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Reviewing milestone with Mobyduck
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Rod Burkey
Submitted on Friday, 17th April 2015
With picture contributions to 27 other pubs
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Detail Pages
The Freshfield, Liverpool
Formby
Postal town: Liverpool
L37 7BD
Reviews of The Freshfield (Average Rating: 9 of 10) see review guidelines
Brainy Pool left this review about The Freshfield
First visit here for six years, but it was once a real favourite of mine and I have very fond memories of it. It’s pretty much unchanged - trendy modern pub in the back streets with an independent style despite the Greene King ownership, and some very friendly locals next to the bar keen to chat. the real ale selection is much reduced now and quite dreary but it’s well kept and the regulars all drink it. A really pleasant local.
On 4th August 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1111 recommendations about 1076 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Freshfield
This large pub in a fairly well to do neighbourhood made it into the final four of CAMRA's national pub of the year a few years ago, so I was expecting a typical backstreet alehouse when I visited recently. I was therefore a little surprised to instead find a large dining-style pub set in a rather imposing former hotel. The pub has a very wide and long U-shaped layout with the main bar in the front section which has scuffed floorboards. The main part of the servery runs along the back wall with a dark wood counter and rough bare brick bar back sporting a nicely detailed carved wood feature in the centre with some mirrors set into it. An old punch card clock with a rack of cards next to it can be seen at one end of the bar and there is also an acoustic guitar on display. Some lovely curved banquettes with tub chairs in support fill the front window bays and a barrel next to the front door holds a selection of the day's papers. To the left is a smart fireplace with a decoratively framed mirror above and the room extends some way back on this side, with the bar following it for the first section. There are lots of comfy chairs and sofas down this side under plain mirrors and old photos on walls decorated with modern wallpaper. This runs on through to the rear restaurant which is full of lots of standard tables and chairs and was pretty much bereft of any pub feel. To the right of the bar, a doorway leads past another nice fireplace with a TV screen above, into a smart room with bare brick walls, long benches and standard chairs, decorated with lots more black and white photos. Surprisingly, there is a dartboard to the front and I noticed an upright piano and a bookcase full of old Good Beer Guides towards the rear. Some decent indie music played quietly throughout my visit and the only other customers on a Thursday lunchtime were young mums and their kids and a few retired couples - almost all here for some food.
The pub's alehouse credentials come from the extensive range of beers across fourteen handpulls. The options on this visit were Oakham Citra and JHB, Greene King IPA, London Glory and Abbott Ale, Milton Nero and Minerva, Ruddles Best, Taylor Landlord, Acorn Blonde, Pier 59 Oceanic, Lancaster Centennial, Milestone Aegir and Empire Porter. A great range to go at, but you have to wonder how, on a quiet day such as when I visited, they manage to maintain quality across fourteen casks. Thankfully my pint of the Acorn Blonde was in decent enough shape, so perhaps they really can support such a selection.
This is definitely a destination pub for anyone looking for a wide selection of ales comprised of well known national brands and slightly obscurer brews. The pub itself wasn't quite as expected given the gastro feel through parts of it and the large open spaces, but perhaps things are very different when its busier and it was certainly very clean and well presented. Overall, the place just about won me over and I'm glad I took the train out here to give it a try.
On 22nd May 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3206 recommendations about 3206 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Freshfield
Substantial pub / restaurant somewhat hidden away in a residential area located some distance back from Formby beach and its sand dunes. 'L'-shaped interior, with the bar along the front, with a small seating area on one side and a much larger dining area stretching backwards on the other. Refurbished with attractive, semi-modern decor throughout. I found ten of the 14 handpumps in operation, and you would never know that this is a Greene King house apart from the IPA clip since this supplemented by a variety of more interesting beers from local and regional breweries, e.g. George Wright Black Swan (£3.15). Well worth hopping of the train at the eponymous station nearby.
On 9th April 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8344 recommendations about 8343 pubs]
View more reviews of The Freshfield (5)
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- Official site of The Freshfield - www.freshfield-liverpool.co.uk
- Facebook - Freshfield Formby
- Twitter - The Freshfield
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Freshfield - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 02 November 2014 by ROB Camra
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Pub SignMan
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 02 November 2014 by ROB Camra
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 02 November 2014 by ROB Camra
- CAMRA Discount : Yes - 25p per pint - last updated 23 October 2016 by Old Boots
- Car Park : Yes last updated 02 November 2014 by ROB Camra
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 02 November 2014 by ROB Camra
- Darts : Yes last updated 22 May 2017 by Pub SignMan
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 02 November 2014 by ROB Camra
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 02 November 2014 by ROB Camra
- Jukebox : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Pub SignMan
- Karaoke : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Pub SignMan
- Live Music : No last updated 02 November 2014 by ROB Camra
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 02 November 2014 by ROB Camra
- Micropub : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Pub SignMan
- Pinball : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Pub SignMan
- Pool Table : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Pub SignMan
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 02 November 2014 by ROB Camra
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 02 November 2014 by ROB Camra
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 02 November 2014 by ROB Camra
