Perfect place to enjoy drinks al fresco with views of the countryside

The venue, which won last year’s Best Beer Garden in Wirral, has just done the double and scooped this year’s title as it continues to be the number one destination for a drink and a bite to eat al fresco.

Each week, we will be searching for the best Wirral has to offer in different categories and we’ve given out 17 awards for 2023.

The winners so far:

Best for Hair – The Hair, Beauty and Nail Lounge

Best for Pies – Pies4U

Best for Nails – Ebony J Nails & Beauty

Best for Roast Dinner – Fox and Hounds

Best for Cocktails – Shaker Shaker

Best for Breakfast – Twenty Sixteen

Best for Fitness – Matt Colligan

Best for Fish and Chips - SelFish

Best for Tattoos – Nomad Ink

Best for Pizza – Pizza Mamma

Best for Pets – Sanderson Vets

Best Independent Shop or Business – Bromborough Flowers

Best for Dessert – Our Coffee Shop

Best for Beauty – Glow Aesthetics

Best for Kids – Spanish Tots and Bebes

Best Gym – Dream Body

Voting for Wirral’s Best for Afternoon Tea is currently taking place and we’re also looking for nominations in our latest search - Best for Burgers.

Next on the list was the search for Wirral’s Best Beer Garden and The Red Fox took the latest Best of 2023 crown.

A team of four gardeners keep the award-winning grounds looking picture perfect

David Green is the landlord at the Thornton Hough venue and it’s owned by Brunning and Price.

He took over at the pumps in 2014 having been born in Wrexham and growing up in Llangollen before heading to university and starting an events business.

The 42-year-old joined Brunning and Price in 2011 as a roving manager and opened Worsley Old Hall in 2013 before taking the reins at The Red Fox the following year.

David, who lives at the pub with his family, said: “The Red Fox is a classic British pub with many spacious, airy rooms and plenty more intimate nooks and crannies to nestle away for an hour or two.

“Open fires abound throughout, with wooden floors, an attractive collection of rugs and plants, and lots of good, old furniture.

“We like to think we are a pub with real character.

“We serve fresh food featuring seasonal produce and our menus are a mixture of hearty British classics and lighter lunchtime bites with a huge array of drinks.

“Life at The Red Fox revolves around the bar and we have been named Wirral CAMRA Pub of the Year 2023 and also CAMRA Regional Cider Pub of the Year.

“To the rear of the pub we have extensive raised terraces which overlook the landscaped lawns and gorgeous gardens and countryside beyond.”

The Red Fox in Thornton Hough

The Red Fox’s event space opened in 2019 – The Little Fox – where they host weddings and private parties and in 2022 they launched The Out Foxed - an outside bar and pizza kitchen all housed under the warmth and shelter of a heated stretch tent in the garden.

This space serves stone baked sourdough pizza, chips and a selection of drinks including guest draught beer, cocktails, gins, cans and bottles.

David said: “We are a now a team of more 100 amazing people.

“Our kitchen is led by head chef Scott Graham, who has a brigade of 26 kitchen staff.

“Our head gardener Tom Davies has been instrumental leading a team of four passionate people who care about the pub and its surroundings and want to make a difference and this really shows.

“We’re so lucky to have such a fantastic building that’s set in stunning grounds.

“This award means so much so everyone.”

The Red Fox is the place to be whatever the weather and whatever the season

So what do customers think about The Red Fox? Why did they want them to win our latest award?

One regular visitor said: “The Red Fox has beautiful views and plenty of space – it gets my vote!”

David said: “I am very lucky to call The Red Fox my home and I am so proud of my team and what we have achieved.

“We serve more than 2,000 people each week and feel we are pub for all seasons.

“Our gardens are amazing and the team works so hard.

“We have our own poly tunnel to grow our own plants and have recently developed a composting area, where we process waste to produce our own compost for our flower beds.

“We were all humbled to have made the shortlist again this year for Wirral’s Best Beer Garden.

“It’s lovely to be recognised for the work we all do and the amazing outdoor space we have here.

“We were bowled over to actually win the award again.

“It’s a real team effort getting the grounds looking like they do – come rain or shine - and to know the customers appreciate and enjoy the space is just fantastic.

“Huge thanks to everyone who voted for us – it really does mean the world to know our hard work is appreciated and that people enjoy what we have created.”

For more details go to facebook.com/redfoxpub

The hard-working gardeners who can take credit for winning Best Beer Garden in Wirral