Clockworks

Since the demise (and the soul-destroying) destruction of the old premises of Nation and Kazimier, Wolstenholme Square has felt a little flat. Construction work on brand new apartments have taken forever, but despite this there has been a pleasant corner in Clockworks where you can get some top-quality food from breakfast through to dinner, stop off for a quiet drink, and have a chat with the very friendly owners and staff. Let’s just hope that they finally get the popularity they deserve as the Square gets a brand-new lease of life.

The Vibe

The management team (and all the staff in fairness) at Clockworks are really approachable and friendly. The TiL team has been going there for post-work drinks for quite a while, and we also love the breakfast menu, but what made us keep going back was the ease with which the staff have always put us. You can genuinely have a nice chat about anything with them, they’ll make a positive enquiry about how your day is going, without it ever seeming forced or insincere. The space itself is pretty big, using all of the exposed red brick, steel and iron to make a unique bar and dining area that is comfortable and classic. In the evenings there is definitely that comfortable and cosy atmosphere that you might expect in an elegant and sophisticated cocktail bar. There is even a bit of an outdoor area with wooden tables and chairs for the summer months. The seating in the raised area at the back of the bar is the perfect spot if you are looking to hire out some space for a birthday or other type of event, and the Clockworks team has helped us out a few times with booking tables for big numbers and going above and beyond to make us feel welcome. We’ve been told that you can also hire out the whole place if you wish, without the exorbitant costs that you might expect from a prime city centre location.

The Food

The lunch and dinner menus are full of British classics, delivered in a simple form, utilising the very highest quality of ingredients. Through a choice of small or large plates, you can work your way through a selection of dishes that are forward-thinking but lean on the classic tradition of good British food. Where Clockworks really stands out from the crowd though is that they do one of the best breakfasts in Liverpool for us (TiL would certainly put it in the top 5 in an ever-improving breakfast scene). We’ve been told by our vegetarian friends that The Gardener is pretty damn good, but for us, The Butcher is the only way to go when coming for a breakfast to set you up for the day. Large, pretty plates, with thick bacon, flavourful sausages, eggs that are always delivered perfectly no matter what style you ask for, beans, mushrooms, and farmhouse toast with salty butter. The two things that stand out though are the potato scone (which is different to anything else in these parts and shows the Scottish heritage of the Clockworks team), and the black pudding. This particular writer hates black pudding, but will always have at least half of it at Clockworks because it is that tasty. That says it all.

The Price

You might pay a little bit more than you’d expect for all parts of the menu, but we haven’t met anyone who has eaten here that has thought it is overpriced. The quality of ingredient, the ambience, and the service all make it worthwhile. The Butcher breakfast is priced at £11, whilst The Gardener is £10. Big sharing boards are £14 or £16 for the Meze or Ploughman, Small Plates are priced between £5 and £9.50, whilst the big plates are anything from £1 for the roasted watermelon to £19 for the Lamb Rump.