I love a good pub tea as much as the next person, but having been born and bred in the South of the city, my knowledge of pubs across the water is admittedly limited. I've had a good roast in The Red Fox in Thornton, and I've stopped for a drink in the beer gardens of Wirral faves like The Viking and The Jug and Bottle but aside from that? Couldn't tell you.
Well I'm feeling particularly smug right now since not only did I attend the re-launch of The Devon Doorway in Heswall this week, it turned out to be completely fab and now I have the perfect place to recommend to weekend walkers looking for a proper pub dinner.
The whole place has had a massive renovation over the past few weeks, and whilst I couldn't tell you what it looked like before, the new decor is definitely my thing. Shades of blue, velvet clad sofas and soft furnishings, chic gold light fittings and a few roaring fires for good measure. It is super cosy, modern and even a teeny bit romantic.
Whilst the gorgeous candlelit setting made for a rather special dinner, it didn't do my admittedly amateur iPhone photography any favours so do accept my apologies for the less than clear photos. (This is the story i'm sticking with- the bottle of Pinot I polished off during dinner almost certainly had nothing to do with it).
On to the food. Spotting the word 'katsu' in the description of one of the starters I of course went for the Crispy Karaage Chicken, tender bites of chicken with a warm katsu sauce and a really fresh cauliflower, kale and mooli salad. The other starters were equally well received and included a smooth Duck Liver and Port Parfait with a tangy gooseberry and prosecco compote, a zingy Lobster and King Prawn Pot with crispy brioche toasts and a bowl of sizzling Salt & Szechuan Pepper Squid.
You've probably gathered by now that the menu is definitely more 'fancy pub' than your typical pub-tea selection and this was definitely the case with the mains. My Roasted Pork Belly with Seared Scallops was not only beautiful to look at but unbelievable to eat. The boys were equally as happy with their Buttermilk Southern Fried Chicken stuffed with spicy n'duja sausage and the Spitroast Chicken with lemon and garlic confit was really well done.
It's getting harder to find places with a decent dessert selection these days (feel like Jamie Oliver is to blame for this somehow?) but I was spoilt for choice in here. The Melting Chocolate and Peanut Bomb had my name written all over it, the chocolate dome melted with a warm caramel sauce clearly appealing to the Instagrammer/inner child in me. Another hit was the Chocolate and Raspberry Pudding which tasted essentially like a melty chocolate muffin filled with the strawberry one from a box of Cadbury's Roses. What a combo.
Overall The Devon Doorway is a fab pub. It's open-fires means it's cosy AF, the staff are just a delight and the food is well thought out and utterly delicious.
I'll almost certainly be back soon!
I'll almost certainly be back soon!
x
*My meal at The Devon Doorway was complimentary in exchange for a review however as always all words, thoughts, opinions and photos are honest and my own.