Local Knowledge

The following is from Sally from Chester IVC who, in her words, "gate-crashed" BIVC's Margam weekend in May :

I just wanted to re-iterate the offer to provide local contacts and recommendations. I grew up in Heswall, and my parents are still there, so I know the area pretty well!

Just off the top of my head, I can give you a few pub recommendations local to the hotel:

there is a cracking foody pub in Parkgate called the Boathouse. Would be a good end point for a wintery walk! http://www.theboathouseparkgate.co.uk/

Other decent "real ale" pubs in the area are the Fox & Hounds in Barnston http://www.the-fox-hounds.co.uk/

 - decent beer & cosy in winter, with an open fire; its sister pubs the Ship in Parkgate and the Jug & Bottle in Heswall also do accommodation if you need overspill http://www.the-shiphotel.co.uk/hotel.html

 ; http://www.the-jugandbottle.co.uk/

The Seven Stars in Thornton Hough village is cosy & quaint with an open fire http://www.visitwirral.com/site/foodanddrink/the-seven-stars-p44626

The Devon Doorway on the main road into Heswall is more of a gastro pub (a bit formal for my taste!)  http://www.thedevondoorway.co.uk/

 

Opposite the Devon Doorway, about a mile from Thornton Hall, is a Premier Inn, which again could be useful for overspill accommodation if you are oversubscribed http://www.premierinn.com/en/hotel/WIRGLE/wirral-heswall

  

Depending on the weather and the tides, it's possible to walk over to Hilbre Island from West Kirby on the corner of the Wirral. Online tide tables are only published a month ahead, and i've not got the paper one so unfortunately can't check if the tides will be favourable. As for the weather, I've done this once on a New Years day, so it's not out of the question!   

http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/hilbre/plan.htm

http://www.pol.ac.uk/appl/hilbre.html

I can hope this is useful. Please give me a shout if there is anything specfic you want to find out about. If anyone wants info on Chester pubs / restaurants etc, then I'm sure we can pull together some recommendations. 

And we can arrange to put on a walk one day (the Sunday?) if any of your weekenders are interested.

 

Best wishes from Chester,

Sunday Night is Jive Night

There's French Jive Dancing in Thornton Village Hall on Sunday nights : click HERE for more information.