Woolton has been named the best village in Merseyside after ECHO readers cast their votes, with the village just edging out Little Crosby and Port Sunlight. Voters described it as a "hidden gem" and a "reflection of old Liverpool".
A village of charm and history
The village offers a distinctly upmarket feel, with stone cottages, award-winning "Village in Bloom" floral displays and traditional pubs lining its streets. It also holds a special place in music history as the location of St Peter's Church, where John Lennon and Paul McCartney famously first met. Woolton was also named one of the best places to live in the North West last year.
One voter said: "Everywhere is friendly, considered and welcoming. With a good selection of tucked away high street shops, interspersed with artisan shops such as specialist meats, cheeses, farm shops, it has something for everyone. Pubs and eateries aplenty. To top it all off, Beatles nostalgia at St Peters Hall and Church/Graveyard, lovely parks including Reynolds Park."
Historic pubs and new arrivals
As you walk down Acrefield Road and enter Woolton Village proper, the first business you'll spot is one of the oldest - The White Horse - a historic pub that has no trouble keeping its regulars. A brilliantly old-fashioned pub dating back to the middle of the 19th century, its wood-panelled bar and various snugs make it perfect for winter. Landlord Jeff Ainsworth told the ECHO: "The pub's always full of people. We don't get walk ins - we have walk-outs because we can't fit everyone in. It's predominantly people aged 45 and up but we get a few kids from time to time. You have to speak to your regulars because that's the only way to make money. They have to like the pub and people who are there, or else they have no reason to come."
Woolton has plenty of pubs and beer gardens. A stroll along Quarry Street will take you to The Grapes Inn, found next to the now-closed Woolton Swimming Baths. It is a compact, cosy, classic street corner pub with its fine traditional bar at the centre of proceedings - and a jukebox with many great tracks.
The newest arrival to the scene is Village Cat at the hands of three friends still just "trying to do our best". Black Cat Bar & Bottle Shop opened its fourth in the former Coast Café Bistro site, with the grand opening arriving today, Friday July 31. Co-owner Chris Welsh told the ECHO: "We saw the space over a year ago but only got the keys about six months ago. The original plan was a quick spruce up and get open but it became a much bigger job. Every venue we open we learn new stuff and try to reiterate what we know and make it the best we can. Village Cat will have a similar vibe to Rose Lane - slower and not student heavy. It's pretty crazy three lads from Liverpool are opening their fourth bar. Hopefully, everyone can see the hard work paying off because we're just trying to do the best we can. We're very excited to open and hope everyone enjoys it."
Just further down is The Victoria, a friendly pub with live music, perfect for a game of darts. There are also The Cobden Vaults, The Gardeners Arms and The Derby Arms if you fancy turning your stroll into a pub crawl.
Food, flowers and community spirit
Wandering further down Woolton Road will take you to The Coffee House, which, despite its name, is another reliable pub with a great outside area. Bar lady Lindsey Hughes told the ECHO: "The beer garden at the back gets really busy, especially when the weather comes out. Last Saturday, there were more people outside than in. We have a real mix of people. We get a lot of regulars but also passing trade coming through. Everyone just wants a nice place to enjoy themselves, and everyone here is always in high spirits. There's never any trouble, and everyone's always lovely."
Annetta Florist has been a permanent fixture since it opened in 1966. You are greeted with an explosion of colour as you walk through the doors of the shop, which sells a variety of fresh flowers for different occasions. The store's Emma Jones previously told the ECHO: "There's a lovely feel to [the village], I know people who moved away from here who have come back from abroad and said it's still the same."
Foodies also have their hands full with a fantastic range of restaurants to sample. Tathastu, run by couple Ekta Rai and Digamber Sing, "brings Thai to the heart of Woolton". The restaurant opened in 2024, and the village's response was a dream come true.
The modern pioneers of Liverpool's Italian Quarter in Williamson Square have also established themselves in the village. The Cillo family, originally from Potenza in Basilicata, began building their empire more than ten years ago and brought their famous hospitality to Allerton Road with the opening of the first Botanico site in 2023. Owner Donato told the ECHO: "I just got the feeling that it should be a local place where people will enjoy. I've said it before, it's for any occasion. [Customers] want it to feel like home and they want it to feel special. We had such a special welcome in this community from day one. We are proud to share our passion, our experience and our family identity. It's a fantastic feeling - it's beautiful. Before we even opened, people were knocking asking when we would open. It has been fantastic. It's a lovely village."
The Elephant has welcomed guests since it first opened as a public house in 1934. With its hearty menu of traditional British classics and international dishes, along with its famously warm welcomes, the pub has become a cherished favourite visited by generations of families. General manager Paul Harrison joined the venue in July after witnessing firsthand just how valued the venue was to its community. He told the ECHO: "I thought the pub was stunning. It was clear there were a lot of regulars who valued the venue. Everyone from the customers to the bar staff seemed to be getting along better than I've ever seen anywhere else, so it was a good sign. It's just the right level of friendly and professional, with a lot of untapped potential."
Located in a heritage-grade II listed building which used to serve as an old dairy, Woolton Village boasts the Liverpool Cheese Company dedicated to artisan and specialist cheeses. Established in 2006, people travel miles for a bounty of over 200 types of cheese. Speaking previously with the ECHO, Vickie said: "People come from all over. During our cheese schools we have had people from Wigan and Ormskirk. Woolton is the shopping area for quite a large geographical area - for Hunts Cross and as far away as Rainhill. A lot of people come here; we have customers that come for a day out from Bolton, Bury or Birmingham because people like a cheese shop - we're a bit of a destination."
The Ying Wah is one of the longest-established restaurants in Woolton Village, having first opened its doors in 1974. The popular Chinese restaurant was taken over by Richard NG four years later and has been in his family ever since. Another business standing the test of time is the Scotch Beef Shop - a staple of Woolton Street for more than 25 years. The butcher prides itself on its award-winning sausages and beef, which is done "the old-fashioned way". It's clear to see why so many people believe the village is the best in all of Merseyside.
