The Spellow Pad

I hadn’t been here in years, but stopped in for a pint to warm up after the match. They served me straight away, and it’s a friendly place where people were enjoying themselves. The decor stands out, with film posters across the ceiling and framed Everton photos. It was karaoke night. I usually join in, but this time I just listened and had a good time before heading home.

The beds were comfortable and there’s a big TV, but the room had a missing window panel and another window was boarded up. There were only two plug sockets for eight people. Some might like the decor, but it wasn’t my style. We weren’t expecting a fancy hotel, just somewhere fun, but the basics and honest information about the area really matter. There was no one to greet us or point us to our rooms, so we hung around in the pub trying to work out where to go. The room was filthy, with an empty crisp packet left out, and no towels. The shared toilet floor was soaked in something, either urine or shower water, and there was no toilet paper. There were dirty boxers hanging in the bathroom, marks all over the toilet, and an empty condom wrapper in the sink. We’d been told parking was nearby. Maybe there is on other days, but we didn’t realise it was match day, and there’s no parking then because the place is right opposite Goodison park. You can’t get a taxi to it either, since the road is closed, so you have to walk through the crowds with your bags. The key safe code we were given didn’t work for me, though I managed to guess it. Even then, the safe was almost impossible to open because it wasn’t working properly. When we got back from our night out, a group from another room were lying on the street after waiting for someone to answer. Their code was wrong too, and nobody picked up the phone. On the way out, I passed the kitchen with its door open. The mouldy smell hit me, and the walls were black with damp or mould. I don’t know whether it’s just for washing pots or if they prepare food there, but I wouldn’t eat there. It’s somewhere to crash after a heavy night, and the locals were really friendly. Bring toilet paper and disinfectant.

Stopped by late in the evening recently, my first visit since it reopened. The staff and locals were welcoming, and it’s dog friendly. The decor is quirky and interesting, and there’s a good range of local and foreign bottled beers and ales. Worth popping in.

It’s right outside the ground, so a handy place for a pint before the match. The decor is distinctive, prices are reasonable, and the bar staff were friendly and quick even when it was busy.