It’s easy to get a little jittery when hearing the term ‘sports bar’ — flashbacks of Peroni-soaked bootcuts can make the concept understandably off-putting.
Venture 30 minutes outside of town though, and tucked away in Altrincham’s flourishing food and drink hideaway, King’s Court, is a creation that’s been bucking those preconceptions in sublime style for a good few years now.
Libero intertwines a passion for great pints and vintage football in an effortlessly cool fashion. The end result is a cosy, charming craft beer bar, surfaces adorned with eclectic swathes of sporting memorabilia of yesteryear — think Football Italia meets Pomona Island.
A proper labour of love, the spot was originally intended to be a short-term pop-up during the 2018 World Cup. More akin to a front room than your typical bar, the concept immediately proved a hit and there was absolutely no way it could fade into the distance at the tournament’s culmination.
An ever-rotating keg list always boasts names from the country’s finest brewers, with a particular focus on local favourites. Pomona’s seminal Factotum is a constant, while the likes of Cloudwater and Track are never far from the taps either.
Fast-forward a few years, the constant crowds huddled around screens inside, or squeezing onto picnic benches by the window, are testament to just how spectacularly they’ve pulled off the unique concept. So much so, they even boast a pop-up bar every weekday at Altrincham FC, making matchday pints here the best in the country…probably.
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Wed 15 Mar 2023
