THE FARMER'S ARMS, Frankby, is Wirral Pub of the Year in the Wirral Globe's annual search to find best community public house.

The judges' route this year for the final was through Birkenhead, starting at the George & Dragon, Grange Road, near the Grange Shopping Precinct, tastefully decorated premises with good ales.

Worsely Arms, in Chester Street near the police station, gets its name from the wealthy man who took over the Priory estates after the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The name was chosen following a Globe competition when the pub was totally revamped and re-named a few years ago. Like the George and Dragon, this is a cosmopolitan hostelry catering for office workers, with club/pub-goers among the regular customers.

The Avenue, Heather Brow and Seven Stiles serve obvious communities.

The Avenue and Heather Brow are in Claughton and enjoy strong support from the locals. The Avenue is more open plan than the Brow, which has cottage-like snug rooms, so both tend to cater for different tastes and age groups.

The Seven Stiles, at Upton, is more stand-alone, built to cater for the housing estates in the area rather than the village people. This reached the final, like the others, for its service to the community.

The Farmer's Arms on final judgement night was packed to overflowing like something from Cheers or Friends gone mad. While it was possible to sample the more rustic, rural in the side bar, the main drinking areas were full to overflowing, with quite a few 30s, single or divorced folk involved in lots of chat. Again, staff were friendly but had their hands full, especially near closing time when it was three to four deep at the bar.

On quieter occasions, the rustic charm of this country inn can be appreciated. The pub has been extended in recent years but still retains original features, which were once part of outhouses when The Farmers Arms opened in Hillbark Road in 1866.

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