Tales of the Urban Explorer: 'Carringtons'

"It's a bit shit but unless things have changed... we will get in"

These are words spoken that being much cheer to potentially depressed explorers who find it important for the first on the list to be a success. I tell you, failing on the first one and worse... on the first two can inspire suicidal tendencies.

'Carringtons' appeared to be one of those manufactured pubs, with a Wacki Warehouse stuck on to the edge to keep your bored kids entertained, while you consume similarly manufactured food.

They are ubiquitous in the UK; cheap food and cheap prices. Good occasionally, but only to be visited as frequently as your local Mcdonald's.

Looking at this article, Carrington was a 17th-century old hall and the old part was demolished shortly before our arrival.

I can't remember it being like a building site, or looking particularly old. There's talk of it being built back, brick-by-brick as the demolishing was illegal. The irony of it all is that if they did that, it would likely still rot away and not be refurbished.

We entered via some woodland, avoiding the front entrance due to an abundance of that irritating 'herras fencing' which albeit is navigable, but is not recommended in full view of passing drivers whose necks could suddenly turn to rubber thus smashing their vehicle into a nearby lamp post.

I would rather not have all that attention, thanks very much. My arse is not so seductive these days, though I'm told it still lacks that unsightly cellulite.

After some struggling over a few fences, and uneven ground we emerged inside through a broken window surrounded by spiky shards of glass. Yes, the gloves came out just to bypass an early morning hand injury.

Inside was kind of wrecked, the chandelier looking a little wayward and lonely up there.

There must have been more tables once, did someone steal them all for a nearby competing pub?

I didn’t know who ‘Baylen Levine’ was until today. As the real person lives in the USA, it’s doubtful this is an original signing and in the future could become as valuable as a ‘Banksy’, - even with a couple of dicks nearby.

Once dinosaurs were frequenting this long corridor. Just pieces of them remained stuck to the walls.

It's the remains of a children's party, and one of those goody bags that are generally filled with sugar and half discarded by your child.

Elaborate lighting tricks were failing to bring much excitement to 'Carringtons'.

Not so much arson for once, but plenty of vandalism. If the deliverer of this poster thought to avert the fire-starters, they had better think twice.

Oh…, those words of wisdom. I drink in every letter and savour them.

If you look hard, there's usually more than one way in. Some people simply don't like to backtrack and get a little impatient.

I would have ordered something being a little peckish, but Dino’s was nowhere to be found and the surrounding words and colours killed my appetite.

Maybe there was a little arson going on, but it was the drawing of Charles Atlas that got my attention, more so…, ‘how the fuck did someone get up there to draw him’.

It looks like a set of ladders but is actually shelving. While I could have climbed up there, and swung myself up to the next floor at a great physical cost, sadly it had no roof.

The Pterodactyl was the last remaining dinosaur of the 'dinosaur corridor'.

Don’t you just love signs like this, I mean… what cupboard?

The entrance to ‘Carringtons’ restaurant; It does look like it was once plush and I had to remind myself this was a ‘Toby Inn’ carvery with that selection of cheap meats that tend to be of the tasteless variety.

More menus for that Dino's Café which appears to have sunk into the earth somewhere and vanished.

We exited via the same access point and started brazenly looking around the exterior with the typical swagger of those who have already looted, raped, pillaged, and conquered.

The climbing frame looks to have fared poorly, having battled gasoline and matches. The cross looked ominous and I had to remind myself that this was not the scene of a former crucifixion and some poor bastard had not suffered up there before dying an agonising death.

It doesn’t look that enticing, maybe a little more colour could entice the kiddies back to this former Wacki Warehouse.

Did we miss half of the attractions, or was there some secret cellar that contained ‘Harry’s Sports Bar’? Springsteen’s music bar was definitely nowhere to be seen.

64 cameras', that's quite a boast! None of them seem to be turned on anymore, and we didn't encounter a living soul during our visit and heard no approaching sirens as we left via the same entry point.

It was a start, but nothing special. That day in July 2022 was to be quite eventful and as headed to the city of Liverpool intending to cross the River Mersey and hit Birkenhead.

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