“The Sportsman’s Arms has been our family’s safe haven for decades”

Sisters Karen and Michelle Lowe started working behind the bar when they were teenagers and just six months after taking over at the pumps they’ve bagged Wirral’s Best Pub award for 2024!

In April, we launched our Best of 2024 competition and we’ve given out 22 awards.

• Best for Hair – LA Hair
• Best for Pies – Pies4u
• Best for Nails - By Taylor Jade
• Best for Roast Dinner - The 21st Amendment Hoylake
• Best for Cocktails – Cow Shed Bar & Grill
• Best for Breakfast – At Gilly Gem’s
• Best for Fish and Chips - SelFish
• Best Beer Garden - The Red Fox
• Best for Fitness – Clubbercise and Chill
• Best for Tattoos – Speakeasy Tattoo Studio
• Best Independent Shop or Business – Snips Movies
• Best for Dessert – The Cookery Nook
• Best for Kids – The Corner House CIO
• Best for Pets – Dogs Go
• Best for Beauty – Ivy Lash Studio
• Best for Pizza – Nickel City Kitchen
• Best for Afternoon Tea – Fleur Ashley Tea Room
• Best for Burgers – The Good Hood
• Best Gym – Dream Body
• Best for Curry - No1 Masala
• Best Café or Coffee Shop - Aroma

Voting for Wirral’s Best Restaurant is currently taking place.

Vote for Wirral’s Best Restaurant 2024

Ten of Wirral’s most popular pubs and bars made the shortlist in the latest Best of 2024 category and The Sportsman’s Arms came out on top.

Karen and Michelle have been at The Sportsman’s Arms for decades.

They’ve been at the Prenton Road East venue since the turn of the century when they were both teenagers.

The popular place is part of Craft Union Pubs in partnership with Stonegate Brewery and Karen and Michelle officially took over at the pumps in March this year.

The Sportsman's Arms is on Prenton Road East

Michelle, who is 41, said: “We’ve always loved our jobs and when the opportunity to take over came up, we decided to go for it.

“This is what our passion is and we adore everything and everyone associated with The Sportsman’s Arms.”

The sisters’ family home is on Everest Road just two streets away from the pub and their dad Les has been a regular at The Sportsman’s Arms for 50 years.

Karen, who is 43, said: “It has always been our family’s safe haven and we have celebrated every aspect of our lives at the pub over the years.

“We have brought our children up with the pub and it’s become a permanent foundation of family life and it holds priceless memories.”

The Sportsman’s Arms dates back to 1850 when it was possible with farmers.

The original building was demolished and rebuilt in 1933 and the listed building’s appearance is modelled on ship.

Michelle said: “The pub is open seven days a week from 11am until midnight offering nine draught beverages, cash ales, spirits and many promotional deals on bottles and shots.

“We embrace all sports and have them appearing on our nine television screens daily.

“We are the biggest supporter of our darts teams and enjoy hosting as many matches as we can.

“We have two dart boards and a pool table, which creates fun by itself, and we host a legendary bingo night every Tuesday with Emma our bingo caller.

“It’s fabulous for boosting community spirit and we’re all happy for each other especially when the big money is won!”

There’s a weekly race club hosted by Bernie and Peter and they welcome all parties and events to the pub as well as hosting regular fundraising nights.

Popular pub at heart of community is named Best in Wirral! (from left) Caitlin Lowe, Michelle Lowe and Karen Lowe

Karen said: “We’ve always considered ourselves lucky to love our job and this is down to the customers and staff who we have loved and worked with over the past 25 years.

“The Sportsman’s has a real family, community feel to it that has spanned generations and we feel privileged to have known the characters for so long.”

What do customers think about The Sportsman’s Arms? Why did they want the venue to win our latest Best of 2024 award?

One nomination said: “The Sportsman’s Arms is welcoming and friendly with a great array of drinks and entertainment.

“I’ve been going in there for 52 years so they must be doing something right!”

Michelle said: “We are so proud The Sportsman’s has won this award – it’s deserved beyond measure.

“We support all our local pubs - since lockdown, it’s not been easy to run pubs so we are cheerleaders for them all and want everyone to succeed.

“To find out we had made the top 10 shortlist for Wirral’s Best Pub or Bar 2024 was an achievement in itself and we cannot believe we have won.

“We cannot thank everyone enough for all their support, nominations and votes.

“On a personal level, it will be something we will be proud of forever.

“We would like to thank all our wonderful customers, who we regard as friends, and thank them for all the support we personally have received in our new venture.

“It’s always been our dream to run The Sportsman’s and to be able to do it and make our dream a reality is a high we will never come down from.

“We will continue to bring the happiness and joy to The Sportsman’s for years to come.”