We love showcasing hidden gems — the boss independents off the beaten track that you may not be aware of. During the past 12 months, we’ve introduced you to some very special places and here we bring you 24 amazing hidden gems (in alphabetical order) in the region that we’ve discovered! Which of these places have you been to? Which would you like to visit? Which places would you include?
Here’s our list of some of the hidden gems we’ve discovered this year with details of which are dog friendly….
AJ’S Tea Room & Gin Bar
Situated next to Andrew Collinge hairdressers on Telegraph Road in Heswall, you’d be forgiven for walking past this top floor hidden gem. AJ’s is a 1920s art deco tea room and gin bar, serving afternoon tea, light lunches, cakes and over 100 gins. They have gin tasting nights and live entertainment and it’s a great option for venue hire and private parties!
129 Telegraph Road, Heswall, CH60 0AF / 07885458204
Check out AJ’s on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
Balls Deep Bar
Ok, so we can’t tell you the exact location of this place as it’s a bit of a fun secret. What we can tell you is that Ball’s Deep Bar is a retro underground ball pit cocktail bar with ultraviolet graffiti opened in November 2019! With a giant ball pit and swing, a retro ping pong and beer pong table and more, it’s a super cool new venue! Head for the new Only Fools Bar on Seel Street and you’ll find the secret entrance!
Seel Street, Liverpool
Check out Balls Deep Bar on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
Bread & Butter
Situated a few doors down from The Everyman Theatre on Liverpool’s iconic Hope Street, Bread & Butter is a highly rated restaurant in a gorgeous Georgian building. With a refined menu, it offers quality cuisine in a sumptuous homely environment and has a beautiful patio area to the rear and a secret bar downstairs. (Dog friendly).
23 Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9BQ / 0151 709 7612
Check out Bread & Butter on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
El Nido
This new gem opened on Woolton Road in November 2019 is a must visit! If you head for the Halfway House pub you’ll find this fantastic restaurant and bar. With a classy contemporary interior yet relaxing and unpretentious, it serves quality small plates of the highest order! Our personal favourite was the Baby Chorizo — the best ever!
252 Woolton Road, Liverpool, L16 8NE / 0151 722 7546
Check out El Nido on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
Everest Kitchen
Situated on Mill Lane in West Derby, this below ground level Nepalese restaurant offers quality Nepalese and Indian food at a very affordable price. There are great offers and it’s very popular for birthday celebrations. Famous actor and singer, Tony Hadley, has been known to frequent there when in Liverpool and sings its praises!
41 Mill Lane, West Derby, L12 7HZ / 07446083612
Check out Everest Kitchen on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
5 Fifty Bistro
One of the highest rated restaurants in the region on Trip Advisor, 5 Fifty Bistro of Aigburth Road is a true hidden gem. The small 9 table eatery is only open Thursday to Sunday and doesn’t have a big social media following, but gets rave reviews from those who know. Extremely high quality British and European cuisine and Sunday dinners to die for!
550 Aigburth Road, Liverpool, L19 3QG / 0151 427 6747
Check out 5 Fifty Bistro on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
Hope & Smoke
Situated at the bottom end of Allerton Road, on the corner of Harthill Avenue, Hope & Smoke is a smokehouse with a modern twist — serving a range of refined small plates and main dishes. Relaxed dining at the bar downstairs, or sit upstairs in one of their cosy booths, Hope & Smoke has developed a fantastic reputation since opening a year and a half ago.
171 Allerton Road, Liverpool, L18 6HG / 0151 724 2186
Check out Hope & Smoke on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
Lily’s Thai Cafe
WOW! If you haven’t yet experienced this new gem of a Thai restaurant in West Kirby, you seriously need to! Situated at the ‘other end’ of Banks Road, on the corner of South Road and away from the town centre, Lily’s is a very special new Thai restaurant that replaces the old Wolf & Lamb. Already the talk of the town, Lily’s offers spicy, colourful, creative and flavoursome Thai cuisine in a cool, modern and light environment.
Lily’s Thai Restaurant / 119-121 Banks Road, West Kirby, CH48 0RB / 07913819621
Check out Lily on FACEBOOK!
Full article to follow very soon!
Mere Brook House
Set in the countryside of Thornton Hough, Mere Brook House is a very special place indeed! A multi award winning 5 gold star bed and breakfast, it’s an amazing place to visit right on our doorstep whilst feeling like you could be anywhere in the country. Also a popular destination for weddings, private functions and dinner events, Mere Brook House is real gem in the South Wirral countryside.
Thornton Common Road, Thornton Hough, CH63 0LU / 07713189949
Check out Mere Brook House on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
Mimosa Tea Garden
Mimosa Tea Garden, situated on the edge of Eastham Country Park, is a magical place where you can relax and escape the stresses of daily life. With birds, trees, lots of quirky features and heated outside huts to sit in, it offers breakfast, light lunches, seasonal dishes, quality tea and coffee, ice cream and more. A very beautiful hidden gem indeed! (Dog friendly).
Green Lane, Eastham, CH62 0BH / 0151 327 1554
Check out Mimosa Tea Garden on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
Molly’s Chambers
Located in between Hamilton Square and the Four Bridges, Molly’s Chambers is a cool rock venue and kitchen that’s open Wednesday to Sunday. It has top tribute bands on and is known for being Wirral’s No.1 music venue, although it’s very much off the beaten track. With a main basement room and a warehouse room, it offers relaxed dining and quality live entertainment.
167 Bridge Street, Birkenhead, CH41 1AY / 0151 647 9114
Check out Molly’s Chambers on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
Remember When
Situated on Victoria Parade in New Brighton, at the bottom of Victoria Road and just up from the promenade, Remember When is a multi award winning vintage tea room that offers quality afternoon tea, breakfast, light lunches and delicious home made cakes. A visit to Remember When is like stepping into a time capsule with lots of period features to admire.
64 Victoria Parade, New Brighton, CH45 2PH / 0151 639 0615
Check out Remember When on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
Stanley’s Cask
Situated on Rake Lane in between New Brighton and Liscard, Stanley’s Cask is a legendary pub with top live music acts on from Friday to Sunday. A vibrant community venue, Stanley’s Cask is loved by locals for being a hub of entertainment that puts on top drawer bands and acts. The place to be locally for live music! (Dog friendly).
212 Rake Lane, Wallasey, CH45 1JP / 0151 691 1093
Check out Stanley’s Cask on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
The Black Toad
Another new venture, this quirky little place opened on Market Street in Hoylake — although it’s very easy to miss. This tiny little micro pub has a few cosy little nooks and a quaint little beer garden to the rear and it serves a range of ever changing flavoured beers and craft ales. Following in the footsteps of The Bow Legged Beagle, it’s been a welcome edition to Hoylake.
32 Market Street, Hoylake, CH47 2AF
Check out The Black Toad on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
The Bow Legged Beagle
This quirky micro pub situated on Victoria Road in New Brighton is loved for its great atmosphere and ever changing range of flavoured beer and craft ale. With a minimal wood interior, it’s a relaxed, friendly and fun place to drink. As they change their extensive beer range regularly, you’ll never get bored of what they offer. There’s one in Upton Village too! (Dog friendly).
88 Victoria Road, New Brighton, CH45 2JF / 07597900114
Check out The Bow Legged Beagle on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
The Lake
Situated in Lake Place away from Hoylake’s high street, The Lake is a cracking pub with top live music and entertainment. The Lake is what you’d call a ‘proper pub’ — cosy with loads of character and loads going on and landlord and landlady Loz and Vic have transformed it since taking over. With darts, games, live sport, a hilarious Sunday quiz, a boss jam night and top live music acts, it’s a hub of activity with a great sense of community. (Dog friendly).
36 Lake Place, Hoylake, CH47 2DW / 0151 632 7901
Check out The Lake on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
The Magazine Hotel
This iconic pub on the banks of the Mersey is situated on Magazine Brow in New Brighton, just around the corner from Vale Park. It’s steeped in history and character, with loads of original features, and has a gem of a beer garden to the rear. With views over the Mersey, little nooks and side rooms and quality drink and live music, it’s a true gem that’s loved by those who know. (Dog friendly).
7 Magazine Brow, New Brighton, CH45 1HP / 0151 630 3169
Check out The Magazine Hotel on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
The Pen Factory
This fantastic basement venue next to The Everyman Theatre on Hope Street offers quality small plates, fine wine and the best craft ale. It offers informal dining in a large, open plan setting and has a minimalist style and a gorgeous outside patio. There’s live music such as jazz nights and events such as Tap Takeover events. It has an amazing reputation and is highly recommended. (Dog friendly).
13 Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9BQ / 0151 709 7887
Check out The Pen Factory on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
The Refreshment Rooms
Situated on Bedford Road East in Rock Ferry, this hidden gem on the banks of The Mersey offers quality pub classics and generous portions! This pub and restaurant is steeped in history and character and has its own little stretch of beach and a gorgeous beer garden open in the summer. Quality food and drink in a beautiful setting off the beaten track. N.B enquire about the amazing January offers they have! (Dog friendly).
2 Bedford Road East, Rock Ferry, CH42 1LS / 0151 644 5893
Check out The Refreshment Rooms on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
The Tapas Kitchen
The Tapas Kitchen, in case you’re not aware, is one of the mostly highly rated restaurants in Wirral. Winning awards left, right and centre and highly ranked on Trip Advisor, this Spanish small plates restaurant with a connoisseurs twist is a must visit! Find out why The Tapas Kitchen has won so many awards by enjoying their mouth watering selection of small plates and specialist drinks!
95 Banks Road, West Kirby, CH48 0RB / 0151 625 8111
Check out The Tapas Kitchen on FACEBOOK!
Full article to follow very soon!
The White Owl
There aren’t many places around that boast such a picturesque setting. Located off Station Road in Thurstaston and with panoramic views of the countryside and over to Wales, this eatery and live music venue is going from strength to strength. Gorgeous breakfast, lunch or dinner and top live music, it’s a country retreat on our doorstep.
Station Road, Thurstaston, CH61 0HL / 0151 648 0800
Check out The White Owl on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
Wild Inn
Wild Inn has become the best bar in West Kirby for a few reasons. This super cool rock café and bar on Banks Road offers a quality playlist, top live music acts from Thursday to Sunday, gorgeous coffee and cocktails and live sport on BT. A great place to drink and relax with a superb soundtrack, this place absolutely rocks! (Dog friendly).
38 Banks Road, West Kirby, CH48 ORD
Check out Wild Inn on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
Woodside Ferry Village
Situated within Woodside Ferry Terminal, just round the corner from Hamilton Square, this gem offers a range of award winning food vendors, a couple of bars and live entertainment, with an outside terrace and stunning views of the Liverpool skyline. With events and venue hire available, it’s a great choice for quality food, drink and music. (Dog friendly).
Woodside Ferry Terminal, Woodside, CH41 6DU / 0151 318 0944
Check out Woodside Ferry Village on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
Wylde Coffee
This cracking new independent coffee shop was opened in Heswall in November 2019 and offers their own high quality in house coffee range, loose leaf tea, very special hot chocolate and home made cakes from other local independents. It’s a super chilled and relaxed place built on passion — much more special than a corporate coffee shop chain. (Dog friendly).
86 Telegraph Road, Heswall, CH60 0AQ
Check out Wylde Coffee on FACEBOOK!
Check out our full article HERE!
We hope you’ve enjoyed us bringing you hidden gems and special places you perhaps weren’t aware of. Which of the above do you know and love? Which ones would you like to visit? Which places would you include in our list?
There are many fantastic places to discover in our region and if you find one that we should showcase then please let us know! In the meantime, enjoy some of the quality establishments on our list — all highly recommended!
For a full list of great places to eat and drink check out our Food & Drink section HERE!
