Ring 'O' Bells, West Kirby

Took us a while to visit this place for the first time, but now we have we'll be back a few more times methinks. It's a very smart looking place on three levels with plenty of seating. There is also a large garden. Food seems a big thing, and a lot of folk on our visit were eating the usual pub meals.

But the beer is very good and from the Green King range, though they do have a bespoke bitter on brewed for the pub. The IPA dispenser has the 'switch' which enables your pint to be poured in the 'southern' or 'northern' tradition - that is with the creamy head or not. As a northerner who spent too long in the south, I like my ale served in the southern style now and so this is a good thing.

Well worth a visit.

20 May 2013 14:24

The Wro, West Kirby

I don't think this place was on this website for an age and now it's appeared I think I'll give a review as it is one of our frequent places for a snifter - it is a particular favourite with Mrs Barlick - and indeed we shall be there tonight.

It's a really good bar. There's no ale as noted below, but there's plenty of everything else and you can get yourself draught Urquell and Kosel which are decent enough Czech beers. They have a really good wine list and small bottles of Prosecco for my Mrs. Food is imaginative and generally good. They often have bands on, and loads of other events - I think there's a book club. What really marks it out though are the staff. They are really, really well trained and efficient and many of them have been there all the time we've been going in - over 3 years. It's a deserved winner of Merseyside Bar of the Year a few times recently, beating off the cream of Liverpool's over the water.

There's also Wro Terrace over the road - slightly different range of drinks and probably more of a place for food but it's just as good for a drink.

Shame about the license - I wasn't aware there'd been a campaign but I guess we are in West Kirby, a notoriously conservative spot

12 Oct 2012 11:46

La Bodega, Hoylake

It's a cafe bar, rather than a full blown restaurant. No real ale, just lagers and keg stuff. We had a couple of glasses of wine the other week, rose but it was more or less undrinkable (and it was changed for us). But...

It does have music on, and open mic sessions. Comedy too, I'm sure. It plays a role on recent parish events - notably the Festival of Firsts. On the decking, it has a raised bed where IncredibleEdibleHoylake have planted herbs for the community to nourish and pick.

For these reasons I'm happy to wish it every success.

19 Sep 2012 14:38