The Bookbinder

As a “neighbourhood pub, wine bar and eatery” The Bookbinder manages to straddle all three quite different roles: well-kept cask ales, curated wine list with over 25 by the glass, and home cooking “from the heart”, using ingredients sourced from the best local, independent suppliers.

Open every day, The Bookbinder serves breakfast and brunch from 9.30 to 1pm, with crossover when the lunch menu kicks in at midday, then sandwiches are out (small plates and sharing continue) and dinner service takes over at 5pm, running right through (close is at 11.30pm in the week and 12.3o at weekends). How very civilised. There are daily specials to mull over and they’re proud of their offer for veggies and vegans, as well as for kids (buttermilk chicken tenders with a signature L17 honey glaze has our attention). They’re pram friendly and board game friendly; they’re also book friendly and dog friendly – handy after a spin round nearby Sefton Park. If you’ve walked up an appetite, might we point you in the direction of the fish and chips (triple cooked) – the cod is lager battered (aren’t we all?) and comes with mushy peas, curry sauce and preserved lemon tartare sauce. It’s on both the lunch and the dinner menu, as is the three beef chilli, served alongside roasted jalapeño and white cheddar corn bread, soured cream and a popping chimichurri sauce. Don’t fancy the heat? Ox cheek lasagne offers a nice take on the traditional, while lemon and herby chicken gives you half the roast bird plus pomme puree, seasonal veg and cider pan jus. Look Mum, no meat, vegan dishes include a tikka masala hummus and naan starter (or sharer) and a roasted root veg balti with jasmine rice, poppadoms and coconut raita. The soup du jour with toasted sourdough is always plant based too.

All-day desserts are proper old school, although the whisky sauce with the dark chocolate bread pudding might not be for the kids; they can have the warm apple crumble, with Bonfire Night toffee and vanilla gelato.

Want to be the first to receive all the latest news, tips, articles, guides and updates from Confidential Guides? Sign up here.