The Mayor of Sefton opened The Grapes in Formby

The Grapes opened with a bang on Tuesday evening, 8th December. The Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Stephen Kermode cut the ribbon and said:

"The Grapes is now officially open and I wish success and happiness to everyone that comes in."

Manager Malcolm Quilliam with his wife Claudia and The Mayor, Cllr Stephen Kermode

Manager Malcolm Quilliam and The Mayor, Cllr Stephen Kermode join in the official handshake.

Claudia Quilliam with The Mayor, Cllr Stephen Kermode and Manager Malcolm Quilliam

Sixteen jobs have been created for local people, boosting the team to 30, led by experienced General Manager Malcolm Quilliam. It will offer classic pub food and local real ales.

The team with the Mayor Cllr Stephen Kermode

The Grapes is one of Formby’s most famous landmarks and has undergone a half-a-million pound facelift, returning it to its Victorian splendour, in time for the Christmas festivities.

It has a contemporary, elegant design with festive decor and comforts of home. Seating areas for groups of friends or for intimate dining. Full table waiting-on service within the lavish dining area so you can just sit back with your friends and family and enjoy the sheer indulgence.

Here is a short video of the VIP evening at the Grapes on Tuesday 8th December.

An area to the rear of the pub, dedicated to loyal sports enthusiasts, provides excellent viewing facilities for all-important games.

The pub’s new menu includes seaside fish board sharer of Severn Wye and Oak smoked salmon, wholetail scampi, king prawns and calamari, Cumberland sausage and mash, fresh-baked lasagne with garlic ciabatta bread, braised calf’s liver with colcannon mash and a Madeira wine and caramelised onion sauce and slow cooked roasted lamb shank with a rosemary and red wine sauce.

The Grapes’ head chef will be baking a seasonal crumble of the day alongside several indulgent alternatives.

The perfect Sunday lunch destination for the whole family, the Grapes pub will offer a choice of roasts served with seasonal vegetables. Newspapers and board games to hand.

Fresh local cask ales, craft beers and award winning wines feature widely on the bar. An increased number of cask hand pumps to eight mean the pub can offer customers a rotating choice and variety from local and national breweries. Formby's Red Star Brewery has honoured the pub with its very own ‘The Grapes Ale’ to mark the launch, while four craft beers on tap include Longhorn IPA, Blue Moon, Brewdog IPA and Meantime.

Mondays will be dedicated to cask beer, a pint of the real stuff served for £2.50 during the all-day Cask Club. Meanwhile, Wine Wednesdays offer a choice of ten of the finest wines for just £10 a bottle and all day every Thursday, customers can enjoy two succulent rumps steaks for £15.99

It was a lovely evening and the staff were amazing. The Grapes went on to open to the public from 7pm.

Here are a few photos from the VIP night.