The Kicking Donkey, Ormskirk

a fairly traditional rural pub just north of Ormskirk. Not the most obvious from the road, I drove past it twice before finally spotting it! Once inside you find quite a large pub with dining areas both sides of the bar area. Some sterilisation in the decor, ie. bland paint over the panelling, but it’s pleasant anyway. Plenty of regulars stood around the bar early on a Friday evening and old pop songs playing. I felt pretty comfortable here and the three local ales helped- I went for the Wily Fox bitter.

The Kicking Donkey is situated on a country lane a little to the north of Ormskirk. It features in the 2025 Good Beer Guide and on my Sunday evening visit, it was reasonably busy with a good mix of drinkers and diners. With a bit of a storm hitting the north west, my entering blew a few paper menus around the pub, which I dutifully retrieved for them. The welcome I received was quite warm. Inside, there is one main room with a number of others leading off it. The decor was very well appointed. Lancaster Blonde is the regular real ale here. In addition, there was Lancaster Tales From The Brewhouse No. 12 Snowdrop Pale Ale & Salopian Kashmir. My Snowdrop was in good condition and was a very hoppy brew. A lager drinker sat at the bar took some interest in my beer. Perhaps he will become converted! Certainly one of the best 4 pubs I visited in the Ormskirk area. It deserves its place in the Good Beer Guide.

Official site of the Kicking Donkey, includes menus - www.thekickingdonkey.com

Official site of the Kicking Donkey, includes menus - www.thekickingdonkey.com

absolutely fantastic pub serving good ales and the finest pub food in west lancs! the hosts are plesant and courteous well recommended by rhonda and bill