The Pollard Inn, Willaston, Wirral

For a north Liverpool lad such as Yours Truly, getting the bearings on the road in Wirral is as bad as south Liverpool because no main route, apart from the M53 and Queens Drive respectively, seems to go in a straight direction.

Thank Cains then for the Lady who knows her way around the Peninsula’s best watering holes better than a beer seeking missile.

Which is not to suggest she’s a member of the alkie-stocracy. It’s just that if she goes out she wants a place with a bit of class about it.

What we ended up with was something which ticked all the right boxes.

But... after excellent navigation from The Lady, the Chapmobile had ultimately landed in lovely, leafy Willaston, home of the great and the good.

Well, Stan Boardman and Sami Hyypia anyway – which is good enough for me.

The essence of yesteryear hangs over the place, compounded by the fact that it has retained its village green. The nearby Hadlow Road railway station, which served the village until its closure in 1955, also acts as a gateway to the Wirral Way, a haven for walkers.

And what is the object of your desire after a long thirsty trudge on a sunny summers day?

A pint, of course.

This will be provided at the Pollard Inn.

Appropriately known as the “hidden inn on the Wirral� the Pub Column would have been duly lost without The Lady’s directional nouse.

Tucked away on a narrow tributary behind the green this manor house, later farm house, is a grade II-listed building which dates way back to 1637.

It was converted and extended to become a pub in 1983. It’s a fine looking specimen, with low beams, a la carte restaurant, bright and airy conservatory extension for pub diners, beer garden and play area, plus B&B accommodation.

Just inside the main entrance are photographs of Willaston dating back to the early 20th century and a framed family tree of the Pollard family, er, which gives you a clue to the name of the boozer.

Any opportunity to elicit any more background information, however, hit a brick wall a couple of days later when Yours Truly rang after leaving the customary Daily Post calling card due to the absence of the landlady.

“What’s your angle?� came the suspicious response from mine hostess down the blower on being told Pollard’s had been chosen as At the Bar’s pub of the week.

The temptation was to say that the Post was investigating cases of human sacrifice in the Gents toilets but that would have been facetious.

Instead, Yours Truly accepted that this lady wasn’t for turning and her excuse, that as ownership was changing soon “what would be the point in putting it in the paper if things are going to be different?�

Fair enough.

What the Pub Column can tell you is that Pollard’s serves a very acceptable pint of Marston’s Pedigree but an overpriced – and very drab helping – of fish, chips and mushy peas.

Nothing more to say than that.

Except, perhaps, vive la difference.