The 'Dead Squirrel', as it was once termed by my incredibly urbane and witty friends, has had a…read morerecent facelift and finds itself as one of the new lunchtime eating 'n' meeting hotspots of the Formby area. With reasonably priced lunchtime meals (standard pub grub - scampi, burgers etc.) as well as bottomless soft drinks and free salad bar this is a great place to fill up on padding before heading off to conquer the nearby Lady Green garden centre or even just to retire to the pleasant beer garden outside. As a pub it's a little more problematic - located at the Hightown end of the Formby Bypass, too far from civilised society to really pop in for a pint, drinkers are left with a quandary; forgo the booze and stick to the refillable lemonade or get a few alcoholic beverages in and call a taxi home. As Ned Flanders would say, it's a dilly of a pickle.

Until recently, the Red Squirrel had remained somewhat of a mystery to me. Its location just off…read morethe busy bypass coupled with the excellent Weld Blundell located opposite it meant I had generally avoided the restaurant/pub, but a friend's recent birthday meant I finally made the pilgrimage there. We visited at lunchtime to take advantage of the 'early bird' deal they have, which is a meal for between five and seven pounds and also includes unlimited trips to the salad bar and unlimited drink refills. The salad bar was standard fare, including the usual suspects such as potato and pasta salad as well as a range of dressings. Whilst it may not have been original, it was tasty and did the job of satisfying us until our main meals arrived. For my main meal, I ordered a chicken burger that came with barbecue sauce and melted cheese but when it arrived I found it to be somewhat of a disappointment. The chicken itself was nice enough, if a little dry, but that could have been down to the pitiful amount of barbecue sauce applied (nowhere near enough for a BBQ addict like myself) and the cheese was quite cold and was fairly solid, suggesting it was not melted but merely thrown on at the last minute. Whilst I wasn't particularly enthralled by the presentation or taste of my main meal, I did leave the Red Squirrel feeling particularly full after filling up on the salad bar and for the price the meal was available at you can't complain too much so I would definitely consider visiting again.

Despite it's rather isolated location, the Weld Blundell defies most stereotypes of a country pub;…read moreit is surprisingly large, welcoming parties and coach tours, and boasting wifi and a plasma screen tv, it is neither quaint nor antiquated. It is beautifully decorated in a fresh, modern style that retains some sense of its rural setting (made somewhat unrural by the hectic traffic of Scaffold Lane) The food served is traditional pub grub: grills; burgers; salads some of which are included on a 'two for the price of one' basis This offer includes the Sunday and Wednesday carvery dinner. I must admit, I was a little disappointed when I visited, the service was good, but I did not enjoy my meal, however, my guest enjoyed theirs and the other diners seemed happy.

The location of pub/restaurants the Red Squirrel and the Weld Blundell are somewhat strange, sat on…read moreeither side of a busy bypass which is regularly filled with speeding cars. Thankfully once you enter the Weld Blundell, things seem a lot more normal as you are warmly greeted by a member of staff before being seated. The interior is well decorated and gives off feelings of warmth and comfort. In terms of value for money, the Weld is probably one of the cheapest pubs to dine in around the local area, offering 2-for-1 deals on all meals. The food there is the usual 'pub grub' - burgers, some pasta dishes, salads - but the real value for money is in the carvery. Whilst not quite on a par with the Bay Horse, the carvery on offer here is still very good, with one able to fill up on succulent meat and delicious potatoes and vegetables as high as you can stack them. On my last visit, my girlfriend and I got desserts as part of the deal as well, both of which were very good (I highly recommend the cheesecake) which again represented brilliant value for money. A tip though - Sundays can be very busy so if you're in a rush I wouldn't recommend coming here hoping to grab a quick bite.

This pub/restaurant is fantastic. The owners are very welcoming and the pub is split into two…read moresections. The staff are freindly and the customers are just as pleasant! We stayed in the dog friendly seperate section so if you aren't so keen on dogs, there is a beautiful seperated restaurant next door. The food is immense, very original menu with locally sourced food and a twist on some pub classics. I would recommend the samosa starter and chicken pate.

I will always remember this pub fondly as the first place I bought my first pint (legally) and I am…read moresure I am not alone in sharing this landmark with the Cross House. I guess this little story sums up the Cross House's status as a pub for special occasions for me, but never considered as a viable option for my local. The interior is interestingly decorated and the variety of different seating available is excellent, offering many comfortable areas to converse over a few pints. The food served there is nothing special - standard pub fare and priced accordingly - but whenever I have visited the atmosphere has always been warm and inviting, perfect for a birthday or other special occasion. That's the thing though; although it's a very pleasant pub, it just doesn't have the 'feel' of a local. Maybe it's something to do with the distinct lack of odd, drunken regulars (they always seem a respectable lot in there) which I see as a staple of establishments to be considered as my 'local' (is this normal for someone my age? Let's not go there). They also have a weekly quiz night, although it is probably one of the more difficult ones in Formby (only beaten by the Bay Horse) and a lovely outdoor area, perfect for a not-so-warm summer's night with a few bottles of cider.

This is pub I went to on my eighteenth birthday. It wasn't the first place I ever drank - I won't…read morename and shame the pub that served me when I was sixteen - but it was the first place I legally drank. It's a nice pub too, smokefree before it became the law (strange to think there was ever a time when you might come home from a pub stinking of tobacco) and with a gastopub-leaning menu before gastropub really existed (a pub with asparagus on the menu, even if it was a Formby specialty, was unheard of) It has the sort of unpracticed sort of charm, with mismatched furniture and low beams, that only an authentic pub really does, the sort of authentic pub-charm that various branches of Wetherspoons and Slug & Lettuce try to emulate. They have old speckled hen on tap occasional live music and the pub quiz is easily the best to be found in Formby. It's a shame that we hardly seem to go anymore, I'll have to start reliving my eighteenth birthday.

Fantastic food, great specials board a really great British pub, sadly too few about nowread more

AMAZING!!! As far as I remember this place has won pub food…read moreof the year ever year since Ive lived in the area. Super tasty quality food, I noticed that on the menu it even tells you which farm the meat came from, or where the ice cream was made etc. The Greek Lamb and the Gammon are both brilliant. The portions are huge and I'm always left with enough food for another meal but save room for the Holly Bush sundae because you wont ever have a such a selection of tasty locally made ice cream :) The prices are great too, last time I went it was around 30quid for the 2 of us.

Lovely and comfortable pub and restaurant with excellent food and attentive but not over the top…read moreservice. Becoming a family favourite.

Very nice food and great service. Little loud for us oldies but we will most definately be back…read morethanks

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,

Like 'The Railway', 'The Grapes' has got to be up there as one of the most popular names for a pub,…read morecertainly within the Liverpool area. 'The Railway' being a popular name, I can kind of understand as there are a lot of pubs located near railways. But 'The Grapes'? Maybe it's just something to do with wine fortification. This particular Grapes in Thornton however has been going since the nineteenth century, so I guess it could probably lay claim to having come up with the name, unlike its rivals. Like the Nag's Head next door, The Grapes is a traditional looking, cosy pub which although a bit smaller than its neighbour, is certainly no less comfortable. Inside, the pub is regularly filled with drinkers and diners and this is partly due to the excellent meal offers they have on during the week, including a steak and drink for a fiver. Pretty good value for money, I'm sure you'd agree. The food there is your standard pub classics but all are made to a high standard and the service is always friendly and attentive. The drinks there are what you'd expect from a normal country pub like this and are all available at fairly reasonable and competitive prices. Worth checking out if you're in the area and the Nag's Head is full.

For a while this mammoth pub had a huge bunch of metal grapes hanging outside it, I often wondered…read morehow that would work with other pub names - could you have a massive pair of royal appendages if it were the 'Kings Arms' for example. I, of course, digress. This pub has recently been refurbished, although honestly I can't really see where - the tables are a bit nicer and the carpet has a few less ground in chewing gum splotches (although it's still a hideous pattern) but the bar is where it always is and even the weird, unfathomable golf game near the stairs to the toilet is still there. I'm not complaining you understand, I actually really like The Grapes and were it not the other side of Formby, and not for the fact that I'm at least trying to pretend to be a real functioning member of society, I would happily spend all my days out here - in winter tucked into one of the booths and in summer lounging on the outside terrace. The service is friendly (this may be because I know quite a few of the bar staff) and the beer well poured and competitively priced. The food is the usual reheated something-with-chips-and-peas but it's cheap (£1.99 for scampi, chips and peas) and not especially bad. Definitely the best place in Formby to spend New Year's Eve when, come midnight, revellers roll out onto the street outside to hug and sing and watch the fireworks explode over local gardens.

This imaginatively named pub, situated just around the corner from Freshfield station and the…read moremillionaire's row of the area, Victoria Road, is cosy and offers a great selection of guest ales to accompany the usual draught lagers. The food there is very nice and not particularly expensive and the pub itself, whilst on the small side, makes up for it in comfort and with a friendly atmosphere. They also hold regular comedy nights that are always worth attending if you fancy trying to spot the next big thing or, more realistically, you want to see someone crash and burn horribly. Another popular night is the monthly open mic night, which plays host to a number of talented musicians from around the local area. I have also attended many functions in the back room of the pub and have found it to be a very good venue for occasions such as birthdays and football dos, including use of a disco system playing all your cheesy favourites. Think cosy pint beside the fire rather than the pre-cursor to your messy night out.

The Freshfield is located, appropriately enough, in the Freshfield side of Formby which is like the…read moreBeverly Hills to the rest of the town's Compton, being home to Steven Gerrard and other footballers who I am absolutely aware of, being a manly man and all. It's a traditional little boozer, and I do mean little - it might be the smallest pub in these parts, but it's always popular and you can usually find a variety of regulars and visitors (who have come to find red squirrels down at Formby Point -a largely fruitless activity of late) sat around the selection of small tables. They serve draught lagers and ales (with a favourite, Greene King, on tap here - nice) and a small selection of wines at fairly reasonable prices, think around £15 for a round of 4-5 drinks, so far so what, eh? Well the Freshfield is a dark horse; not only does it do wonderful homemade food (the steak and ale pie, one of the finest I have ever had the pleasure to sample) but also they possess a function room at the rear of the premises that plays host to live music and comedy nights where the likes of Alan Carr and Sean Locke have played before (in their pre-primetime days, of course) - also a great place to hire out should you have a birthday or special anniversary to celebrate.

Fantastic quiet little pub with fantastic homemade food and local brews. Definite recommendation if…read moreyour looking for a place to stop in for a pint or delicious homemade soup.

From the owner: The Ship Inn is a famous local landmark set back from Market Street in the heart of Hoylake. The…read morepub has a garden at the rear, ideal for a drink in the summer time and The Ship also serves delicious home-cooked meals, inc our Scouse offer on a Thursday. The Ship Inn is a popular traditional pub, has a single 'L' shaped bar in the middle of the lounge, and serves a large variety of real ales. You will find The Ship Inn featured regularly in The Camra Good Beer Guide. Food Served: Mon - Fri - 12-2:30 & 5.30-8 Sat - 12-3 Sun - 12-4 Screening all Football matches on 5 different screens Jazz Night - Monday Curry & Pint Night - Tuesday Scouse & Pint Night - Thursday Music Quiz every other Thursday (check notes/events for dates)