Where's a good town or city to meet between London and Liverpool (not Birmingham or Coventry)?

I'm in London and arranging an annual meet with an old mate from Liverpool one Saturday next month. We're keen to find somewhere that's between the two, for a few jars and a curry. We get trains so ideally a direct train for one or both of us, but one change is fine. The obvious answer I know is Birmingham, but we went there last year and would like to try somewhere else. And he used to live in Coventry, so not there either as he knows it too well. The best I've come up with so far is Milton Keynes or Tamworth. I've never been to either - are they decent? We're just after a handful of decent pubs and an Indian, nothing special required on either front. Any other towns or cities that spring to mind? Thanks for any replies.