The ECHO spoke to numerous food and drink businesses in the town, which has seen a “real surge” in recent years
Graham Hardcastle owns HOP in Bromborough, a town he says is “on the up”(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
A “pleasant” village with an “authentic and old-fashioned community” is being described as “the place to be”. In recent years, Bromborough, on the Wirral, has seen a number of food and drink establishments open their doors, with the latest arriving in the last couple of weeks.
Brand new Italian deli Dough & Doppio began serving customers in late December – with one calling its sandwich the “best outside of Italy”. The venue, which is situated on New Chester Road, serves pizza, focaccia sandwiches, coffee and more, while customers are seemingly going mad for the food, with the café already running out of stock.
Dough & Doppio is owned by Romanian husband and wife, Blanka and Sebastian, along with their friend, Razvan. Blanka, who lived in Italy before moving to Britain, where she has now been for 14 years, said they didn’t expect the level of support they have received since opening.
Speaking to the ECHO, she said: “This is a really good addition to the town. To be honest, we didn’t think it was going to be as popular as it is, but in four days, it’s gone viral and we gained about 800 followers online.
“People are going crazy for it and we’ve been running out of stock. My husband has had to go to Manchester to buy more stock before delivery day.”
Blanka from Dough & Doppio in Bromborough(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Talking about the food on offer at Dough & Doppio, she continued: “I used to work in events catering and have been cooking all of my life – it’s my passion. We love Italy and Italian food. The quality and taste of Italian food is the best in the world – and the coffee too.
“Everything here is freshly baked; we make really nice dough every day. Everything is done in house. The coffee is good quality – I think it is number one in Italy currently.”
While there’s a fair share of new businesses in Bromborough where you can grab a bite to eat or something to drink, others have stood the test of time. Take third generation butcher Muff’s, which was recognised as the best in the country for two categories by the National Craft Butchers Product Awards 2024.
Winning Best Black Pudding and Best 30 Minute Meal, owner John Muff said, at the time: “We knew we were in the running, but we weren’t expecting to win two category awards.” Speaking to the ECHO this week, he stated the village is “100% on the rise”.
Bromborough butcher John Muff with his UK award winning ’30 minute meal'(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
He said: “This business was founded in 1974. It’s family-owned and operated. It was my dad and grandfather who originally opened the place in Bromborough, having initially been in Birkenhead Market.
“We moved into the current location which we are in now – the bank on the corner – nine years ago, after buying and refurbishing the premises. It’s getting to the point now where my kids are thinking about getting into the business as well, which would make it fourth generation.
“It’s a really authentic and old-fashioned community. Everyone knows everybody, everyone’s friendly, everyone’s got an interest in the village; we’ve got things like the Bromborough Village Association, where there’s lots of volunteers who do all the flowers around the village, the Christmas lights, and all the behind-the-scenes sort of stuff.
“There’s customers who I’ve served today, who I’ve known since I was 12 – and I’m 42 this year. It’s just a really nice, pleasant village vibe really. In about the last five years, there’s been loads of investment coming in. There’s the Vault, Pina Loca, Gin & Milk, Coffee King and other places too. The whole village is buzzing and it’s the place to be in the evening.”
In 2021, Babul Miah opened Mexican restaurant, Pina Loca in Bromborough Village. The venue has become so popular that it has opened a takeaway venue opposite called Poco Loco.
Babul Miah, owner of Pina Loca Mexican restaurant in Bromborough(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Pina Loca serves small plates such as papadillas (potato quesidillas), mango habanero wings, tostada de hongos (chilli marinated roasted mushrooms) and a selection of tacos, burritos and rice bowls. The drinks menu features a selection of beers, wines, tequilas and cocktails.
Babul says Pina Loca is not necessarily better than other Mexican restaurants on the Wirral, but definitely different. He said: “There’s about two Mexican restaurants on the Wirral – and nothing like what we’re doing with the small plates and cocktails, which is always a winner.
“I don’t think that this place is better than the other restaurants, just different; what I’ve been able to do here is just express myself and all the things that I’ve learnt over the years – being able to implement them in my own way. We offer what we offer and most people who come in really like it.
“We’ve tried to go down more of an authentic route and we’re really interested in all the different ingredients and cooking methods which are used in Mexican cuisine. In most of the big Mexican chains, the food is Tex-Mex; deep-fried, covered in sauces and stuff like that.
Babul Miah in Pina Loca(Image: Liverpool Echo)
“Don’t get me wrong, there’s a time and a place for that kind of food but its just not the kind of food I want to serve in the restaurant. We try to keep everything as fresh as possible. It’s fresh, authentic tapas.”
Speaking about his new takeaway business Poco Loco, Babul said: “We get quite a lot of requests for takeaway in the restaurant however, it’s not something I necessarily wanted to introduce because the kitchen is busy enough. The most important thing in the restaurant is the diners who are seated. The last thing I’d want, when I’m sitting in a restaurant to enjoy myself, is loads of people coming in and out for takeaways.
“The takeaway’s menu isn’t exactly the same as the restaurant but it’s similar enough to know that it’s Pina Loca. But we have tried to design the menu so it’s more suited towards takeaway food. We’ve introduced a few comfort foods to it too, things that’d be quite nice when you’re sitting in the house in your pyjamas watching the tele.
“People are treating it like a bit of a treat. Within the radius which we deliver to, from what I can tell there’s nothing like us on the delivery apps, so I think it’s still quite exciting for people.”
Wirral Council worker Graham Hardcastle took a leap of faith when he decided to open a pub in Bromborough Village in September 2022. Intrigued by micropubs serving craft ales in Liverpool and other parts of the country, he thought the area needed one of its own.
Graham Hardcastle opened HOP in 2022(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
That hope was answered by The Bow-Legged Beagle, which set up shop in Bromborough Village in 2020. However, Graham, who was born in Dublin and grew up in Wallasey, wanted such an establishment closer to his Bromborough home. So he decided to act and set up HOP – a micropub found on Allport Road.
Graham told the ECHO: “I thought this part of Bromborough needed it. I live in this part of Bromborough and I had an appetite to open one up. That comes from the fact that my wife and I go to York and Sheffield each year – I went to university in Sheffield. We noticed these sorts of places becoming more popular in Sheffield in York and then a few opened in Liverpool.
“During covid, the Bow-Legged Beagle opened in Bromborough Village. They opened before us, I started drinking there but it was a bit too long a walk from me. My friend owns this building. It was a bakery before us. When it became available, we had a chat and agreed to go ahead.”
Graham has seen a “real surge” in new bars and restaurants in Bromborough in recent years. He said: “There’s an appetite for the service industry here. When people are in the bar, they’re asking when a new restaurant or takeaway is going to open.
“Bromborough is on the up. It’s got really good links to Liverpool and Chester and it’s a desirable place to be. With that, it’s, slowly but surely, bringing new business.”
He added: “We’ve started to get people coming in from areas further afield and we’re right by a train station. People are coming from Bebington, Port Sunlight, Hooton and Chester. I’m also starting a discount on Mondays and Tuesdays for CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) members, which should bring more support.”