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.

This is a really nice pub for a meal, great location as it is situated by the side of the Leeds -…read moreLiverpool canal. Lots of places to sit outside to watch the world go by.

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.

This was our 4th visit in as many months, this also being our 2nd family get together (around 20 of…read moreus). Previously the food has been passable but this time, for me, the main course was far from enjoyable. I and another member of our party had pre-ordered an ox cheek pie. to say the crust was hard is an understatement. A hammer and chisel would have been more appropriate than a knife and fork to get through it. A complaint to the waitress went unheeded (ignored being the operative word). The other family member and I were left in no doubt that it was a like it or lump it situation. I complained again to a Scottish lady when paying and was met with "we all make mistakes". So I had to pay for the cook's mistake at having had the pies in the oven for far too long. This attitude is a sure fire way of losing customers. I have friends who won't go to the Wayfarers and I am unsure if we'd go back, although in the main everyone else was satisfied at the quality of the food they received. I feel the staff need more training in how to deal with complaints.

Went on Christmas Day and the meal was awful. Was second sitting so guessing it had been sat there…read moreall day as it was do dry. Definitely not worth the £90

I regularly eat here. The food is great, the prices are great value, the portions aren't the usual…read moresmall portions, everything is clean, and the service is spot on.

From the owner: Good food, good beer, good cheer. Family friendly, dog…read morefriendly, walker friendly, bike (those with or without an engine) friendly - close to Ashurst Beacon - an ideal place to start or finish a walk.

A charming and popular pub with delightful decor right next (surprise, surprise) to an old windmill…read moreon the banks of the Leeds-Liverpool canal. Good quality food and an ever-changing range of well kept cask ales with local beers from George Wright and Southport Brewery appearing regularly. In addition there is a wide selection of lagers and an impressive wine list. (Champagne is also sold by the glass). This is a popular destination or pit-stop for walkers, cyclists and barge enthusiasts including ex-prime minister John Major whose photograph looks down on customers from the dining room wall. Staff are friendly and helpful but make sure you book in advance if you want to eat at the weekend. A seating terrace to the front is ideal to watch the world go by and a stone paved beer garden to the rear is ideal for warm evenings. In winter a log fire adds to the charm.Well worth a visit as is the village!

Never have felt less welcome in a pub. Waitress wouldn't let me know what was on draft, and just…read morewalked away when we were trying to order drinks. They also walked away randomly when we were asking questions about the menu. Don't know why they were so unfriendly, but there are better pubs in Parbold. The Wayfarer, for example, has lovely staff and the food is great. Shame about the Windmill, I was excited about trying it out for a long time.