Pollards Inn, a historic Wirral country pub, has reopened its doors after a two-year restoration project led by new owners. The Grade II-listed venue, located in Willaston, traces its origins to a barn built in 1637 and has been carefully refurbished over the years.
New owners and a soft opening
The pub is now operated by Jim Dorrington, Lee Adams and Joel Hull under the It’s All About You Hospitality brand. The trio officially reopened the venue with a soft opening on Monday. The pub features a bar, a conservatory and dining areas that can seat up to 68 people, as well as four hotel rooms.
Jim Dorrington, 58, who lives in Warrington, told the ECHO: “We’d had our name on the pub for about two years. It’s a beautiful country pub with large external areas, which will be fantastic for the style of dining we deliver. There’s also a paddock to the side that we’ll be able to use for beer festivals, music festivals and other events.”
Community at the heart
Jim, originally from South London, moved to the North West in 2005 to work with hospitality entrepreneur Tim Bacon on the rollout of Gusto restaurants. He was also involved with Artisan in Chester. His brand is also known for The Big Lock in Middlewich, Cheshire.
He said: “We’re very keen to make sure we deliver a proper local pub, but with splashes of our own signature. Some of the dishes that we put on the menu will be enhanced and elevated, but the pub itself will remain at the heart of what we’re doing. We want to retain that traditional pub feel in the bar area, while also offering great food and a strong restaurant offering.”
Restoration and future plans
The reopening followed a two-year project, delayed by a significant structural issue with part of the historic building. Jim explained: “One of the walls was bulging out, and because it’s a Grade II-listed building dating back to the 1600s, any repairs had to be carried out in line with local planning requirements and with the input of the relevant heritage specialists.”
The pub is currently open for drinks, with the kitchen and full food service due to launch the following Friday. The owners also plan to make the pub’s rooms available to local groups, including the WI, cycling clubs and walking groups.
Jim said: “Pollards was very famous at one time, and hopefully we can bring some of that back. But, more importantly, we want it to be that third place where locals can come for a beer, a coffee, some food, or simply to meet friends. We want to create a rhythm throughout the week, with different offers and reasons for people to come in regularly.”
He added: “With the cost of living and the economy as it is, we want to make the pub affordable and accessible for local people while still delivering really good food. It’s all about hospitality. Ultimately, that’s how we’ve set the business up.”
