Hesketh Arms, Ormskirk

Official site of Hesketh Arms - www.thehesketharmsrufford.co.uk

Official site of Hesketh Arms - www.thehesketharmsrufford.co.uk

Large premises with an equally large car park at a busy traffic junction in Rufford. Inside, the bar is surrounded by numerous seating areas, with well spaced out tables. I sat in the wood-panelled area mentioned below. Clientele were a good mixture of diners and drinkers. Quite a few drinkers were hogging the bar area and all were in good spirits on my Saturday evening visit. The beer range was amongst the best I'd noted on my Lancashire crawl. Moorhouse's White Witch is the regular beer. Guests were Copper Dragon Golden Pippin, Blackedge Platinum & Latte & Acorn Yorkshire Pride. I chose the Latte, a white stout which was easily my favourite beer of the day. They no longer serve a real cider. This pub had a good atmosphere and was certainly one of my two favourite pubs of the day, alongside the Red Lion at Wheelton. I think the Red Lion just about pipped it.

A large roadhouse which has lots of wooden furniture, carpets and some wood panelling inside. It's feels like a standard corporate refurbishment and once inside you could be anywhere. I'd guess it gets busy with diners especially at weekends and all those in on our Monday lunchtime visit seemed to be eating. The menu is standard pub grub but it's good value and reasonable. Nine handpumps but only 5 occupied with: Moorhouse Pride of Pendle and Summer Beer?, Tetleys Cask, Prospect Ore-Some and Vale VPA. The Summer Beer? and VPA were both in good nick. Fine for a pint and some decent value pub grub.

Formerly a hotel,this roadside pub on the A59 has a fine exterior and a sizeable interior,which has received the attentions of a pubco refurb which now looking somewhat dated.There are many sections internally,most with farmhouse style pine furniture for diners,although close to the wood clad curved bar,there is a side section with dark wood panneling,a low ceiling,a fireplace(coal affect gas fire) with a flat screen above ,and this appeared to be the best spot if you simply wanted to drink. There are nine handpumps dotted around the large bar,although not all were operational on a Monday lunchtime,my Vale VPA was on good form.At one end of the bar there is an impressive ship's bell and on the wall nearby some old documents relating to the building. We sampled the pub grub menu and the light bite fish,chips and mushy peas was both good value at £5 and tasty. Although the interior lacks atmosphere,worth popping in for a decent ale and pub meal.