Food and Drink.
A horror themed cafe? An undercroft eatery? What about a Jail Cell restaurant? If any of these appeal to you then keep checking back here to find accessible reviews of places to eat with a Dark Tourism twist...
The Haunch of Venison pub was established around 1320. Originally the building was used as a base for the craftsman who were working on the nearby Cathedral spire. Since then it's had more than a little excitement... Churchill and Eisenhower supposedly sat in the 'horsebox' (the ladies snug) whilst planning the D-day landings, it is one of the most haunted pubs in Britain with a Grey Lady noticeable by her lavender scent and a man in a brown shirt who watches the staff and guests sleep, and the ghost of a demented whist player who has his arms folded to conceal a missing hand - a hand that is mummified and on display in an old bread oven! The hand was lopped off the man some time in the 18th century by a butcher when he was found to be cheating. The hand is so legendary it has been stolen several times which is why it now lives locked up inside a bread oven.
They sell bar snacks downstairs, we enjoyed some cheesy chips and drinks. To enjoy the food in the restaurant means several steps up to the first floor.
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Accessibility:
The pub itself has level access to the street but wider wheelchairs may struggle with the door width. The bar is very small with 4 lots of seating, however, there was a fair amount of space when we were there to manoeuvre around. We were there on a Monday at around midday for a guide. There are no toilets on the lower level. The ladies toilets are up 5 steps with a hand rail. It's up these same steps you have to go to see the hand. In the second picture you can see a window on the left hand side, that window is in the room with the hand in it. Bob was able to get up there with his walking stick. That room is pretty snug but there is plenty of seating to have a rest before going back down.There is parking outside of the pub, we found parking just around the corner, no more than 50m away. The ground outside is made up of smooth stone slabs. Inside are some wonderful marble tiles (which came from the choristers section of the Cathedral when heating was added in the 18th century) and wooden flooring.
For our full review click here.
Area 51 Coffee opened nearly two years ago and in that time has become a hub for bikers and UFO enthusiasts alike. Serving hot and cold food and drink, the cafe offers a unique themed experience for those who visit.
The Scarisbrick area has had several unexplained happenings occur including the notable 1979 Scarisbrick Fireball in which witnesses staying at a nearby campsite heard a loud explosion followed by a large fireball move in the sky and change direction as if being steered. Motorists also claimed that as the fireball flew over them, their cars lost power.
Hosting some late night events such as the monthly bikers meet, those interested in UFO's may wish to keep an eye on the skies when they visit...
Accessibility:
The cafe is wheelchair accessible with ramps up to both the front and back entrance, however the ramp at the front has seen better days and so if you have a larger mobility vehicle, or would prefer a smoother transition up then we would recommend using the ramp and the rear of the property. There are no dedicated blue badge or disabled parking spaces, but there is ample, free parking just a few metres from both ramps. Inside the cafe is accessible with everything being on a single level and there is plenty of space to manoeuvre around. There are no lower counters but the staff are helpful and friendly and will be happy to assist you. The cafe has a mixture of seating areas and seating types and while some areas such as the Plane Room aren't wheelchair accessible depending on size and type, other areas such as the Lunar Lounge are. There is an accessible toilet inside, the nearest Changing Places toilet is in Coronation Park in Ormskirk, a little over 3 miles away. There is a covered, dog friendly to the rear of the cafe although assistance dogs are welcomed inside.