The Aigburth Arms, an unassuming mid-20th-century building on Victoria Road in Aigburth, has become an unlikely place of pilgrimage for international science fiction fans. Known as the birthplace of the cult BBC sitcom 'Red Dwarf,' this pub draws visitors from around the world.
The Birthplace of Red Dwarf
Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, the show's creators, frequently drank at the pub while they were university students. They first sketched out the concept for the long-running series on the back of a beer mat. A plaque inside the pub declares it the 'birthplace of Red Dwarf,' and it features multiple times throughout the series. In the episode 'Ouroboros,' a fictionalised Aigburth Arms from the year 2155 is where Craig Charles' character, Lister, is discovered as a baby abandoned in a box beneath the pool table.
Meet the Landlady
The pub is now run by Louise Delaney, 45, from Huyton, who became the landlady in March 2020, the day Boris Johnson sent the UK into lockdown. Despite the turbulent start, she has kept the pub thriving. 'I remember on my first day, we literally opened at 5pm and closed at 10pm, so it wasn't good, but we're still here,' she said.
A Community Hub
Louise describes the pub as a community hub where everyone gathers and socialises. 'They're the most loyal customers that you can even ask for. We have our core regulars who come in pretty much every day. It's a good mix of the younger generations through to the elderly.' The pub also features a newly refurbished sports room and three big screens in the beer garden for major events like the World Cup.
Sci-Fi Pilgrimage
Fans of Red Dwarf come from as far as America to see the plaque and take pictures with the pool table, although the original one from the show is no longer there. 'We have a little plaque on the wall that people come to visit,' Louise said.
Best-Selling Drinks and Notable Guests
Cruzcampo is the best-selling drink, with a midweek offer of £4 a pint. Notable guests include Robbie Fowler and cast members of Hollyoaks. The Merseysippi Jazz Band also played their final gig at the pub in April, covered by Granada Reports.
Spooky Encounters
There have been a few unexplained incidents where customers reported drinks being spilled on them while sitting in a certain seat. Louise has seen it on CCTV but never witnessed it herself. Some have nicknamed the ghost 'Dave,' though the origin is unknown.
Support Your Local Pub
Louise encourages people to support their local pub by simply coming in. 'We do our best for the community as well. Anything that we can help with we will. We're a community hub where everyone gathers and socialises.'
