I went to a wedding at Arley Hall last week and it was a spectacular venue to get married…read more The only reason I'm marking it down to 4* is because as a non-driver and a singleton it would have been very expensive to get there myself, as the public transport links aren't great. Luckily, I got a lift to and from the venue with friends but otherwise it would have been £50 in a taxi each way. So that's the moan out of the way. The rest was brilliant and to anyone looking for a wedding venue, you should definitely consider here. The main house, where the ceremony and meal were, was very pretty. The food was very tasty, particularly the sticky toffee pudding. Service was also very good. The back where the pictures were taken is gorgeous and provides a beautiful backdrop for wedding photos - official or unofficial! The evening do was in the Olympia Hall which is a nice size. Has a bar, nice area for DJ/dancing and an upstairs bit with sofas and room for a photo booth. I'll put up a few photos shortly.

Although we didn't pay to go into the hall and gardens themselves, even through cafe alone is well…read moreworth a visit if you're in the area. My friend and I had been on a 6 mile hike that started and ended at the hall, and it made for the perfect finish. The celeriac soup was delicious, but everything on offer looked great. Be mindful that they do stop hot food at 3, but we turned up at 3.20 and as they hadn't turned anything off yet they were more than happy to serve us. The cakes looked lovely too and if I'd have had room for dessert I would have had one without hesitation!

A very nice venue with good sound and friendly helpful staff. I was there with the band Secret…read moreAffair and the backstage staff were really lovely and helpful. Prices also very reasonable at the bar.

King georges hall is a brilliant place. It has lots of giant rooms with huge stages. I came here a…read morecouple of years ago with the children to see the snow queenn on ice and it was fantastic. The kids loved it as well. It can be a little bit expensive to see a show here but if you go with a group of people you get a huge discount off ticket prices. I would reccomend everyone to book there tickets in advance as well as they do sell out very very quick when a good act is on. I wanted to see Beautiful South perform last year but all the tickets sold out within 2 days. The staff are ok in here but a little bit sstuck up. Overall a beautiful building a great night out. There is always something for the whole family to see here.

I think that the Kazimier has secured the top spot as the quirkiest venue in terms of decor and…read moreevents in Liverpool. It's one of those cultish venues that will go down in the city's history. They are well known for their bizarre themed nights that they put on either once a month or once every six weeks. These nights are so popular they often sell out within a day and are they hype of the week as they approach. They often have live bands and a great fancy dress theme, and it's a well known fact that people really make a big effort and go all out for these occasions. Other than these nights, the best promoters in the city seem to bring quirky bands from all over the world to play this fairly small venue as it has a great atmosphere that a lot of the bigger venues don't have!

The Kazimier is easily Liverpool's top venue for gigs and events. I have been coming here since it…read moreopened and have always had a great time. You get a varied mixture of bands playing here, from local legends and newbies all the way up to reknowed international acts. Most recently the Liverpool label Antipop put on their birthday event and it was the best night out in... forever. The old montly Psycho Motel night that was on here in the past is now a part of legend. There is a decent variety of drinks to choose from and while it's not the cheapest, it's not ridiculous either. Perfectly resonable! For you lot who smoke (poor you) there's an outdoor area with seating for you to puff away. It's good for non-smokers too to be honest, if you just want to get some air. The Kazimier, along with Mello Mello, is the musical hub of Liverpool and somewhere you should be spending the majority of your time. Absolutely essential venue that you CANNOT miss out on.

The Royal Court Theatre is the venue I attended my first gig many, many...many moons ago and while…read moremusic acts may have moved on to any of the city's plethora of dedicated music venues such as The Arena or O2, The Royal Court still holds an important place in the city's cultural landscape. The RC doesn't rely on public or arts funding so has to hold it's own and I think deserves praise for what it does. The theatre pieces here might not be high brow - Slappers and Slapheads being a notable example! - but these shows are mainly penned by local writers and performed by well known faces from across the Northwest. The RC has also become synonomous with stand up comedy as a venue for big touring acts and a regular comedy night slot.

The Royal Court Theatre has always been a landmark building in Liverpool and has seen truly…read morelegendary names perform over the last one hundred years. They are dedicated to producing the very best in comedy, drama and musicals. Since the summer of 2005 the building has been extensively refurbished - most particularly in the stalls which has been converted into cabaret style seating with tables for drinks and easy access for waiters and waitresses. The last time I went here, was to see a poetry performance on a school trip. I was impressed by the whole atmosphere and size of the arena as on first glance, it appears small from the outside but it has to be seen to be believed! Since then, it has dramatically changed and now it's even better.

I went to this place last year for a black tie function and was instantly impressed by the decor…read moreand level of service within this huge glass atrium! This is definitely a place that I would recommend to anybody who wants to throw a big party/function in style. They have a stage area if you wish to have a musician or a compare, they have a great dance floor area for those who aren't blessed with two left feet like myself, and they have a huge fully stocked bar for those who just want to get twatted. The catering was fantastic, I'm not sure if it's provided by an in house company that the venue use regularly, but I would imagine so! The surroundings are great if you fancy a walk in their acres and acres of beautiful parkland, which is reassuring being in a fairly rough, built up area, it's nice to know that there are still some green spaces without high rises and dole offices! I'm not sure what he rental cost is for this venue, but I know that they often employ staff for events through Liverpool's Think Faces company, which is great as they vet their staff for experience and quality.

Isla Gladstone Conservatory is, quite simply, stunning. A few years ago, the dilapidated Victorian…read moreoriginal was dissembled, restored, returned and rebuilt even better than before. Set in over 100 acres of park land surrounded by lakes and rose beds, it stands in all its glory overlooking the city of Liverpool. It has always been surprisingly quiet when I have visited: a tranquil haven from the bustling town centre; this tranquility, as well as its beautiful surroundings, make the Isla Gladstone a popular venue for weddings. Bring a picnic or try Kemp's Bistro housed beneath the conservatory; it's open until 4 o'clock daily and serves truly delicious food

It's hard to review Rivington Barn without mentioning the reason why weekend finds this place so…read morebusy. Simply, it's set in some of the most beautiful countryside in the country. It attracts motor bikers, not the 'shoot you on the motorway' variety, but the colourful character types. But apart from them, you'll find walkers', runners', hikers' and mountain bikers' next to casual moochers', many of whom have been doing what they love around the Rivvy Hills and are recuperating with a hot drink, scone, meal or some other traditional delight. The barn provides all of this, along with an array of small stalls and, as this is Lancashire, some respite from the rain. There is a small museum next to the barn that is well worth a look. One of the stories it tells is about a plane that crashed during the war, killing all on board, on one of the hills. In the picture attached you can see the monument they erected in their memory. The picture does not do the area justice - get up there and see it. You can buy guide books from the Barn and toddle off on all manner of walks.

Rivington Hall Barn is set in the beautiful surrounding area of Rivington, it is a lovely black and…read morewhite traditional building, full of character and has lots of charm, beautiful to look at inside and out. A pleasure to visit. Inside of the Hall Barn it has lovely beams from the roof and hanging from these are fairy lights that are lit for wedding receptions etc and are a stunning effect. There is a bar serving alcholol at one end, chair and table in the centre and seats around the edges, some standing areas. At the other end is a carvery area and hot and cold food area. On Sundays and Bank Holidays the Barn Hall is a popular destination that attracts bikers and walkers and families etc, the atmosphere is great and the barn opens on Sundays to serve food and drinks. It is a wonderful sight outside on the forecourt of the Barn Hall when the motorbikes are all parked up, they are wonderful machinesamazing to see and such a great atmosphere, very friendly bunch. The food that is served in the Hall Barn is of a very high standard, there are lots of tablesbe there before 2pm for lunch as they stop serving at approximately that time or just later. There are a few stalls inside too on Sundays offering cards, socks, jewellery and pictures to name a few. The toilets are recently updated and are a good facility, ultra modern. The Barn opens on Sundays and Bank Holidays normally but is also available for private functions and sometimes there are dances in the evening or live bands. The Hall Barn is a beautiful venue for a wedding. One of my favourite places to be and so I do Highly recommend Rvington Hall Barn.

Rainhill is actually pretty lucky to have such a good community venue. The building consists of a…read morelarge hall with working stage and a few smaller function rooms. The newly refurbished lobby is very pleasant. Several local drama societies use the hall for their productions, including Rainhill Musical Theatre Company (formerly Rainhill Amateur Operatic Society) and the Rainhill Garrick Society, who put on about three or four plays a year, of very good quality. It's worth checking the website for details of upcoming plays and shows. There are always lots of other musical and charity events etc going on, too.

The hub of the community, the Village Hall has been local CAMRA Club of the Year 2014 to 2017 plus…read moreprevious CAMRA National winner and currently listed in the top four clubs in Britain. There is a comfortable lounge and a larger bar/function room served from a central bar. The function room hosts quizzes, live music and the annual beer festival in October. On the bar are up to seven beers from regional and microbreweries, plus up to eight ciders/perries. Light lunches are served on Sunday 1-3pm. All beers, ciders and perries are very well kept and served. The food is absolutely wonderful as "pub grub"; magnificent home-made soup and bread, excellent toasties and salads and other choices Due to licensing conditions, the club is members onlt but, as membership is currently £5 per year, this is not a barrier. CAMRA membership also counts for visitors.