match, it’s visually very jarring, especially as they mostly show the likes of T4 and other pop music channels, and personally I think it looks a bit ridiculous.
Despite its drawbacks, there is a lot to be said for Hannah’s. The service is very good, particularly during off-​peak times such as weekday afternoons, where it’s not uncommon to receive table service for drinks. The door staff are remarkably friendly, and always have been. In all the years I’ve been visiting this bar, I’ve never seen a single fight, or even a confrontational situation, and I can’t think of many similar bars that I could say that about. I think the friendliness of the bouncers has a great effect on that. They also have a good strong choice of premium lagers, and their cocktails are well-​made and fairly cheap during the week.
All in all, it’s a fairly safe bet as a stop on your night out, but you will probably find yourself wanting to move on after a couple of drinks.

i dont agree with the other reviews. banter with the doormen, friendly staff, hot looking guys, cheap drinks, good music. what more do you want?!

After going to uni in Liverpool for three years Hannah’s was one of my favourite bars in the city. Cheap food and 2−4−1 cocktails (including the famous Dr. Peppers) after 3pm all contributed to it being my first choice for some afternoon drinking. So naturally on my first visit back to the city after graduating last July Hannah’s was the place I picked to meet my friends for lunch.
As we walked in I noticed the place looked a little bit different, there had obviously been a recent refurb, however once we reached the top floor dining area we realised it wasn’t just the décor that had changed. Instead of the informal tables and chairs scattered around the room there was a restaurant style set up with a regimented seating plans with much more formal furniture and furnishing. We were also asked to wait to be seated, despite there being no one around, something we found very strange.
As we sat down however it became clear that these changes also reached to the menu. Instead of sandwiches and snacks (most under £6) coupled with larger pub style meals (mostly under £8) we were faced with a dinner style menu, only offering pastas, burgers and other main meals at a huge price increase. We looked for our old favourites like the delicious sandwiches and saw nothing even close. They had a small snacks section but this was completely new and only had ²⁄₃ items on it (also way over priced).
Once we realised this, we called the waitress over and asked if they still had a lunch menu, she said no but five minutes later brought us over the bar menu. This had the club sandwich on it… for £9.98… We literally couldn’t believe how expensive this place had become.
Deciding it was far more than we were prepared to pay for food we thought we’d stick around for the 2−4−1 cocktails… As we asked for the cocktail menu the waitress told us that the offer was now two for £6. Basically double what it used to be. As we considered this my friend informed us that he couldn’t find Hannah’s trademark cocktail the Dr. Pepper on the menu. It was after this that we decided to leave, without ordering a single thing.
As one of my favourite places in Liverpool I really hate to give Hannah’s a bad review but a completely different menu and set up mean it’s basically a new bar for me.
Although, if I was a new customer I’d probably be impressed by the expansive cocktail menu and the upstairs dinning room with views over the city and bombed out church. So from that point of view I can see why this would be a nice place to go for dinner or an evening drink, however I highly doubt I’ll be visiting this bar for anything other than a very swift drink.

This place has really lost it’s essense, they used to serve nice food & I used to adore the soup, but now it’s all changed. The portions have gotten smaller & instead of getting a whole ciabatta with the soup, you now get two measly finger sized slices of it. Poor quality.

Hannahs’s bar is for me a very middle of the road type place, and somewhere which hardly sparks excitement within a crowd.
Hannah’s bar is more the kind of place where you could stop for a quiet spot to eat and a midday drink rather than the kind of place you’d visit during a night on the town.
The décor in Hannah’s bar is excellent if not a little plain, the place feels modern and is very light and refreshing probably due to the skylight type ceiling in part of the bar which invites in the sun. The atmosphere as such is very pleasant but nothing exceptional or particularly inviting. Hannah’s bar deals more in comfort than entertainment which is a shame as it has the potential to do both.
As for the food in Hannah’s bar it is very good and also decent value, the fare here manages to find a niche somewhere in between standard pub grub and a la carte cuisine. My personal favourite at Hannah’s is the slow cooked bbq pork ribs which literally make your mouth water and at £6.00 is amazing value.
On the whole Hannah’s bar has numerous plus points but it doesn’t really do enough to hold peoples’ attention and keep them drinking and enjoying the bar. Potentially a really exciting nightspot, currently a bit bland.

Everybody everybody loves loves repetition repetition so they clearly won’t mind me saying the same thing that’s been written on reviews and overhead in coversation– the new Hannah’s isn’t a patch on the old one.
Packed, expensive and blankly forgettable, the new Hannah’s does deserve some merit for employing Liverpool’s soundest bouncers. Plus, it’s always amusing to watch the token male bartender bumble his way past the astronomically attractive barmaids who weren’t exactly picked by the sleazy manager for their brains.
I remember once this owner cornered me and explained in a frenetic blur how he’d acquired, changed and maintained Hannah’s, as well as other businesses. He was obviously dripping with pride and I felt too guilty to tell him I was not a fan.
Try the Doctor Pepper cocktail. It really does taste like the real drink, only with alcohol improving it.

Hmm, Hannahs Bar is nice. Like beige is nice or buttered toast is nice. Well, I like colour on my walls and jam on my toast so the atmosphere is a little samey in here. It’s pretty expensive unless you’re in when the cocktail deals are valid and it’s always busy busy busy.
I do like however, that the upstairs has an open little glass pannelled area so you can enjoy your drinks looking out at the bombed out church. Upstairs is a good place to hire if you have a function, my boss hired it out for his Turkish wedding last year and it was a great laugh! Enough room to conga your way to the bar anyway.
A good time to go would definitely be for an open-​mic night as they usually host some decent acts.

Hannah’s had one of the few beer locations in a prime location before its refurb and they must be kicking themselves now the goor weather is here — or maybe not as they still pack ‘em in!
Once a ‘New York’ style bar, Hannah’s has become a bit sterile and nondescript after it was given a facelift. There is not much in the way of atmosphere as it is obvious that they have expanded every square inch of the place to cram in the punters.
They do a good deal on cocktails mind — if you’re not much of a cocktail connoisseur — as they offer 2−4−1 at around £3.80 until 7 o’clock and a new selection of Cachaca based drinks.
It’s a small gripe but I find it annoying when a place has music TV on yet there is their own selection of music blaring out over the speakers. The music is nothing special in fact I can’t remember a single tune that was played. It’s a bright n breezey open space but unfortunately it has little to offer you it terms of any identifiable character.

From street level you would be forgiven in thinking this is just another one more of the latest generation of «Tiled and Styled» drinking dens now becoming so prevalent in this area of the city. Indeed in the evening this impression will be reinforced as casual passerby will be regaled by a veritable wall of sound which is obvious even when the doors are firmly shut. However like many first impressions this is only superficially correct.
If you visit by day, as I did to celebrate my best mates birthday, you will find a little known secret in the form of an excellent dining emporium on the first floor. The main courses standard fare of burgers, salads and pasta all done very well and in portions that, if finished, will leave little room for anything «sweet to eat». The source of excellence comes though not from the food but rather the unique view of the street scene from the almost goldfish bowl created from the nearly all around windows. The commanding view is that of St. Luke’s church, «the bombed out church» to most liverpudlians, which to all observers is a stark reminder of Liverpool’s wartime past.
One last feature back to the night shift is tha «wall of sound», it comes most weekday evenings from a fine selection of local live bands, who are taking their opportunity in full to test your eardrums and blow the wax out…

Well I didn’t know Hannah’s Bar before the reburb, so can’t comment on that. It is right next to the bombed out church (st. lukes) at the top of bold street.
What I did experience was comfy sofa’s when I was absolutely pooped and feet aching. So I was really glad for this, in fact I nearly fell asleep on the sofa because it was so comfy. There are three tele’s with music pouring out of them.
I liked the sky light roof that opens, really nice as it was a sunny day and the sun poured in with a gentle breeze.
Being a little obsessed with cleanliness, I found the toilets pretty spotless which is always good to know!!!

This is one of those hangouts that everyone has an opinion on. Is the new and supposedly improved Hannah’s as good as its former incarnation?
Ehhhh… no. I’m afraid not. Before its refurb Hannah’s was one of those places dripping with soul, just your regular tatty bar that people would descend upon to drink, relax, chat, read… it definitely had a friendly atmosphere. Since the swanky makeover it rather feels like it’s trying too hard, or attempting to be something it’s not, like high schoolers attempting to join the popular clique. In doing so it’s lost its edge and become somewhat faceless and bland, which is a real shame.
If you weren’t to know its past though, it wouldn’t seem all that bad. The outdoor patio area is large, certainly generous enough for alfresco drinking and token smokers, and it’s in a really nice spot, but the furniture and the paving are too far juxtaposed against the old Hannah’s we all knew and loved. The music is far more narrow and restricted as well. Try it out for its location alone, but unfortunately it’s unlikely to stick in your mind a great deal.

Unfortunately the website reads ‘new website. new hannah’s bar. coming soon. 2008′ — they’re obviously not very up to date! However, there IS a new Hannah’s, and the jury is still out on whether its an improvement or not.
You see, I’m an old school sort of person, and I like things the way they used to be, rather than the way they are. Take Hannah’s — before the refurb, there was a small courtyard that overlooked the street (and sometimes the gate was open so you could walk straight in from the street). If the sun was shining and your head was banging from the night before, it was the perfect place to go for a recovery breakfast, and you had the added bonus of being on the street so you could laugh at others doing the walk of shame.
If you were a young attractive female at this time, the owner, Jerry, would usually sashay over and offer you champagne, whilst trying to flirt. Suffice to say I’ve never had champagne in Hannah’s.
These days, Jerry stands on the door and tells the men they’re only being asked for ID because they’re with beautiful women, and we all roll our eyes. There is live music and open mic nights throughout the week and the bar is pretty busy most nights. The food is good too, as it seems the building is not the only thing that has had an upgrade. Alas, the courtyard is no more, but there is an upper floor divided into two rooms, one of which has two walls of windows, so you can still look out for those walks of shame if you feel compelled.

When a friend invited me to a gig, he asked me to meet him at Hannah’s for a pre-​show drink. I was only there for about 10, 15 minutes, but it left a better impression than I’d been expecting. I’m not a fan of really stuffy places and when I walked in, the alternative music set to a really clean, chic atmosphere made me nervous. However, also immediately upon walking in, people seemed genuinely nice, not stuck up like I’d been expecting. And instead of screaming obscenities about what they’d like to do to me as a greeting, guys actually smiled warmly and said hello! What a change from a lot of places in Liverpool!
My drink was strong (vodka tonic) and was enjoyed in a really nice, comfortable setting. I’ll head back sometime with a cute dress on and actually spend some time there. Good to know there’s nice places with cool people I can hang out at when I’m not in the mood for a local hole in the wall.

Nice selection of cocktails, which taste good too!
They have live music, which is very good. Not sure if they still have the open mic night’s on sundays?
Nice place to chill, listen to some live music and have a nice drink.
Have not been on a friday or saturday so can’t say about how busy it is on those nights.

Hannah’s was really good last year, and lively however it got re-​done a few months ago and it lost its edge for me. It has turned into some kind of swanky bar now which doesnt really sit well with me. The old hannah’s was a normal bar which was chilled out and relaxing. The new one however seems as though its trying to be something it is not at least not to me due to me seeing the old hannah’s! Hopefully i will get over it and try it again with an open mind, maybe i will change my mind a second time around after the refurb! Quite a shame really, loved it there last year!

sigh.
I agreed with the other reviewers in every way, up until about 4 months ago. Hannah’s had a refurbishment, and It Was Not Good.
They’ve bought horrible furniture, paved over the outdoor bit and, well, their soul. Now there’s lots of space, uncomfortable seats, overpriced drinks and. well it’s got no soul.
An example? Well I’ve been told (so i don’t actually know) that the DJ’s now have to stick to a music code.
I don’t know whether they still do the jazz on a Wednesday.
If you want good jazz, pop up to The Caledonia on Catherine street on a friday night for the best jazz night I’ve been to since Hannah’s imploded.

I’ve only ever been to this bar on a Wednesday night, but this is when the Liverpool Jazz scene hit this great bar. The regular rhythm section accompanies a variety of guest soloists from young up and coming talent to more mature instrumentalists.
The bar is well stocked and fairly priced. There is huge patio for smokers and al fresco drinking during the warmer months

This bar is a trendy establishment serving a wide range of beers and wines. Its simple décor and practical lay out make for a enjoyable pint or three, with relaxed music in the background. The music is a key factor at hannahs bar, it ranges from live jazz to open mic or live bands. This allows for the clientel to be diverse. Upstairs is normally hired out for private functions and parties, and is ideal for a birthday or celebration. In the day they serve bar snacks which are affordable and you get massive portions. Overall then a solid trendy bar for students. For a big night out or just a few pints.

Hannah’s is a plain and simple bar and that’s its best selling point for me… that and the friendly bar staff who always serve with a smile!
It’s stylish, but without fancy frills, and is somewhat evocative of a trendy Manhattan cocktail bar. In fact, there’s nothing better than sitting down with a corona and friends in Hannah’s.
Football is also sometimes shown on the big screen, but it manages to avoid the loud football fans and therefore offers the perfect place to catch the game!
On busier nights they also open up a heated outdoor area with decking and the upstairs bar is often used as a party or live music venue. If you pick the right night, you can also seem some great live music in the open-​mic nights!
One of Liverpool’s hidden gems!