I went here for my boyfriend's birthday this week, my first ever visit - and it was fantastic…read more The food was quite reasonably priced and really delicious! There was quite a wide variety of food available too - so loads of choice. Also had a tasty glass of wine :) The staff were lovely and really attentive - even though it seemed fairly busy. Very pleasant experience! Would definitely go again.

Used to go here about 12 year ago, as the food, service and prices were always spot on…read more Recently went back and I'm glad to say it is still spot on. Great traditional british food (and a good few ethnic dishes) on offer, nice pleasant staff, good prices. If what you want is a great Sunday Roast or more - go here and enjoy.

This place is great! It's the oldest pub in Lancashire! I think it's been around since 1320!…read more The building has a thatched roof, which I love, and all the drinks are served from a very tiny bar, about a foot and half wide! The pub itself is quite big, and has many rooms with plenty of seating. It kinda feels like your friend's grandparent's house with random chairs, and nook and crannies. The bathrooms are outside, and the sinks have freezing cold water. This probably isn't as much of a problem in the summer, but we were here in December, and it was absolutely freezing out and the thought of heading out to the loo was dreadful! Everyone was really friendly; it's a real locals only pub, but everyone was quite chatty and in good holiday spirits! It was a nice welcoming crowd. Best of all, there's a super friendly pub kitty!

I love this quaint little pub! Lovely atmosphere and very relaxed. Great in the summer to sit…read moreoutside and soak up the sun and equally as good in the winter with real log fires inside, very cosy. The locals are really friendly too,

Really impressed with our midweek lunch at the Saracens head…read more The pub building itself is quite old but has been fully refurbished inside into a comfortable pub and restaurant, more restaurant than pub. There are comfortable sofas and cushions in the front pub area and larger dining area in the middle. Casual, uncluttered and clean lines is the look. We were welcomed and shown to a table overlooking the Leeds - Liverpool canal which passes right outside. The lunch menu is quite extensive with options to cover all tastes. We started with baked camembert with red onion marmalade and shared between us. Well put together and the onion marmalade was the perfect accompaniment. I chose a main of steamed suet pudding of pheasant, partridge and wild mushrooms with garlic mash, red cabbage and cabernet jus. Just excellent. Great British food at its best. The pudding was more like a suet crust pie and the game and mushroom filling was very enjoyable and perfectly complemented by the smoked garlic mash and red cabbage with flavourful jus. I also sampled the roast chicken supreme with pancetta, white beans and colcannon potato cake. Again, really well thought out and prepared with good flavour combinations. Generous portion sizes, just what we wanted on a cold winter's day. Didn't make it to desert but next time... Service was friendly and efficient and prices reasonable for the high quality cooking. Couldn't fault it so a high rating from me and look forward to going back.

Sat outside this place and had a drink, however what I saw of it deserves 4*. A couple of people…read moresay near were having food and it looked excellent. Service was fast, prices were reasonable for drinks, interior decor was nice, staff were pleasant and it's well situated. Short and sweet. 4*.

Went here before Christmas for Saturday lunch on the suggestion of my vegan dining companion. She…read morehadn't been here before and may have picked up this claim on their website: "The local vegetarians and vegans, who regularly eat in both the Bar and Southwell's Restaurant, say we have the best selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes in the area." As a vegetarian myself, and having cycled past the Farmers Arms on many occasions, it seemed worth a go. We ate in the bar, but from a passing glance on the way in the restaurant looks very luxurious by any standards, let alone for a pub restaurant in these parts! The bar does the English pub ambience reasonably well, with a warm glow from the woodburning stove. Staff were friendly and welcoming throughout our visit. We both ordered some sort of curry from the six or so choices on the vegan/vegetarian menu. While my overall experience of Farmers Arms was OK, the food was definitely sub-standard. The curry itself, both my companion and I thought had a strange after-taste. I suggested at the time that this might come from some indian vegetable or herb, but it dawned on us later that a green potato was a likelier explanation. Which doesn't really surprise me, as the veg was a hodge-podge of roughly cut baby potatoes, julienne carrots, uncaramelised onions and nothing else outstanding. The curry sauce was thin and unappetising - even a scoop of a Patak's jarred curry sauce would have been a big improvement. Poppadom on top (OK) and by far the highlight of the meal was the food service chips served as part of my friend's half rice/half chips. Coffee after the meal for the lady was "bog standard" in her words. En route, we had passed from Fir Tree Farm Christmas Market into the farm shop and cafe itself. There don't seem to be menus on the tables these days at Fir Tree, only a short, daily changing blackboard menu. If it were all about a safe bet for wholesome sustenance, a bowl of soup at Fir Tree would wins hands down every time. But one needs to take a chance, and here is hoping that the next throw of the dice turns out a bit luckier! It wouldn't surprise me to read a good review of vegetarian food served especially from the restaurant at Farmers Arms. But I feel it somebody else's job to take a chance on that one!

The best pub in this featureless snobby, inbred area…read more The nearby Eagle and Child is a overrated, pretentious, snobbish dump serving overpriced substandard food to inbred snobby p**cks in Range Rovers. Choose this place instead.

The Eagle and child is an old charming pub rightly considered to be the best pub in the area, it…read moreregularly features in the good food and good beer guides. The pub offers a variety of cask ales as well as a delightful array of draught and bottled continental lagers. The food is as popular as the beer and I strongly recommend booking in advance if you visiting in the evening. Friday and Saturday nights are exceptional busy and it can be hard to find a seat, the pub is open 12 3, and 5 .30 11.00pm (all day Sunday)

Great Pub set in beautiful Lancashire countryside, Staff & Service first class, our visit during…read moreLunchtime 12th August gave us a choice of menu's we selected Mussels & Smokies as our Starters with Rump Steak, & Steak / Ale Pie for mains. All food was of the highest quality, very tasty and filling, all round EXCEPTIONAL & VERY ENJOYABLE.

Paying homage to thespian Malcolm McDowell whose dad ran the pub a zillion years ago. I'm a…read moreBurscough gal but it had changed a lot and no-one knew old Malcolm and there was no memorabilia, from the Bull and Dog to the Pig and Whistle where his star is on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The food was very mediocre with nothing imaginative on the menu. Service was fine.

I called to the pub today just to play pool. I found the staff to be very welcoming even thought we…read morewere not going to spend a lot of money. I had a look at the menu which seems very good so much my wife and I with friends will have a meal. I you want a nice county pub try this.

O' Leary's; sounds Irish, doesn't it? Well, that's probably because it is an Irish-themed pub,…read morefunnily enough. I'm not the world's biggest fan of Irish pubs generally, but O'Leary's off Nevill Street is probably the best one in Southport (it may also be the only one these days, but that's beside the point). The pub itself looks quite small from the outside but as you enter it does open up a bit, offering drinkers more than ample space to drink a Guinness or two in relative comfort. The drinks selection isn't too exciting but it is all reasonably priced for the area, even the Guinness. The atmosphere in here as you might expect can get quite lively at times, particularly on Paddy's Day, and there's even live Irish music on sometimes to help get you in the mood if you need any more encouragement.

Very good Irish pub it situated down a side street…read more The staff are very friendly it looks a bit rough from outside but when you walk in your made to feel very welcome. There two levels but we stayed down stairs. It not a bad pint and reasonable prices I liked it in there and defo returning back there when we visit Southport again.

It's hard to miss The Meadows if you're in the area. Like the nearby Hare and Hounds, The Meadows…read morepub is easily one of the largest pubs in Liverpool, never mind Maghull. From the outside, The Meadows has a traditional, comfortable look to it which this is shared by its interior design. Offering a casual, relaxed drinking environment by day and a busier, rowdier atmosphere at night, The Meadows is a great place to go whether you fancy a spot of pub lunch and a cider or two in the beer garden or if you're looking to start off a messy night there of a Friday or Saturday before heading into town. Their food is your basic pub food but made to a high standard and their drinks prices are very reasonable for the area. It can get busy at weekends, but this just highlights its popularity in the local area as a place for everyone to eat, drink and, generally, be merry.

The Meadows is a big old traditional pub in Maghull. It offers a nice atmosphere for a night out…read morewith friends or a good home-style meal. The food here is good, and the prices are reasonable. But you will find it gets pretty busy on a Friday night.

We visited here at about 5.30pm on a Saturday and the place was buzzing! Most people were dining,…read morehowever we'd just popped in for a quick pint. Black Sheep was the cask beer, well kept and served by friendly bar staff. A glance at the locally inspired menu convinced me that we'll back soon to try the food. Starters include Bury black pudding & Chorizo with poached egg, hollandaise sauce and rocket and chorizo salad; Goosnargh Chicken Liver and Port Pate; and Morecambe Bay shrimps. Mains include 28 day hung Rib Eye steak, Lancashire Hotpot and Home made Beef and Guinness pie. Quiz night on Thursdays and live music on Fridays. Years ago this pub was truly awful but a complete refurbishment and new ownership a couple of years ago (ish) has completely transformed it. Lucky Elswick!

Just Great. Ales change regularly. But the food is locally sourced from the Fylde and is just…read moreterrific. As is the service. Highly recommended.