Why Warrington Wolves new restaurant is well worth a try

So to try to start serving in the middle of a pandemic is brave.

But Warrington Wolves have never taken the easy option.

So with fans still banned from The Halliwell Jones Stadium, bosses came up with the idea of welcoming diners instead to help club coffers.

And judging by our visit on Friday, the venture is proving as successful off the pitch as the club is on it.

The 1876 restaurant has been hastily set up in the Platinum Lounge of the North Stand and from the moment you step in, you feel very safe.

Tables are well spaced, staff have masks and even the menu is accessed via a QR code on your phone.

While the room itself has views of the pitch (ones I have missed since March) as well as bits of memorabilia and classic Wire matches playing on the big screen (the Wembley win over Huddersfield was the background to our meal).

Of course all this is well and good, but as of any restaurant, the real question is what was the food like?

Well the staff are well used to catering and are delighted to be back after months of furlough.

And what they served up was delicious.

The menu may be slightly limited but there is plenty of choice and we were delighted with our first course of halloumi and watermelon salad and a chicken liver parfait.

The highlight of the three-course meal though was the main course.

My Chicken Schnitzel with parmesan crumb was huge and succulent with a tasty whipped corn mash and juicy and unusual tomato slaw.

While my wife was equally enthusiastic about her shin of beef served in a rich red wine sauce and pasta.

For dessert, I had a classic apple crumble and my wife tucked into a satisfying sticky toffee pudding.

Different options are available at lunch while special menus are available to accompany openings when Warrington are playing in Super League.

Overall, the restaurant is proving a great new dining option in Warrington – whether you are a Wolves fan or not.

It deserves off field success while fans remained starved of seeing onfield action in person.

Two and three course options are available for lunch and dinner between 12pm and 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays while Sunday lunch is served between 12pm and 4pm on Sundays. Members get 50 per cent off their first visit.