This picture of the Hotel was taken in approx. 1909 when it was then known as Ormerod's Royal Castle Hotel.

The hotel dates back to at least 1879 which still stands today opposite the entrance gates to Cammell Lairds on New Chester Road. The Hotel's custom came from the shipyard's workers.

It boasted a bowling green, two billiard tables, a large meeting room and was able to cater for breakfasts, dinners and teas.

Thomas Ormerod, the proprietor, was able to offer accomodation with the tariff for bed at an extremely moderate rate.

WOW it almost looks like an Adams family home lol
Great work Joe

Thanks

I've never looked at that building properly, it's always the dodgy looking pub in the middle of a roundabout, but it looks quite smart

I went there for the first time a couple of weeks back. It's basically a bikers' pub. Quite friendly if you ask me. It has an awful lot of dodgy tribute bands on though.

The old Royal Castle pub has quite a reputation. One story I was told by an ex Lairds worker is about what used to happen at lunchtimes. Many of the Lairds workers had formidable drinking habits. Some of them would drink four pints or more at lunchtime. When the hooter went for lunch, there'd be a huge rush of men across the road. In advance, the bar staff would have their pints set out in exactly the same place every day. It saved a lot of time for a scramble to the bar giving maximum drinking time. The men would pay their slate at the end of every week.

used to love going there for sunday roast up until it becoming 'california.... yummmmmmmmmmmmy !!!!! not been in since, although the new proprietor is a member of this site and has been to a few monthly meets if i remember correctly...

I'd love to get my ladder out and clean all them windows. That would be a proper days work!

i remember when it was a proper greasy bikers pub, me and my mate used to drink in there when we turned 18 in the 80,s we were and still are into rock ( zep , sabbath, purple, rush, etc etc). this one particular night we walked in after getting locked out at anfield , we decided to have a few pints in the castle , my mate decided to put some tunes on the dukey, instead of silvermachine , Hawkwind , he got" I should be so lucky kylie minogue " Nearly fell through my arse when all the greasers were giving my mate some serious evils , we decided to beat a hasty retreat, apparentely you could buy " lambs boll-ck sanwiches there , there was a sign up saying just that . Hmmmm

That's interesting. Did you ever drink at The Angel (near to where Conway Park Station now stands) ? I was a regular there around '84-'85.

Not the Angel Mate . just the Castle, Commodore, Stairways ( when it was good), Been in and out of the Hotel California i dont agree with the members only bar, felt a bit 2nd class last time i went havent been since . never mind some people cant afford to prop the bar up from noon till dusk , we have jobs .

Those ... those windows! They've been there for 100 years!?
Went to the Hotel California a few times last summer. It was good, but got quickly boring. Like the outside patio summer area, that's a really nice idea. Feels a bit cramped to be honest, they could do with opening inside up a bit. Full of little sweaty no-marks though.

Chunky's a member on here??

Just as a bit of a post script, there's a new chef at the Cali now and the food has considerably improved!!

The atmosphere is much improved aswell since Chunky and Nicky took over. Not as many dodgy bands as there used to be.

They also now have a Marriage License, just in case any of us old rockers are unlucky enough to decide to get spliced lol.

Should anyone want any info, feel free to ask. I'll try my best to find the answer for any Cali related questions.

Yep, "Chunky" popped along to a couple of the CruiseWirral Meets, cos he has a fantastic Impreza.

Havent heard from him recently tho, might be too busy

He's on honeymoon at the mo, him and Nicky got married on saturday.

My grandad said that when Lairds was open this was the richest pub in Birkenhead.

your grandads got to be spot on there mate. full to the rafters every day i bet? Ronny/Brenda run castle at on time done Sunday lunch. all so had the pier hotel in the 80s must of been a busy pub at one time It had 5 doors on the bar side and one door for lounge they cooked Sunday lunch 4 every one who stayed on lock in ... closed 3 till 7 them days... sound bosses.

I was told the honesty was maintained by the landlord saying that if he was a penny down then there would be no beer out in advance - he was never down.

Stairways was amazing - a band called The Handsome Beasts used to play there - they were excellent!
They're still going if you're interested - they've got a website.

Remember going to a bikers toga party there in the early 80's and one lads, Steve Pitney, just had a sheet and a belt on. One of the girls ran up and ripped it off, he was stark naked. Absolute quality, nearly wet myself laughing.