Starr and Sunlight
A staggering (and rare) monument to 19th-century benevolence on behalf of a business tycoon, Port Sunlight is a cute-as-a-button model village just 15 minutes by car from Liverpool city centre. The brainchild of William Hesketh Lever, Port Sunlight was constructed between the 1880s and 1930s to house workers for the company now known as Unilever, but then an operation primarily making soap. The streets make for a fascinating walk; the older cottages tend to be built in stout red brick with later houses taking their design cues of the Arts and Crafts and Beaux Arts movements. Walk past Hulme Hall, a community centre built in 1901 and now a Grade II-listed building, and you’re outside hallowed Beatles turf; it was here that Ringo Starr played his first gig with the band after joining the group full time. During lockdown the Happy Days Mobile Bar and Barista (happydaysmobilebar.co.uk), on the green next to the museum, is open for takeaways from 11am-4pm Monday to Friday serving Fairtrade Peruvian coffee, hot chocolate and cakes.
Where to eat and drink
A decent range of cafes, coffee shops, pubs and bars are operating takeaway, click and collect and/or delivery services over the next few weeks. Maluco (malucopizza.co.uk) on Castle Street specialises in 18-inch, wood-fired pizzas, cocktails and speciality coffee and its wine list is surprisingly eclectic, featuring vegan Chateau Mercian Koshu from Japan and Teliana Valley Khakuri from Georgia.
Nude Lifestyle Kitchen (nudelifestylekitchen.com) on Dale Street is open for takeaway from 10am-4pm Mon-Thurs and 9am-3pm on Fri. Their ambitious all-day menu includes peppercorn fillet steak with sweet potato mash and Cajun salmon with vegetable rice.