The Hornsmill Pub in Helsby
- Jennifer Kozyra
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
As you drive into the village of Helsby, you’ll come across The Hornsmill at Helsby which is the perfect spot for a post-walk lunch after exploring Helsby Hill, or just for a lovely meal with family. With its gorgeous interior, welcoming beer garden for sunny days, and one of the biggest gluten free menus I’ve ever seen, it’s easy to see why it is so popular. The menu is so big and packed with such a great selection of dishes that it’s actually quite hard to decide what to go for.
Our Cheshire Walk and Pub Lunch Adventure!
On Fridays, me and my sister in law always meet up to have adventures. On today's plan was a revisit to a walk we did a couple of years ago now. Parking at Helsby Quarry Car Park, and walking up through the woods to the top of Helsby Hill to find the trig. We love "Trig Bagging" as it normally comes with both a sense of achievement and amazing views.
We have walked the 7km walk at Helsby Hill twice now and both times we have gone a little bit wrong and walked extra steps which meant we were starving and desperate for a sit down. Luckily the Hornsmill was only a 4 minute drive away.
Top Info
📅 Open daily
⏰️ Food is served Mon - Sat 12pm - 9pm/ Sun 12pm - 8.30pm
💰 Fixed price Lunch Menu
🍽️ Evening menu
🧒 Kids menu
🍞 Gluten Free Menu
🪑 Stylish decor
🍺 Cool beer garden
🥪 Buffet Menu for functions
🌎 Chester Rd, Helsby, Chester WA6 0JE
The pub has a large central bar, beautifully styled interiors that are easy to envy, and genuinely friendly staff. It also has a pretty outdoor terrace perfect for enjoying a drink on sunny, laid-back afternoons.
The Menu
There’s a great selection to choose from, including a separate gluten-free menu, a kids’ menu, and a three-course set lunch menu available Monday to Friday.
What We Ordered
It was honestly quite hard to choose, exactly the kind of menu I love. Do I go for a selection of small plates? Order my favourite, the pie? Or take advantage of the three-course set menu at £19.95, which feels like such good value?
From how busy the pub was on a Friday lunch time i got the impression what ever i ordered was going to be good.
Is a good pie a sign of a good pub?
In the end, the pie won! I went for the cheese and onion pie, as I always think a pie is a good test of a pub and this one definitely proved itself as a strong contender. It was presented almost like a vanilla slice and was just as tricky to cut, but my word, the filling was incredible. I also loved that it came with a cheese sauce rather than gravy.
My sister-in-law ordered the halloumi flatbread with citrus hummus and hot honey. As it came with just a side salad, she added a portion of chips too.
Back to the start
Rewinding to the start of the meal we’re not the best at committing to three full courses, so we compromised and shared a portion of nachos as a starter. Nachos can be very hit and miss, but these were definitely a hit. Instead of all the toppings sitting on top and leaving plain chips underneath, the guacamole, melted cheese, sour cream, and chillies were layered throughout, making every bite delicious.
Pudding Time
Another tough decision! Do we go for a mini pudding with coffee or a full-blown dessert? The Eton mess tempted me as it’s one of my favourites.
When it arrived, it was the prettiest Eton mess I’ve ever seen. Not the usual messy (but yummy) delight, but a perfectly stacked tower of meringue topped with cream, ice cream, and fruit.
My sister-in-law chose the apple, strawberry, and vanilla crumble which was impressive too.
Yes, I'd Recommend
By the end, we were absolutely stuffed but it was worth every bite. With a beautiful walk just minutes away offering gorgeous Cheshire views, combined with a pub serving delicious food and genuinely attentive staff, it all comes together to make such a lovely experience. Definitely one I’d recommend adding to your list.
Press Visit May 2026
Gifted, not scripted. my thoughts are always genuine and honest.
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