The Pickering Arms
Quick info
About The Pickering Arms
Beside the Manchester Ship Canal in the village of Thelwell, The Pickering Arms is a family-run pub in Warrington on Bell Ln, set in a listed building with a lawn and a garden. The kitchen serves fish and chips in a light, crunchy batter, with pub sides of chips and gravy or onion rings. A steak sandwich and drink deal runs at lunch, and the Sunday roast is served beside the fire. The snug is used for parties, with a buffet laid on for groups. Dogs are welcome.
Good to know
“Nestled on the outskirts of Warrington along the Manchester Ship Canal in the picturesque village of Thelwell, the Pickering Arms is the perfect country escape for both locals and visitors alike. Our traditional pub offers old world rustic charm, fused with cosy corners and alfresco dining to enjoy with the whole family. Whether sipping a refreshing cocktail on our lawn and watching the day pass by or indulging in our renowned Sunday roast next to the fire, you’ll feel at home and catered for any time of year.”
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, parking lot
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention fish and chips, steak sandwich, buffet and chips and gravy.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention fish and chips, steak sandwich, buffet and chips and gravy.
Customer Review Summary
Friendly staff are the most repeated draw, with reviewers describing a family run pub where service is chatty and accommodating, nothing is too much trouble, and a baby gets attention too. Food follows close behind. Diners praise the fish and chips with a light crunchy batter, a steak sandwich and drink deal, and a buffet in the snug for a 50th birthday, while another singles out great chips, proper gravy and crispy onion rings. A few also mention the outdoor seating, a dog friendly welcome and good wines. One reviewer felt the portion of fries was tiny. The sharpest complaint comes from a diner who was told first the hot smoked salmon pate and then the Ardennes pate were still frozen. A ham hock with egg and chips went back for a hard egg and returned with the egg burnt on the bottom, and a fish finger sandwich came on poor quality bread. That diner concluded everything seemed frozen. One reviewer who booked a Sunday lunch table in advance called it a good idea given how popular the place seemed.
Customer Review Summary
Friendly staff are the most repeated draw, with reviewers describing a family run pub where service is chatty and accommodating, nothing is too much trouble, and a baby gets attention too. Food follows close behind. Diners praise the fish and chips with a light crunchy batter, a steak sandwich and drink deal, and a buffet in the snug for a 50th birthday, while another singles out great chips, proper gravy and crispy onion rings. A few also mention the outdoor seating, a dog friendly welcome and good wines. One reviewer felt the portion of fries was tiny. The sharpest complaint comes from a diner who was told first the hot smoked salmon pate and then the Ardennes pate were still frozen. A ham hock with egg and chips went back for a hard egg and returned with the egg burnt on the bottom, and a fish finger sandwich came on poor quality bread. That diner concluded everything seemed frozen. One reviewer who booked a Sunday lunch table in advance called it a good idea given how popular the place seemed.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“Another fantastic family meal at the Pickering Arms. Well cooked straightforward pub food. For me, the signs of a good cook, great chips, proper gravy, crispy onion rings. Happy to come back again and looking forward to going again!”
- Google user
“We googled ‘gastropubs near me’ and came up with Pickering Arms. Lovely setting, but that’s as far as it went. OrderedHot Smoked Salmon pate… but was told 5 minutes later that they couldn’t serve because it was still frozen! I then asked for the Ardennes pate to then be told that was still frozen too, but they could do a bruschetta. My wife ordered ham hock with egg and chips and when it came the egg was hard so was sent back. When it came back the egg was burnt on the bottom. My meal was a simple fish finger sandwich and that was pretty poor too. (Poor quality bread) At no stage did anyone ask how we felt about the meal. ( we’d already paid since we’d sat in the garden) Certainly not a gastro-pub, everything was obviously frozen. We will never go pack.”
- Google user
“One of our favourite places. Staff are amazing. Setting is lovely. Totally dog friendly. They have good wines. The food is delicious only lost a star from me because the portion of fries is tiny.”
- Google user
“We had a lovely meal here. The food was very fresh and very tasty. Was a good price also. The reason we would come back was the service!! Lovely lady didn’t catch her name, had an accent. Not entirely sure where from. She was attentive and nothing was a bother.”
- Google user
“Lovely place, we stopped in on our travels.. we had booked a table in advance. Good idea as it seemed very popular for lunches!! (Sunday 13.15hrs) Chilled atmosphere, chatty, friendly staff. Great service and food!! Definitely will return there!!!”
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 1
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Location
Bars near The Pickering Arms
- Little Manor4.62,0450.1 miWheelchair accessible
gluten free options, sunday roast, prosecco afternoon cream tea
- Waterside4.32,0612.8 mi£20–30ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
sunday lunch, rib eye steak, friendly attentive staff
- The Stag at Walton4.31,1193.1 mi£20–30ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
wake buffet, steak and ale pie, fish and chips
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Pickering ArmsWheelchair accessible | 4.41,093 | — | — | fish and chips, steak sandwich, buffet |
| Little ManorWheelchair accessible | 4.62,045 | 0.1 mi | — | gluten free options, sunday roast, prosecco afternoon cream tea |
| WatersideReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.32,061 | 2.8 mi | £20–30 | sunday lunch, rib eye steak, friendly attentive staff |
| The Stag at WaltonReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.31,119 | 3.1 mi | £20–30 | wake buffet, steak and ale pie, fish and chips |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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