Rainhill, Merseyside. Rainhill is a village about 10 miles east of Liverpool. This pub is located one mile outside of the village - a nice walk. It is a 17th century farmhouse that was converted into a pub in 1977. It has links to Oliver Cromwell and there are documented tunnels (now sealed) running from the building to the surrounding area that were reportedly used to smuggle Catholics in and out (not the last you will hear of this in my posts). There is still a fresh water well in the basement! The pub is said to be haunted by the ghost of a young boy (ghosts are another thing you hear about in my posts).

As you can see in the photos this is a huge building and it houses a bar and restaurant. The rooms are big and spacious. One of many things I love about these old British pubs are the the wooden beams you often see. For me it is a good first clue that I might enjoy a pub. Many times these come from old wooden ships.

Another thing I love when I get outside of big cities (especially in the summer!) are the lovely beer gardens at town/village pubs. This was a nice one. As it was formerly a farmhouse it is surrounded by lots of open land. It was a beautiful afternoon to enjoy a crisp Carling lager (Burton-On-Trent). This is a lager you see on tap in a lot of pubs in the UK (along with Peroni and Asahi).