Wirral Pubs: The Best Pubs and Where to Drink

The Wirral pubs with the strongest public record are the West Kirby Tap, the Campaign for Real Ale’s Wirral Pub of the Year for 2026, the Black Toad and the Plasterers Arms in Hoylake, the Red Fox at Thornton Hough and the Magazine Hotel above the Mersey in New Brighton. Every entry was checked against the pub’s own website, or CAMRA’s branch guide where it has none, on 24 October 2026.

We have not visited these pubs for this guide, and nothing here is a review. Each entry sets out what the pub says about itself and what it publishes on hours, beer, food and house rules, then adds the public record: Wirral CAMRA, whose judges pick a Pub of the Year each spring after repeat visits, CAMRA’s national pub listings for dog, child and access details, and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) hygiene rating given by Wirral Council’s inspectors. Hours change, especially in winter, so check before you set off.

West Kirby and Hoylake

The West Kirby Tap, Grange Road

The West Kirby Tap is owned by Spitting Feathers, the Cheshire brewery, which describes it as “an award-winning real ale house in the heart of West Kirby”. Wirral CAMRA named it Pub of the Year for 2026. The branch guide describes an open-plan bar with wooden panelling, bare brick and a log burner, with Spitting Feathers Session Beer and Thirstquencher on alongside guests, and a loyalty card that gives the sixth cask pint free. The kitchen serves stone-baked pizzas, small plates and snacks seven days a week. The pub says it is “proudly dog friendly”; CAMRA lists children until 9pm, a ramp on request and an accessible toilet. Live music most Saturdays, quiz on Tuesdays. Open Monday 12pm to 9pm, Tuesday to Thursday 12pm to 11pm, Friday and Saturday 12pm to 11.30pm, Sunday 12pm to 10pm. Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 11 June 2026). Grange Road, CH48 4DY, 150 metres from West Kirby station. Our listing.

The Black Toad, Market Street

The Black Toad is a micropub that opened in July 2019 in an empty shop on Hoylake’s main street, according to Wirral CAMRA. It took over the shop next door in 2020 for a lounge, and the small back room is a bottle shop, with a beer garden behind. It was the branch’s Pub of the Year in 2025 and runner-up in 2023, 2024 and 2026. CAMRA’s national listing records a changing range of cask beer and real cider, dogs and families welcome, and two steps at the entrance, with step-free access by the left-hand door into a room without a bar; there is no accessible toilet. Open every day 1pm to 10.30pm, per CAMRA. Hygiene rating 4 (FSA, 6 September 2024). 32 Market Street, CH47 2AF. Website. Our listing.

Plasterers Arms, Back Sea View

The Plasterers Arms is a two-room pub in what was Hoylake’s fishing quarter, and Wirral CAMRA’s branch guide says there has been a pub on the site for over 270 years. It points out the mirrored ceiling and the local history on the walls. It is 150 yards from the beach and popular with walkers and birdwatchers, and there is a children’s playground in the park opposite. The branch made it a Pub of Excellence in its 2026 awards. CAMRA’s national listing has dogs welcome, children until 9pm, a single shallow step at the entrance and no accessible toilet. Quiz on Thursdays. Open every day 12pm to midnight. Call 07546 327101. It has no website we could find. Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 29 March 2022). 35 Back Sea View, CH47 2DJ, 500 metres from Manor Road station. Our listing.

Heswall, Thornton Hough and Raby

Dee View Inn, Dee View Road

The Dee View Inn is a late-Victorian local on the hairpin bend by Heswall’s war memorial, with views over the Dee Estuary and close to the Wirral Way, according to Wirral CAMRA, which gave it its Community Pub Award in 2025. Black Sheep Best Bitter and Fuller’s London Pride are the regular beers, and Tuesday is Cask Club, with money off cask. It serves no food, but customers can bring their own or have a takeaway delivered. Live music on the last Saturday of the month. CAMRA’s national listing allows dogs in the bar area only and notes three shallow steps at the entrance. Open Monday 1pm to 9pm, Tuesday to Thursday 1pm to 11pm, Friday and Saturday 1pm to midnight, Sunday 1pm to 10pm. Call 0151 348 4883. Hygiene rating 3 (FSA, 18 November 2024). 2 Dee View Road, CH60 0DH. Our listing.

The Beer Lab, Telegraph Road

The Beer Lab was Heswall’s first micropub, opened in 2018 in a former cycle shop five minutes from the shops and bus station, CAMRA says. It is a single bright room. The house beer, Beer Lab Pale Ale at 4%, is brewed by Beartown, and up to eight real ciders are kept, which won it Wirral CAMRA’s Cider Pub of the Year in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Beer is served in pints, two-thirds and thirds only, not halves. CAMRA’s national listing has dogs and families welcome and a shallow step at the entrance. Open Monday to Wednesday 3pm to 10pm, Thursday and Friday 3pm to 11pm, Saturday 1pm to 11pm, Sunday 1pm to 9pm, per CAMRA. Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 26 January 2019). 53 Telegraph Road, CH60 0AD. Website. Our listing.

The Red Fox, Thornton Hough

The Red Fox is a Brunning & Price pub in a large brick and sandstone building from the second half of the 19th century, which the pub says has open fires throughout and raised terraces over landscaped lawns at the back. It lists its awards: Wirral CAMRA Pub of the Year 2023, Merseyside and Cheshire regional Cider Pub of the Year 2023, and Wirral Cider Pub of the Year 2024. CAMRA’s branch guide counts nine hand pumps arranged light to dark, with a dark beer always on, and the branch made it a Pub of Excellence in 2026. Food is served from 12pm to 9pm, per CAMRA, with daily, Sunday and children’s menus. CAMRA lists dogs on a lead away from the dining areas and children with no restrictions; there is a wheelchair ramp at the side and an accessible toilet. Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 11pm, Sunday 10am to 10.30pm. Call 0151 353 2920. Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 30 June 2026). Neston Road, CH64 7TL.

The Wheatsheaf Inn, Raby

The Wheatsheaf calls itself “probably the oldest public house in Wirral”. The datestone over the door reads 1611, the year it was rebuilt after a fire, and it has a thatched roof, a black and white front and open fires. The Cowshed restaurant is in the converted cattle barn. CAMRA lists it on its National Inventory of historic interiors at two stars, for the snug made by settles round a table in front of a large brick fireplace, and it is Grade II listed. Brimstage Trapper’s Hat and Timothy Taylor Landlord are the regular beers. Dogs are allowed, but not in the restaurant. Open Monday to Thursday 12pm to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 12pm to 11pm, Sunday 12pm to 8pm; the kitchen serves 12pm to 8pm Tuesday to Saturday and 12pm to 3.30pm on Sunday and Monday. Closed Christmas Day. Book online. Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 13 October 2025). Raby Mere Road, CH63 4JH.

Bebington and Bromborough

The Traveller’s Rest, Mount Road

The Traveller’s Rest is a former coaching inn on the edge of Storeton Woods, which Wirral CAMRA’s branch guide describes as a cosy traditional pub with a country feel, brasses and bric-a-brac, a central bar and two side rooms. Ossett White Rat and Timothy Taylor Landlord are the regulars, and it was Highly Commended in the branch’s 2025 Pub of the Year. It serves home-cooked food at lunchtime, with no evening meals on Monday or Tuesday. CAMRA’s national listing records step-free access and an accessible toilet, and dogs and families welcome. Quiz on Mondays. Open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 12pm to 11pm, Wednesday 12pm to 10.30pm, Friday and Saturday 12pm to midnight, Sunday 12pm to 11pm. Call 0151 608 2988. Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 5 February 2026). 169 Mount Road, CH63 8PJ.

Rose and Crown, The Village

The Rose and Crown was built as a coaching inn in 1732 and is now a locals’ pub with a lounge, a small bar and a games room, according to Wirral CAMRA, which gave it its Community Pub Award in 2024 and a Pub of Excellence award in 2022. It is a Thwaites house, with Thwaites Gold, IPA and Original plus four or five guests. It is next to Mayer Park and a short walk from Port Sunlight village. Live music on Saturday nights and a quiz on Sundays. CAMRA’s national listing has dogs welcome, children until 9pm, one shallow step at the entrance with a ramp on request, no accessible toilet and free parking next door. Open Monday to Thursday 1pm to 11pm, Friday to Sunday 1pm to 11.30pm. Call 0151 644 5829. Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 29 March 2023). 57 The Village, CH63 7PL. Our listing.

The Bow-Legged Beagle, Allport Lane

This is the third of the Bow-Legged Beagle micropubs, opened in March 2020 in a former shop near Bromborough’s market cross, CAMRA says. The cask range usually runs to a session pale, a stronger IPA, a bitter or amber, and a stout or porter. Wirral CAMRA gave it its Cellarmanship Award, for keeping beer in good condition, in 2022, 2023 and 2025. CAMRA’s national listing has dogs welcome, children until 9pm, one small step at the entrance and no accessible toilet. Open Monday to Thursday 1pm to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 1pm to 11pm, Sunday 1pm to 9pm, per CAMRA. Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 13 August 2026). 11 Allport Lane, CH62 7HH, a ten-minute walk from Bromborough Rake station. Group website.

Hop, Allport Road

Hop is a two-room micropub in a former bakery, opened in September 2022 a short walk from Bromborough station, and Wirral CAMRA gave it its Pub of the Season award for spring 2026. The pub says it is “a modern space with the welcoming charm of a traditional pub”, with craft beers from independent brewers, premium lagers, prosecco, wines and spirits. CAMRA’s national listing adds cask beer, darts, dogs welcome, one step at the entrance and a members’ price of £3.30 a pint on cask, Monday to Thursday. Open Monday 5pm to 8pm, Tuesday 5pm to 9pm, Wednesday 3pm to 10pm, Thursday and Friday 3pm to 11pm, Saturday 2pm to 11pm, Sunday 2pm to 9pm. Call 07902 020909. Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 28 April 2023). 122 Allport Road, CH62 6AQ.

Birkenhead

Gallaghers, Chester Street

Gallaghers is a free house that was rescued after closure and refurbished in 2010 as a pub with a barber’s shop; the barber’s closed in 2016, Wirral CAMRA records. It is near the Mersey Ferries terminal and decorated with military memorabilia and shipping pictures, and the mural on the side wall, finished in February 2020, commemorates the sinking of HMS Birkenhead. Brimstage Trapper’s Hat and Ossett White Rat are the regulars, and CAMRA made it a Pub of Excellence in 2024. Food at lunchtime (not Sunday) and in the evening (not Monday). Live music Sundays from 7pm, quiz on Wednesdays, several TV screens. CAMRA lists dogs welcome, one step at the entrance and more inside, no accessible toilet. Open Monday to Thursday 12pm to 11pm, Friday 12pm to midnight, Saturday 11.30am to midnight, Sunday 12pm to 11pm. Call 0151 649 9095. Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 7 May 2026). 20 Chester Street, CH41 5DQ, 150 metres from Hamilton Square station. Our listing.

The Stork Hotel, Price Street

The Stork is here for its building. It has a three-star entry on CAMRA’s National Inventory, the top grade, for an interior “of outstanding national historic importance”, and it is Grade II listed. CAMRA dates the pub to 1840, refitted lavishly by Threlfalls Brewery, and describes the mosaic floor, the patterned tiling inside and out, etched glass, a circular bar with leaded stained glass and rising sashes, and a “news room” that still has its original bell pushes. It is a street-corner local near Hamilton Square. It does not sell cask ale, CAMRA notes. Step-free at the entrance; no accessible toilet. Open Monday 1pm to 11pm, Tuesday 2pm to 10pm, Wednesday 1pm to 10pm, Thursday 2pm to 10.30pm, Friday to Sunday 12pm to 1am. Call 07375 884066. Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 15 May 2024). 41-43 Price Street, CH41 6JN, 300 metres from Conway Park station. Our listing.

Wallasey and New Brighton

The Magazine Hotel, Magazine Brow

The Magazine says it was established in 1759 and is “one of the oldest pubs on the Wirral”, in the Magazines Conservation Area with a beer garden looking across the Mersey. The name comes from sailors waiting while their outward-bound ships were loaded with munitions, CAMRA’s branch guide explains; the pub was restored after a fire in 2010. It is known for Draught Bass, with three guest ales, and is on CAMRA’s National Inventory at one star. It was Wirral CAMRA’s Pub of the Year in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024, and Merseyside and Cheshire regional Pub of the Year in 2022. CAMRA lists good-value home-cooked food and a Sunday roast. Folk night on Tuesdays, quiz on Wednesdays. CAMRA lists dogs in the bar and one side room, children until 8pm, and steps at the entrance and to the garden. Open Monday 12pm to 10pm, Tuesday to Thursday 12pm to 11pm, Friday 12pm to 11.30pm, Saturday 12pm to midnight, Sunday 12pm to 10pm. Call 0151 630 3169. Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 4 December 2024). 7 Magazine Brow, CH45 1HP.

The Lazy Landlord, Mill Lane

The Lazy Landlord opened in 2014 as Wirral’s first micropub, in a former shop in Liscard, and describes itself as a traditional independent pub serving “real ale, real cider, craft beers, imported keg beer, wines and spirits”, with “background music and no screens”. Wirral CAMRA named it Cider Pub of the Year in 2025 and 2026, and its branch guide says a dark beer is always on and ciders often come from Seacider, Hunts and Barbourne. Tables can be reserved midweek; weekends are first come, first served. Quiz on Tuesdays from 8pm. CAMRA lists dogs welcome, children until 7pm and a 10% CAMRA member discount. The pub’s site gives Monday to Thursday 4pm to 10.30pm and Friday to Sunday 2pm to 10.30pm; CAMRA’s listing has it closed on Mondays, so check before a Monday visit. Hygiene rating 5 (FSA, 10 January 2026). 56 Mill Lane, CH44 5UG.

How we chose

These are the pubs that Wirral CAMRA’s judges have picked out in recent years, for Pub of the Year, cider, cellar quality and community awards, plus the three Wirral pubs on CAMRA’s National Inventory of historic interiors. CAMRA’s judging is based on repeat visits by volunteer panels scoring beer quality, service and atmosphere, not a public vote. We then checked each pub’s own website where it has one, CAMRA’s current listings for hours, dog and child rules and step-free access, and the FSA register for a hygiene rating, and left out anything rated below 3. Nothing here is paid for. Run a pub that should be here, or spot something that has changed? Email newsdesk@wirralonline.co.uk.

For somewhere to eat, see our Wirral restaurants guide. For more ideas, see things to do in Wirral, what’s on in Wirral this month and every pub in our Wirral business directory.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best pub on the Wirral according to CAMRA?

Wirral CAMRA named the West Kirby Tap on Grange Road its Pub of the Year for 2026, with the Black Toad in Hoylake runner-up and the Plasterers Arms in Hoylake and the Red Fox in Thornton Hough as Pubs of Excellence. The Black Toad won in 2025 and the Magazine Hotel in New Brighton in 2024. The Lazy Landlord in Liscard was the branch’s Cider Pub of the Year in 2025 and 2026.

What is the oldest pub on the Wirral?

The Wheatsheaf Inn at Raby has a datestone reading 1611, when it was rebuilt after a fire, and both the pub and CAMRA call it the oldest pub on the Wirral. The Rose and Crown in Bebington was built as a coaching inn in 1732, and the Magazine Hotel in New Brighton dates from 1759.

Which Wirral pubs have historic interiors?

CAMRA’s National Inventory of historic pub interiors includes three on the Wirral: the Stork Hotel in Birkenhead (three stars, its top grade), the Wheatsheaf Inn at Raby (two stars) and the Magazine Hotel in New Brighton (one star). The Stork and the Wheatsheaf are also Grade II listed.