From cooking for famous people to winning a Chef of the Year award, 72-year-old Julian Davies has enjoyed an extraordinary culinary career spanning more than five decades. But perhaps his greatest achievement is closer to home – running one of Wirral’s longest-standing independent restaurants alongside his wife Jackie.
As Julian’s in Hoylake approaches another festive season, the couple are proving that classic British cuisine, exceptional ingredients and good old-fashioned hospitality never go out of style. In an industry where restaurants come and go, trends change overnight and even the biggest names struggle to survive, Julian’s Restaurant in Hoylake is something of a rarity.
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For 23 years, Julian and Jackie Davies have been welcoming diners through the doors of their much-loved restaurant on Birkenhead Road, serving beautifully prepared British cuisine that has earned them a loyal following, hundreds of five-star reviews and a reputation that extends far beyond the Wirral Peninsula.
They’ve weathered two recessions, a global pandemic, personal health battles and the ever-increasing pressures facing independent hospitality businesses. Yet, remarkably, they’re still going strong – with weekends regularly fully booked and customers travelling considerable distances to enjoy Julian’s cooking. And at 72, Julian has no intention of hanging up his chef’s whites just yet!
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From A Distinguished Career To A Hoylake Institution
Julian’s story began long before he and Jackie opened their restaurant in 2004. Originally from Wales, Julian has spent more than 50 years perfecting his craft, building a distinguished career in some of the finest kitchens at home and abroad. His impressive CV includes working at the prestigious Grosvenor in Chester, the renowned Chester restaurant Paparazzi and even internationally in places such as Libya.
Along the way, he’s cooked for The Duke Of Westminster’s family, Grace Kelly and Sir Stanley Matthews, as well as winning a Chef of the Year accolade. But it was while working as Head Chef at The Wheatsheaf in Raby that Julian met Jackie – a meeting that would change both their lives. The pair fell in love, opened Julian’s and later got married at Goodison Park.
Jackie recalls fondly: “In 2004, we took out a loan and opened a restaurant together. Our original plan was give it ten years and see how things went. More than two decades later, we’re still here! We’ve been through a lot and it hasn’t been easy, but we genuinely love our customers and our regulars are like family to us. We’ve moved to a three day week to make it more manageable but we’re still going strong and we’re so proud of what we’ve achieved together.”
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No Gimmicks, No Fads – Just Exceptional Food
While the restaurant industry has changed dramatically over the last two decades, Julian and Jackie have remained faithful to the philosophy that made their restaurant successful in the first place. Julian’s isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel with fashionable food trends, elaborate gimmicks or dishes designed primarily for social media. Instead, the focus is on refined, traditional British cuisine, expertly prepared using premium ingredients.
Julian’s Welsh roots remain an important influence, with quality meat sourced from Welsh butchers and classic dishes that celebrate the very best of British cooking. Think beautifully cooked lamb, rich venison, pheasant, fresh fish, traditional sauces and comforting seasonal dishes that require genuine skill and experience to get right. It’s the kind of food that never goes out of fashion. Meanwhile, quality fish is sourced from Hoylake Fisheries.
And with Julian bringing more than half a century of experience to the kitchen, diners can expect a level of craftsmanship that’s becoming increasingly difficult to find. The restaurant itself has retained its classic, welcoming style, offering an intimate dining experience where quality and consistency matter more than chasing the latest trends. It’s an approach that has attracted an incredibly loyal clientele over the years, including celebrities and professional footballers.
FOR THE FULL MENUS VISIT THE WEBSITE AND TO BOOK A TABLE CALL 0151 632 6241
November’s Menu – A Celebration Of Classic British Cooking
One of the secrets to Julian’s enduring appeal is its regularly changing menu, giving returning customers something new to look forward to every month. And November’s Table d’Hôte menu is a wonderful example of the restaurant’s commitment to quality, variety and exceptional value. As ever, there’s always a separate dedicated vegan and vegetarian menu on offer and they cater for allergies as everything is freshly prepared.
With two courses priced at just £23.95 on Thursdays and £26.95 on Fridays and Saturdays, it’s an opportunity to enjoy food prepared by a chef with decades of award-winning experience without paying fine-dining prices. It’s a menu that perfectly illustrates why Julian’s has stood the test of time – familiar dishes, expertly executed, with a few elegant touches that elevate them into something special.
FOR THE FULL MENUS VISIT THE WEBSITE AND TO BOOK A TABLE CALL 0151 632 6241
December’s Festive Menu Is A Real Christmas Cracker!
As Christmas approaches, Julian and Jackie are preparing to welcome diners for one of the most popular periods in their calendar. And their December 2026 festive menu is packed with the kind of traditional seasonal dishes that make Christmas dining such a treat. Available from Wednesday 2nd December to Wednesday 23rd December, the two-course Table d’Hôte menu is priced at £25.50 on Wednesdays and Thursdays and £28.50 on Fridays and Saturdays.
For discerning diners looking for a traditional British feast this festive season, there aren’t many restaurants in Merseyside that offer a menu as refined and mouthwatering as Julian’s. Think Welsh Turkey Crown, Vale Of Clwyd Pheasant, Lamb Navarin and Forest Of Dean Venison — with vegan and vegetarian options dishes available too and availability to cater for allergies. And if you like a festive gin you’re in for a treat — Jackie has a collection of over 70 gins!
FOR THE FULL MENUS VISIT THE WEBSITE AND TO BOOK A TABLE CALL 0151 632 6241
Steak Night – A Monthly Treat With A Michelin-Standard Reputation
While Julian’s Thursday-to-Saturday dining has earned the restaurant its loyal following, there’s another occasion that has become particularly popular with customers. On the last Sunday of every month, Julian and Jackie host their special Steak Night – an event that has developed a reputation of its own. The next steak night is planed for January, but they’re often fully booked so it’s advisable to book well in advance!
Using premium Ribeye from Hintons Butchers, the evening has become a favourite among steak lovers. Indeed, some customers have gone as far as describing the steak as Michelin standard, as one said: “Consistently the BEST dining experience in the post code! We return with friends and family at every opportunity. The steak alone is Michelin worthy! Julian’s culinary craft and Jackie’s hospitality and service are 6 star rated. Can’t wait to come back!”
FOR THE FULL MENUS VISIT THE WEBSITE AND TO BOOK A TABLE CALL 0151 632 6241
A True Wirral Success Story
In an age of restaurant chains, celebrity chef concepts and constantly changing food fashions, Julian’s is a reminder that sometimes the simplest formula is the most successful. Buy the best ingredients you can. Cook them properly. Treat your customers well. And never compromise on standards. For Julian and Jackie Davies, that philosophy has sustained their restaurant for 23 remarkable years.
It’s seen them welcome generations of diners, build a reputation that attracts visitors from far beyond Hoylake and establish Julian’s as one of Wirral’s longest-standing independent dining destinations. And with their November and December menus showcasing everything from Welsh lamb and Chicken Chasseur to festive pheasant, venison and traditional turkey, there’s never been a better time to discover – or rediscover – this wonderful Hoylake gem.
FOR THE FULL MENUS VISIT THE WEBSITE AND TO BOOK A TABLE CALL 0151 632 6241
Julian said: “It’s been an amazing 23 years here in Hoylake but I couldn’t have done it without Jackie by my side. We were meant to retire years ago but we genuinely love what we do and welcoming our customers, who are our friends. They’ve always stuck by us and have been there for us when we’ve had hard times. This restaurant is more than just a business to us — it’s what we’ve created together and a place that continues to create memories for our customers.”
Julian may be 72, but his passion for cooking clearly remains as strong as ever. They originally gave themselves ten years. More than two decades later, Julian and Jackie are still proving that great food, hard work and a little Welsh determination are a winning combination. Here’s to many more years of Julian’s!
Julian’s Restaurant / 20 Birkenhead Road, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 3BW / 0151 632 6241
FOR THE FULL MENUS VISIT THE WEBSITE AND TO BOOK A TABLE CALL 0151 632 6241
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