Michelle Fiddler finds fine dining and real ale at the Liverpool One Bridewell

WHEN you pay a visit to a restaurant you have a certain degree of expectation. While atmosphere, location, service and price plays its part, a good restaurant lives or dies by the quality of the food that it produces.

Pubs on the other hand aren’t quite as easy to categorise.

By their very nature they predominantly cater for the drinker – be that the social drinker, a group of friends having an impromptu gathering or a couple looking for a quiet night out.

But there are also pubs who have crossed over into the dining market – with varying degrees of success.

Thirty years ago that meant simply they served chicken or scampi in a basket but these days the market is much more diverse – from a family-friendly menu to all-you-can eat chains and good old fashioned pub grub.

I have had many disappointments eating in pubs and that is why I love it when I find a pub that produces restaurant quality food.

The Liverpool One Bridewell is one of the places that has made a seamless and successful transition into dining.

The historic Bridewell is an 1850s-built former gaol and police station which has retained many of its original features.

And the menu is as eclectic as the pub’s interior.

Food is available Tuesday-Sunday in the pub’s converted ‘cells’ downstairs while on Friday and Saturday the upstairs function room also doubles as an additional attractive restaurant area.

We visited on a Friday night and decided to ease ourselves in gently by sampling the wine and real ale selection in the bar downstairs before we were seated in a comfy white leather booth upstairs.

The Bridewell menu consists of tried and tested favourites and exciting new combinations that we were keen to try.