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*.

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.

The Five Ways is situated at a busy junction in Ormskirk. It is a large pub which looks attractive…read morefrom the outside. It has a large car park on site which never seems to get full, even on a Sunday. The interior of the pub looks expensive, well maintained, clean and tidy. The decor is homely and comfortable. When you enter you are asked to wait there to be seated, it took a minute for someone to come and see us but when they did we were quickly shown to a nice table, presented with our menus and our drinks order was taken. The pub is very spacious, with a lot of tables for diners, and comfier area's for people who are just there for a drink. When we were there the football was on, but this only resulted in a distant cheer (or boo) every now and then, and didn't disrupt our evening. The menu has a lot of choice. There is a carvery available 7 days a week but there are also many other options available. I went with my parents who are both pensioners, and as they were members of the pubs "Diamond Club" which is for the over 50's, they were able to get 2 courses for a mere £6.25. This includes the carvery which is usually £7.25. After agonising for a while I chose the "'Brown's of Kirkconnel' black pudding and bacon fritter. Topped with red onion chutney and a poached egg" for starters. This was possibly the best black pudding I have ever tasted. It was rich and succulent without being overly fatty. It was so delicious and just the right size for a starter. For my main course I chose the Ultimate Burger - "Hand pressed Farm Assured Saxon British beef burger and half chicken breast, topped with melted Taw Valley mature Cheddar, smoky chilli bourbon sauce and crispy onions. Served with hand cut potato wedges." This came on a trendy square plate and looked very impressive (and huge) when I was served it. This was simply divine. The burger was delicious and the bacon and chicken were cooked to perfection. The wedges were also delicious and very moreish. For pudding I had Gingerbread flavoured Penna cotta with a homemade honey wafer. I've never had Penna cotta before but I thought I'd give it a go. It was so delicious, creamy and indulgent. But at the same time it was light and refreshing. I was actually sad when I finished the desert as I wanted more! The service at Five Ways is excellent. You don't have to wait long for your starters to be served, and once the plates are taken away the main course is brought to you quickly. The same happened when we ordered our deserts. The staff are friendly and very helpful. They are happy to chat and crack a joke whilst taking your order. They keep an eye on you whilst you are eating, coming over to check everything is perfect with your food, and taking orders for further drinks. I had an excellent meal here. I had previously only had the carvery but I thought I'd try something else and I was glad I did as it was amazing. I can't fault this place at all.

I'm with Hex P. This place is tremendous. The decor is posh, I'd be delighted to have this…read moreluxurious wallpaper in my living room, and the ambience is spot on. The food is top notch, needless to say. The main problem here is that the carvery is so good it's a wrench to not have it and attempt something else. The stuffing balls are delightful, the Yorkshire puds are bigger than my head. And that's saying something. The herby potatoes are a revelation when compared to most other carveries. The desserts are utterly indulgent. Magnificent morsels. The chefs know a thing or two about cooking, no doubt. The Fiveways has the advantage of being close to the farming areas of Ormskirk and Burscough, so its produce is probably much fresher than a lot of other places. Restaurants that is, let alone pubs. Whenever I've been the service has been really quick and friendly. Like Hex P my mum's also a pensioner (sorry mum) and she's a member of the Diamond Club - any over 50's get two courses for £6.25, which is a real bargain considering the calibre of the food.

You're homesick. You miss your mummy/daddykins/dog/significant other/catfish/weasel/antfarm. You…read moreneed some of that home cookin' to soothe your lonely soul, something traditional and warming and comforting. And while in this humid heatwave such thoughts might turn your stomach as much as they're turning mine, I'm thinking back to the cold winters of November when I visited Pudding and Pie in a chilly, wind-whipped Southport. It's worse on the coast, you know. Rumour has it that breeze is so sharp it can make your favourite jumper threadbare. True story. Look no further to solve those feelings than the very definition of stodge that is Pudding and Pie, a place where they do a mean fish finger sandwich (whether the fish were mean before they became fingers remains to be seen), a steak and ale pie that views your arteries as a personal challenge, Lancashire hot pot that could rival Betty's in the Rover's, soups designed to put hair on your chest when you're feeling infirm... all 100% home made. And if you've made the leap to the fat-is-flavour side of the river this far, you might as well finish yourself off with an equally cosy pud. Eccles cakes, or fly pies as my mother calls them (thanks, dear parent, for ruining a traditional north westerly baked treat), apple crumble so warm and juicy that Jim from American Pie would want to get a room with it, bread and butter pudding that ain't stingy on the bright yellow sticks of doom... it's all here, waiting to comfort you. The location is pretty delicious too; Wayfarers Arcade happens to be one of my favourite spots in Southport and the ornate architectural delight that it is blankets Pudding and Pie in even more loveliness. Plus it's super central, so once you've had your fill you can either walk off your heavy tummy by hitting the shops with aplomb or head straight to the beach for a lunch-burnin' sand hike. Either way, the staff are lovely and it makes a superb spot for a substantial lunch or naughty treat any time of the day... one I'd highly recommend.

A friend and I came here for Lunch. We got the Vegetarian Shepherd's pie and homestyle fish and…read morechips. The service was at Pudding and Pie is very good. The guy behind the counter was super nice and made a few jokes, the waitress was also very nice and accommodating. The food at Pudding and Pie was very filling and well priced. They even had free games and crayons to pass time. What a great place to just relax and have a good meal!

Firstly, May I point out how fantastic, friendly and warm the service was! It was simply…read moreunbeatable. You could hold a conversation as if you've knew them for ages and are having a general catch up as it were. Now, onto the food. Delicious. No, heavenly. For starters I had the minestrone soup which was freshly prepared for me, then for the Main I had the Chilli con carne, my brother had the barbecued pork if I remember correctly which he wolfed down (considering he's a fussy eater this was a great result!) and my grandma had the vegetarian option. The chilli con carne was slightly piquant, but delectable all the same. Also, don't forget that the food cooked here is ALL home-made. Twinned with the ambient surroundings (and the service!), you have the most fantastic dining experience. Theres no long wait as you'd find in Pizza Express, and the food is piping hot without fail. They have a desert trolley with all home made cakes made by the chef, if I had my way I would have had them all. No over exaggeration. I ended up going for the lemon meringue like my brother whilst my grandma settled for the apple crumble. We all enjoyed the deserts thoroughly. Taking into account the quality of the food, service and surroundings you'd be expecting a hefty bill when you go to pay. Do not fear, I was pleasantly surprised when the waitress told us how much it was. Absolutely outstanding, it really is. So, if your looking for a pleasant restaurant, that is ideally situated in Southport with top-notch, fresh home-made food and don't want to splash the cash then the Little Gourmet is perfect for you. Go on, give it a try. I promise you won't regret it. (Next time I'm up North that's my 1st stop.)

We struggled to get in here on Saturday evening when we moored on the canal. That it's fully booked…read morebodes well and is deserved. The service and food were good, even thought we had to eat outside on the terrace where it was a bit chilly. Well worth a visit.

I was invited to a christening at the Blue Mallard and it was an amazing experience. The food was…read morefantastic and there was such a relaxed atmosphere. There were quite a few young children, and we were really impressed by the facilities and the food was perfect for everyone. Another benefit is that you can take a look around the Burscough Wharf which the Blue Mallard is part of. There is an old fashioned sweet shop, an art gallery and lots of other things to look at. You can almost make this a day out! I would strongly recommend the Blue Mallard for any event you are looking to run.

This is a regular haunt of ours, for a stop off on a walk/bike ride for a sandwich and a pint or…read morefor dinner. Always good quality pub food, great selection on the bar menu or the a la carte menu. You have to try the 'smokies' the taste is something else, the food is reasonably priced and the atmosphere of the Eagle and Child is welcoming and homely. A good selection of real ales and beers behind the bar as well as an extensive wine selection. If you are out this way then its worth the visit, or even a drive out. Look out for the beer festival held here annually.

Oh my lordy lord I'm home. This is the very village in which I grew up. Nothing happens here…read more Seriously, have a wander round Parbold on Google Street View. If you've got your preconceptions of rural countryside living from Emmerdale, think again. The most drama you get in Parbold is when someone's dog goes missing, there's a strange smell in the local shop or they put a new shelter up in the train station. I say home, it's a very long time since I've considered Parbold home. Since my parents emigrated to the Canaries I've taken to thinking of sunnier climes as my hometown, and Parbold's something of an anomaly. But many happy memories reside here, and considering the Brunette is still a Southport dweller we occasionally partake in drives here to see what's going on. You can't beat a bit of country fresh air and acres of farmland. As I've mentioned before, the Eagle and Child used to be run by friends who've fallen off the contact radar, except via the spying joy that is Facebook. Now it's been overtaken by the Ainscough branch, so I had to see what was going on. Now this place is a bit more like it. You know where everything's from, some from its farm shop next door and plenty of local produce including its own meat grown on Parbold farmland. It's a simple and small but thoroughly upmarket British menu, with starters including black pudding, potato and bacon salad, game salad, carrot and cumin (interesting twist) soup with carrot crisps and suchlike. You've got two veggie mains to choose from; a Thai style veg curry and a pasta with wild mushroom, both of which are inventive enough but don't feel in situ with the rest of the menu really... cornfed chicken, sautéed pork, Croston Hall pheasant (eww, I went to high school in Croston). But it's all really tasty stuff, and the sweet menu is equally traditional yet interesting with apple and rhubarb crumble, apple and mince strudel, bread and butter pudding, lemon and vanilla crème brulee and some great ice creams to choose from. You can't get more picturesque than Parbold, and I have to say they've done a sterling job. There wasn't a sign of any of my old friends there and I wouldn't trust most of them with cheese on toast so I imagine there's been a reshuffle. If you're in the area I'd say pop in for some nice grub.

Really enjoyed the night I spent here. The people are very friendly and down to earth. The drink…read moreselection is fantastic! I heard they were going to start having live music too which would be great! Thanks for an amazing night!

We went last night, they've a great offer on, table d'hote menu is normally £9.95 for two courses…read more(starter and main or main and pudding) but in November, Monday -Friday it's 2-4-1, that means two of you can eat for under ten quid! I had pate and chicken stronganoff, she had salad and a vegetable burrito, service was impeccable, you should try it! They also do Bar food, really reasonably priced

Fantastic food and the choice of menu. Staff are friendly and the surroundings are nice. The…read morerestaurant was a lot bigger than expected as it doesn't show this on the website. Would definitely come again.

This was my first visit to Southport and was taken by my colleague to The Office Bar & Restaurant…read more We arrived just before opening at 11am and were allowed in as it was raining. Although the kitchen didn't open until 1130am, we were able to order drinks. The person I was with frequents the establishment on a regular basis, so knows the staff well. When it came to food, there was a very good menu with a wide range of dishes catering to most people's requirements. Food quality was excellent and service was very good (this was standard to everyone & not just because my colleague knows the staff). I paid the bill and was very pleasantly surprised at the cost. It came out far better than I expected. I'd recommend this establishment to anyone and when next in Liverpool, will be making a special effort to eat here. Well done to all the staff.