Green’s Dictionary of Slang

battle-cruiser n.²

a public house.

1960		J. Franklyn Dict. of Rhy. Sl. 37/1: battle (and) cruiserBoozer [...] post second war in origin.
1969		S.T. Kendall Up the Frog.
1977		D. Powis Signs of Crime 173: Battle cruiser Public house (boozer).
1979		R. Barker Fletcher’s Book of Rhy. Sl. 21: I’d just come out the battle / And was looking for a dog.
1985		in Wheeler & Broadhead Upper Class Rhy. Sl.
1998		C. Fitzpatrick ‘Gower ’98’ on Sussex University Canoe Club 🌐 So to round the night off, the chief of the battle cruiser let us bo peep in the near and far. Well those of us not in a chalet or peter pan. What a top bushel of coke.
2000		P. Howard Miseducation of Ross O’Carroll-Kelly (2004) 130: We decide to hit one of the local battle cruisers.
2013		Esquire 1 Sept. 🌐 Shortly going to fire up the battle cruiser and hit AB1 for the boozual.