There are a few things you expect from a sports bar – more TV screens than surfaces to put them on, some carb-heavy food to hand, and a slightly more than lively environment.
Libero in Altrincham has all of those things, but it’s also smaller than your living room, and has a distinctly independent feel. More often than not its 16-seater capacity is maxed out with a real cross-section of the community, rather than the all-lads fest you might expect to find in such an establishment.
Founded by Rooney (yes, that’s his real name), just over six years ago, Libero is a bit of a gem within a gem. You can find it in King’s Court, a cluster of bars and pubs just off Altrincham’s Railway Street which share a partially covered courtyard. There’s a traditional pub (the Cheshire Tap), a cocktail bar (The Gin Can), a late-night party spot (Circle Bar) and a craft beer bar and bottle shop (Batch).
Then there’s Libero, about the size of a people carrier, and usually staffed by a solitary member of staff. They serve local craft beers – Cloudwater and Pomona Island are usually present – and a few German lagers too, a nod to Rooney’s Grandma. On normal days, the place just takes one member of staff to run, but on big match days, when viewers spill out into the courtyard, it can grow into a bit of a beast.
And while it is footy focussed, it’s not just about that. There are three screens, and a bonus one in the loo too, and they can all show different sports. It’s almost impossible to find a seat with a bad view.
Adorning the walls is memorabilia from Rooney’s personal archive, but non sports purists are welcome to step over the threshold. In fact, it’s an actively inclusive space, welcoming LGBTQ+ fans, and only ever turning away ‘knobheads’. It’s quite understandably become a hub for Altrincham F.C. supporters who gather there before and after home games.
If it all sounds a bit heavy on the liquid refreshments, fear not, because a few small steps (or one big lean) across the courtyard and you’ll find a little window painted in a fetching combination of maroon and bright yellow, serving up burgers with some serious cheffing prowess behind them. The tiny business is I Call Myself Sanchez, and it’s run by Kim, the former head chef of much-loved Portuguese tapas joint Porta – so you know you’re in for something a bit special.
There are non-standard burgers like lamb with feta and mint yoghurt, or the signature ‘Sanchez’ with beef, Mexican cheese and a huge fried egg for extra measure. Snack-wise, it’s a mix of your classic fried delights as well as some Mediterranean-inflected specialities. Salt cod fritters and Portuguese calamari sit alongside your classic loaded fries, nachos and wings.
Libero customers, as well as customers of the courtyard more broadly, can enjoy Kim’s offering wherever they’re drinking, but they are best enjoyed as half time sustenance, while drinking something fizzy and German in Rooney’s brilliant little bar.
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