Eastham Ferry and River Mersey views (Image: Photo by Colin Lane)
Just half an hour’s drive from Liverpool, a “peaceful” village boasts a stunning country park, traditional pubs, a “magical” tea garden and much more.
Seeking respite from the dizzying pace of urban life, I embarked on a midweek trip to a historic Wirral village that’s certainly worth the detour. Eastham is rich in history and brimming with natural splendour, and Liverpool ECHO reporter Jess Molyneux took an afternoon to visit the tranquil village.
Venturing down Stanley Lane, I encountered charming historic cottages and thriving independent businesses. At the epicentre of the village stands St Mary’s Church, overshadowed by the majestic Eastham Old Yew, purported to be over 1600 years old.
Having heard glowing reports about the village centre and the area around Eastham Ferry, I was eager to thoroughly explore these spots. Trekking further up Stanley Lane, venerable establishments like The Montgomery Pub and Kitchen and Eastham Village Delicatessens beckoned.
Opposite lay my initial port of call, The Hooton Arms, a pub steeped in tradition and patronage spanning generations. Renowned for being wet-led and its love for live sports, The Hooton Arms has a storied history of attracting footie fans from far and wide, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Hooton Arms, Eastham pictured landlord Lewis Evans (Image: Photo by Colin Lane)
Crossing the threshold, I was welcomed by the landlord, Lewis Evans, who assumed stewardship of the pub roughly five years back. Speaking to the ECHO, Lewis said: “This pub used to be the old headmasters house for the school just over the road, opposite the church. It was built in the late 1800s.
“It’s quite a busy little village. I think we attract a lot of people, especially where we are on the corner, people who are driving through may have a pitstop here or walk down.
“We have the beautiful church, the big country park – it’s somewhere a lot of people like to come and walk. There’s always people heading down towards Eastham Ferry, to The Tap.
“It’s just a quiet, nice village where everyone knows each other.”
Hooton Arms, Eastham (Image: Photo by Colin Lane)
For Lewis, the best thing about the pub is those who visit, whether it be locals or customers from further afield. “We have a lot of regular customers and we know everyone who comes in, a lot who live in the village.”
“We’ve got steady business – every day, I know who’s going to come through the door. We have a lot of people who come from elsewhere, especially workers coming off the boats as well.
“Last season, we had quite a lot of football fans who came and they were going to Tranmere. I got in touch with the club and said if there’s any away fans send the coaches here, park at the rugby club.
“We had about five or six teams visit last year. I’d say the area is a destination. You could go to The Montgomery for some food, have a roast there, come here for a drink – we’ve got a big beer garden in the back – then walk down and there’s Eastham Ferry.”
A mere 20-minute stroll will land you at Eastham Ferry, or hop on the number 38 bus for a swifter journey. On a day when the skies are clear, the views of Liverpool’s impressive skyline are nothing short of spectacular, with the bustling activity of ships along the River Mersey adding to the vista.
Eastham Ferry offers a tranquil riverside promenade, inviting for a leisurely walk or a pause on one of the benches dotted around to admire the view, as several visitors opted to do during my time there. Just a stone’s throw away sits The Tap Pub, a historic establishment that has graced Ferry Road since at least 1745.
The pub boasts a capacious beer garden that buzzes with life even on weekdays, presenting an idyllic setting for enjoying a pint under the sun with views of the Mersey. Step inside, and you’re greeted by the quintessential English pub atmosphere, rich in history as one of the oldest pubs in Merseyside, which also houses the Bear Pit Cafe known for its “quality food at a reasonable price.”
The cafe draws its name from the bear pit located in the nearby country park, built back in 1874. Within the cafe, you’ll meet landlords Callum Kee-McParlin and Bob Muir, who took the reins of The Tap in December of the previous year.
Mimosa Tea Garden, Eastham (Image: Liverpool ECHO)
Having previously poured pints behind the bar, this dynamic duo has now taken the helm of the beloved historic pub, infusing new energy while maintaining its longstanding charm, much appreciated by the regulars. Renowned amongst the motorbike community and a haven for dog walkers owing to its close proximity to Eastham Country Park, the pub is a cherished establishment that draws patrons from near and far.
Bob Muir, in discussion with the ECHO, expressed his affection for the venerable establishment, he said: “It’s a beautiful pub inside and out. It’s steeped in history, steeped in tradition.”
Emphasising the pub’s generational appeal, he added, “You’ve got people who have loved it since they were old enough to drink who still come here. We don’t want to change it too much, we want to keep it the way it is because it is olde worlde.”
Reflecting on the legacy of the role, Bob said: “We’re joining a long line of landlords who came before us, so it’s great being part of that history. We’re in the middle of a country park, near to the river the views are absolutely amazing and at night the silence is deafening.”
Mimosa Tea Garden, Eastham (Image: Photo by Colin Lane)
Celebrating the natural beauty of the setting, he said: “If you wake up in the morning, it doesn’t matter what the weather is like, but particularly when the sun is out you can hear the birds, see the squirrels. It’s amazing, it really is.”
Welcoming the surge of new customers, Bob said: “We’ve seen a lot of new faces. You’ll be surprised at how many people have travelled from afar to here because they think it’s beautiful here.
“It’s a destination pub for bikers who have come from all over Europe. People come from Chester, Birkenhead, Wallasey. Locals, they’ll come down and people from the Bromborough area walk down and come with their dogs and stop into here.”
Callum, a lifelong Eastham resident, said: “There’s always something going on in the area,” drawing visitors from afar. The venue is gearing up for several events, including a classic car and bike show to support motor neurone disease research and the much-anticipated Glastonferry Festival.
Eastham Country Park, Wirral (Image: Photo by Colin Lane)
Looking ahead, there are plans to erect a bandstand that will also serve as an outdoor cinema. Callum said: “The clientele – you get your bikers, your moped riders, your dog walkers, workers coming off the ships and coming here for a drink in the night-time. There’s always people passing through.
“We’ve got a lot of history down here with Eastham Park, but Eastham Village has a lot of history there. Outside the church, the old yew tree is still standing today.
“Eastham Village is one of the quietest little villages you can pass through. On a summers day down here is just heaving, you can’t even get a car down here.
“Visiting here, you’ve got us, The Hooton Arms up the road, The Montgomery. Genuinely to live here, to visit or just to spend a day here travelling, walking, anything – it is a really nice place to be.”
The Tap at Eastham Ferry pictured landlords Bob Muir and Callum Kee-McParlin (Image: Photo by Colin Lane)
Just a stone’s throw away from The Tap, you’ll find Eastham Country Park. This award-winning park offers stunning woodland walks and vast green spaces, perfect for family outings or dog walks.
The park also holds fascinating remnants of its past as a popular zoo, including a former bear pit that once housed Bruin the bear. In its heyday, a trip to Eastham’s ‘pleasure gardens’ would include a cafe, zoo, bandstand, open-air stage, and much more.
But the adventure doesn’t stop at the park. After exploring the grounds, I made my way to The Mimosa Tea Garden, conveniently located next to the car park.
This enchanting spot creates the illusion of stepping into a “magical” world, complete with fairy gardens, eccentric furniture, and homemade treats.
The Tap at Eastham Ferry pictured landlords Bob Muir and Callum Kee-McParlin (Image: Photo by Colin Lane)
The tea garden’s story began in 1972 when Pat Gibson-Saxty’s parents, Searle and Dorothy, started serving tea to visitors from their home after the local council designated the area as a country park. Fast forward 52 years, and thanks to years of “love and effort”, what started as a simple tea service has blossomed into a charming outdoor tea garden.
It now boasts various themed areas and serves everything from sandwiches and toasties to hot drinks, homemade cakes, and more.
Owner Pat said: “Eastham Ferry is its own area really and has a very rich heritage. There’s Eastham Ferry Hotel which is being done up at the moment, The Tap which is traditionally the bikers’ pub and in the woods there’s the remains of the bear pits and the circus.
“There used to be monks who made wine in what’s now the Cattery in the 16th century. They used to ship it over to Liverpool. A lot of people are interested in the boats because we’re on the edge of the water, the Mersey.”
Eastham Ferry and River Mersey views (Image: Photo by Colin Lane)
“Huge boats go by and sometimes it’s really active on the river. Then there’s the woods and all the history there and a bit of a trail you can follow.
“People can come in here and have a drink or an ice-cream. Children like it here and there’s a lot of outdoor walking – the woods always looks different at different times of the year. I love the area, I just think it’s very blessed.”
Pat, witnessing visitors flock from across Merseyside and even overseas relatives, expressed her fondness for the area’s “peaceful” ambiance. She said: “Somebody once told me its on a very special ley line – and that’s not something that I know anything about – but we have noticed people have been very calm here and lots of people comment on how peaceful it is.”
“It’s got a very nice vibe I think. It feels like somewhere else – people say it feels like being abroad.”