Sport
Where can I go to drink and dine after I’ve been to The Open?
1 year ago
Here’s 13 amazing restaurants and pubs you can try after the Open.
After the highs and lows of The British Open Golf Championships, chances are you’ll want to grab a bite to eat, a drink – or both – while you chat about the highlights of the day, and who you reckon’s going to lift the Claret Jug.
You might want to stay local, venture further around Wirral or, even, head back to Liverpool. Needless to say, there are far too many fab bars and restaurants that it’s impossible to mention them all, but if you want a few ideas for starters, you might want to try these:
The Ship Inn – Market Street, Hoylake
A traditional alehouse in Market Street which does great pub food – and it’s where George Clooney was spotted the first time The Open came in 2006. From starters to small plates, a mains and a great grill menu, you’ll not be disappointed with the food, or the well-stocked bar, and you might even catch some live music depending on what night you go in.
Find out more here
Julian’s – Birkenhead Road, Hoylake
Julian’s was opened by husband and wife team Julian and Jackie Davies in 2004, and focuses on excellent food and friendly service. It’s a bistro-style, intimate venue serving international and modern British cuisine and while Julian – a former chef at the Chester Grosvenor – runs the kitchen, Jackie gives the same love and attention to detail front of house. The flagship menu includes a Straight From The Boat fish selection with the best catch of the day, a Chateaubriand ‘feast’ for two, and there’s an extensive choice of vegan and vegetarian dishes too.
Find out more here
Lino’s – Market Street, Hoylake
Lino and Barbara Galantini and their son Enrico opened Lino’s in 1983 and, 40 years later, it’s still serving the best Italian cuisine. After working together for 15 years, Enrico took the reins and has now been head chef for more than 20 years. Now his son, Emilio, helps his dad in the kitchen and daughter Talia helps out front of house. They do a set dinner menu with two courses for just £25 from Tuesday to Saturday with pasta, prawns and soup starters, and more, and a delicious choice of mains including a classic beef bourguignon.
Find out more here
Three Dollar Bill, Market Street, Hoylake
Three Dollar Bill is the place to go for fantastic Detroit style pizza and fried chicken. It’s only been open a couple of years and is well worth a visit. The pizzas are enormous, square, and come loaded with delicious toppings. Order one between two and you might still have to take some home.
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The Black Toad – Market Street, Hoylake
This isn’t a restaurant but they do great pizzas and it’s one of the closest venues to The Royal Liverpool Course. A micropub and bottle shop, The Black Toad opened in 2019 and this is the first time they’ll welcome Open crowds, but owners Robin and Michelle are hoping people will want to try out a few local craft beers.
Find out more here
Mythos – Market Street, Hoylake
This is a super friendly Greek restaurant that’s really good with children so it’s definitely one for golf-loving families . It’s been open a couple of years and does lots of great offers so they’re always worth looking out for, and the menu will transport you back to your holidays in sunkissed Greece, with traditional dishes from taramasalata and tzatziki, to feta cheese baked in filo pastry and ‘doused’ in honey and sesame seeds, along with stifado and moussaka, fab fish dishes, kebabs and so much more.
Find out more here
Gusto – Telegraph Road, Heswall
And, while we’re on our foodie travels, this popular eaterie promises to transport you to the rolling hills of Italy, and it does a superb job of that thanks to the olive trees inside and the authentic Italian menu. A must-try are the garlic dough petals with garlic and parsley butter, to which you can also add other toppings, the crispy lemon & pepper calamari, and the three-meat lasagne. Or you may prefer the steak experience for two – a 450g Chateaubriand with a bottle of Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore Classico decanted at your table for £100 – or the newly launched Chef’s Table Experience, or the new Sunday Sharing Roast for two for £42.50.
Find out more here
107 Dining Room – Telegraph Road, Heswall
A beautiful contemporary restaurant with an idyllic outdoor dining area too – and some great golf packages available for those who want to get in touch and ask. The light lunch menu includes mouthwatering options from meatball pasta with homemade meatballs and melted cheddar, to a prawn and avocado salad and butcher’s hand carved ham served on French fries with two fried hens’ eggs; while highlights from the main menu include pan fried sea bass fillet served on crushed new potatoes with a chunky Mediterranean tomato sauce and drizzled with green peas, and slow roasted baby back ribs.
Find out more here
The West Kirby Tap – Grange Road, West Kirby
The West Kirby Tap is a real ale house in the centre of West Kirby which has secured its place in the Good Beer Guide for the fifth consecutive year this year and is ideal if you fancy something less formal. It’s more than just beer; its kitchen is open every day of the week serving delicious freshly made stonebaked pizzas and loads of other small nibbles which go perfectly with Spitting Feather’s award-winning beers. There’s regular live music too to help you unwind after a day observing the green action.
Find out more here
The Tapas Kitchen – Banks Road, West Kirby
The Tapas Kitchen is a vibrant and exciting bar and restaurant serving a superb range of Spanish inspired tapas and specialities – grilled medallions of Spanish black pudding, Galician style mussels, and Spanish slow cooked pulled pork tacos – alongside a fab drinks collection, with lots of lovely cavas, great beers and gins, and cocktails like Spanish Porn Star and Fresh Berry Sangria with cranberry, rose vermouth, bilberry gin, fresh berries, chilled cava.
Find out more here
And heading over to Liverpool…
Gaucho – Water Street
After all the course drama, Gaucho could be the perfect place to head to. Since it opened it’s been greeting guest after guest and creating a spectacular eating experience along with more theatrical events like those offered at its immersive and intimate Beef Bar where you can watch as your personal chef prepares an Argentine Beef Tasting Menu. Along with a stunning interior that’s well
above par and premium steaks, it’s got a menu of gorgeous drinks creations and, on Friday nights, the party and culture of Argentina arrives at Gaucho with DJs ready to spin the decks and get you heading onto the dance floor.
Find out more here
Hawksmoor – Brunswick Street
Still on steaks, Hawksmoor is another city star. Ranked number one in the ‘World’s Best Steak Restaurants’, it’s famous for its charcoal grilled, 35-day dry aged steaks, award-winning cocktails, and spectacular interiors. And, you’ll find it in the iconic Grade II-listed India Buildings which is a treat in itself.
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Riva Blu – Castle Street
Situated on the corner of Castle Street and Dale Street, Riva Blu’s an authentic Italian restaurant in the beautiful Grade II listed building which used to be the Midland Bank. These days it’s less about base rates but still offers loads to keep interest rates high, with fabulous food from pastas and pizzas, to grills and divine fish dishes, cracking cocktails, and the most amazing puds. There’s a really good drinks menu too, and even the cocktails have an Italian twist – we love the Amalfi Me with Absolut mango vodka, Aperol with passion fruit, pineapple and lime; and the Italian iced tea, Italicus bergamot apéritif, Tea Più liqueur with lemon and egg white for texture.
Find out more here