'Lovely' village with scenic walks, beer gardens and family chippy 30 minutes from Liverpool

A "lovely" village with beer gardens, scenic walks and a family chippy is continuing to grow.

Coming off the M62, it would be easy to drive into and through Cronton and not stop off - but no matter if it's a hot summer day or time to wrap up, it is definitely a destination worth seeking out. Around half an hour away from Liverpool city centre, the village is home to a nature reserve, a beautiful tavern, historic pub, popular chippy, scenic walks and much more.

Popular with families, dog walkers and cyclists, Pex Hill boasts breathtaking views, with visitors being able to see the mountains of North Wales and the Mersey Estuary in clear weather. The nature reserve, owned by United Utilities, is known for its astronomical observatory and a disused quarry.

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Being so close to the motorway junction, it's easy to access if you're from elsewhere in Merseyside or further afield in the likes of Manchester or Cheshire. It was a sunny day when we pulled into the car park opposite the Observatory and headed down the pathway to the right.

Surrounded by trees, we looked out and took in the stunning views before us, sitting on a bench as cyclists and dog walkers passed us by. Along the same path, walkers can find the disused quarry which has a fascinating history.

It is thought to have been used between the 16th and 19th centuries, but in later years, the cliffs of the quarry have been a popular spot for climbers across Merseyside and beyond to practice, master their craft and tackle challenging ascents. The whole reserve has a countryside feel and we were met on our walk around the nature reserve with fields full of yellow flowers, kissing gates and oak woodland.

Just a short walk away from the reserve, walkers can head out onto Cronton Road to find The Dandelion Tavern. The local pub and restaurant opened in the heart of Cronton Village back in 2019 and offers everything from British classics to cocktails, cask ales, wines, quiz nights and more.

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Around 18 months after opening, The Dandelion Tavern, like many other businesses, we impacted by the pandemic, but have since established themselves as a "go to place for the people of Cronton," as well as attracting customers from across Merseyside. Operations manager Emyr Barton told the ECHO: "The pub used to be The Black Horse and it was very well known in Cronton and there was an Indian behind the pub.

"The owner bought it and knocked it through so the Indian and the pub became one and turned it into a local village pub. Since it's been open, it's built up a good reputation, the people of Cronton supported us early on.

"A lot of our clientele are people who are happy to travel 25 minutes to come and have a good evening meal or lunch deal. We’re a good-priced pub with an extra level of finesse.

"A lot of our customers are regulars who come three of four times a week. People say you have your three places in life - your house, your workplace and the third is your local pub or restaurant, so being able to give people a good local warm welcome when they come in, that’s great."

The décor boasts ornaments and antiques but has a modern feel. Inside The Dandelion Tavern, who can see the likes of wine listings chalked out on old green school boards and the venue also has a beer garden with a shelter cover for customers to sit outside throughout the day. Emyr said: "We definitely call ourselves a destination venue. We are definitely somewhere were people will drive to or people say we've driven past a few times and today we've decided to pop in it looks lovely.

"A lot of hikers and cyclers come here definitely. We get a lot of walkers and people especially on the weekend who come in with their dogs and moody boots and sit in the beer garden getting some pints. Pex Hill, we get a lot of people who walk there or have been to the observatory and then come in. It’s a lovely area and it's definitely somewhere where we enjoy our regulars."

Manager Rob Smith and the team at the front of the business, who have worked hard to build a loyal customers base and offer something new to the area. The venue and area is also worth seeking out even if it's not a warm, sunny day.

Emyr said: "Our Sunday roasts in the winter are hard to get tables for - it’s definitely worth booking. It's a fantastic roast dinner, the Yorkshire pudding is the pièce de résistance on it, it's a big old Yorkie that sits on top.

"We get a lot of people coming in just for that, especially in the winter in front of the fire. Cronton is certainly worth a day out. You can go to places in Liverpool or your Formby, Crosby beach, Calderstones Park, Sefton Park, but if you're looking for a different day out - a walk on Pex Hill, a pint in the beer garden at The Unicorn and a roast with us is a nice family day out."

On the same road, historic pub The Unicorn Inn reopened under new owners last October. The pub dates back to 1752 and has seen generations from Cronton and further afield pass through its doors.

Today, the site is owned by Lee Ogburn and Paul Harris, with Lee's daughter, Charlie Curzon, working as manager. In the last few months, The Unicorn Inn has retained its staff as well as bringing in new team members and chefs and has plans early next year for more renovation work to make the site more accessible and enhance the space.

Charlie told the ECHO: "We're really made up with it. When we took over, at first it was a lot of work but it's definitely reaping the benefits now.

"It's known for the beer garden and outside and lately the food, but even the staff - everybody says how lovely they are and how they can't do enough for you. We do still have all our regulars and they're a lot happier with how the pub has come on but we do have people who haven't been for years who are coming back or people who are coming every week. Word is definitely getting around.

"The beer garden is really big. We've also bought a marquee so we’ve had a couple of parties in there so far. That comes up and down as and when with people booking it but that's starting to get booked out more as well, especially with the hot weather, the beer garden has been completely full - it’s crazy.

"It’s very clean and the food is really nice. We have a fishmonger, a butcher, fresh vegetables every single day. We wanted that from the get go."

The pub sees customers also travel from Liverpool for the likes of lunch or a pint, as well as regular walking groups. Charlie said: "I'm not from Cronton, I live in Warrington but it's a really nice area and there's a lot of people who live right next to the pub and they all come in.

"We’ve become really friendly with them. If you're into nature and the countryside it's definitely a lovely walk, the people are really nice and there's some nice beer, food and beer gardens for when the suns out."

Another established business in the area is Cronton Fish Bar, located on Cronton Lane. Opening back in 2003, Cronton Fish Bar is owned by husband and wife Melanie and Mike Diakou, who both grew up in their own families chip shops.

Selling everything from fish and chips to Chinese dishes, kebabs, burgers and more, the original business was owned by Melanie's parents down the road. The team later opened a second business, which is now the only Cronton Fish Bar, but have continued to welcome loyal customers who have known the family for decades.

Mike, a third generation chip shop owner, told the ECHO: "We've been open over 20 years now so we get a lot of customers from where we were before and people who have been using Cronton Fish Bar from Melanie's family since 1974. When I first met Mel and we got married, I bought some shops in St Helens but we lived here round the corner because it was close to Mel's side of the family.

"Then the chip shops came up for sale and my in-laws decided to retire, so we took that one over and then this one came on the market so we bought this one as well. We sold the other one around 10, 11 years ago and have stayed here.

"We work hard at what we do, all the staff work extremely hard - long hours and unsociable hours at times. I've been doing it that long it's just part of me - it’s all I've ever known."

Today, Melanie and Mike's three daughters all help out in the family business and they see a range of customers local and from afar, from students at the nearby Cronton College to people heading through Cronton to Widnes Market. Mike said: "It's one of those areas that is so easy to get in and out of.

"You've got the motorway access, you've got the M6 up the road, Manchester half an hour away, Liverpool 15 or 20 minutes away, Warrington - so you've got quite a lot going on around you. The area itself has grown massively over the years, new houses have been built with more people moving in.

"It's just one of those nice areas to live in with pretty much everything on your doorstep. There's supermarkets, a trains station down the road and then you've got your walks you can go on. You've got a nice countryside scattered around. It’s a really good location.

"There's people who work in the factories and the warehouses who come in quite regularly and there's running and walking clubs. You do see a lot of people coming and going and visiting family.

"They always comment that they love to come to the shop. We have a customer who lives in Yorkshire and has family here, he used to live in the area and when he comes back he takes food back with him that he says you can't get anywhere else."

Living and running a business in the area, Mike said Cronton is "definitely worth a visit." He added: "A lot of people go to Pex Hill for walks and it’s definitely worth your while going and even to visit for food here. There’s places to go have a drink or bite to eat and it’s definitely worth it."

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