Fox & Hounds

Handsome early 20th-c pub gently renovated and serious about its food and drink

Features

Speciality beers
Cask ales
Separate restaurant
Sandwiches
Garden
Disabled access
Disabled loos
TV
  • Separate restaurant
  • Sandwiches sold

Bar food times: 12-9

Typical main dish: fish pie topped with cheddar and chive mash with green beans, savoy cabbage and chantenay carrots

Typical main dish price: £15.50

Average two course evening meal price: £21.00

  • Speciality beers
  • Cask ales (6)

Price of cheapest bitter: £3.90

Name of cheapest bitter: Theakstons Best

Child restrictions: Children allowed in snug

  • Dogs allowed in the bar

The good pub guide review

This spotless and efficiently run pub has retained the best of its original Edwardian features ' separate snug, bar and lounge, fireplace, handsome wood- and glasswork, woodblock and quarry tile floors ' enhanced by a newer conservatory and garden room set for dining. There are up six real ales on handpump: Theakstons Best and Old Peculier and Brimstage Trappers Hat plus interesting guests from brewers such as Salopian and Liverpool Brewing;, also, more than 60 whiskies and 16 or so wines by the glass from a knowledgeable list chosen to complement the food. The main part of the roomy, bay-windowed lounge bar has built-in banquettes, straight-backed dining chairs around solid tables, carpets and plenty of old local prints. Tucked away opposite the serving counter is a charming little corner with an antique kitchen range and memorabilia to match. With its own entrance at the other end of the pub, a small locals' bar is worth a peek for its traditional layout and collection of horsebrasses and metal ashtrays; darts and TV. Next to it is a snug where children are allowed. There are some attractive light wood tables and chairs with parasols out in the flagstoned yard behind, dotted with colourful baskets and tubs. Disabled access and toilet.

The good pub guide food review

The much praised seasonal food includes hot and cold sandwiches (until 5pm), spinach, carrot and potato pakoras, panko-crumbed smoked brie with candied walnuts, red apple and rocket salad, chorizo and black pudding hash with poached egg and welsh rarebit sauce, Bengali slow-cooked lamb shank infused in tomato, cardamom and turmeric with bombay potatoes, wild boar, smoked paprika and garlic meatballs in chorizo and butter bean ragout, roasted aubergine caponata with tomato ragout, melted goats cheese and rosemary roast potatoes, steak and ale pie, plus puddings such as local ice-creams and a cheeseboard with home-made piccalilli and an eccles cake.

2021 Awards

Name of Licensee

Mark Parry

Contact Details

Fox & Hounds, 107 Barnston Road, Heswall, Wirral, Merseyside, CH61 1BW

(0151) 648 7685