Secret Garden - one of St Helens little gems

And some of the more intimate bars in St Helens town centre will be hoping the warm weather will entice people out to enjoy a cocktail too.

While the town may have a strong reputation for its real ale scene, a number of smaller bars, with a city-style feel have built up a strong customer base.

Inside the Secret Garden (Image: St Helens Star)

Duke Street has the Cinema Bar, The Townhouse and The Newsroom, while the Little George Street Quarter has blossomed over towards St Helens Central Railway station.

The Star has shone a spotlight on those bars in the last 12 months.

But right in the heart of the town centre is another little gem, tucked inside the Imperial Buildings.

The Secret Garden opened more than four years ago. But, just as it was becoming established, the venue, like others across the country, was hit by the pandemic and it had to endure a bumpy ride.

The Secret Garden (Image: St Helens Star)

However, the bar survived and it is a firm favourite with regulars who enjoy its selection of gins, premium lagers and cocktails.

Secret Garden certainly offers something different to other St Helens town centre venues in terms of its appearance, with the narrow walkway, small bar and brick surroundings creating that feeling of intimacy.

At its rear is the connecting venue, The Yard, which is often used to stage celebrations such as baby showers, birthday parties or engagements dos.

The Yard stages celebrations (Image: St Helens Star)

Outside, at the venue's front, are wooden huts where people can sit and enjoy a drink in the good weather.

It's also flanked by the former pizza restaurant Cork & Dough, which became a victim of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.  The empty space has allowed the Secret Garden to spread its wings so that customers can now sit at the former eaterie's tables.

"We started out as a gin bar, but have gone on to do cocktails and offer some beers", says Rebecca Peacock, who co-owns the Ormskirk Street venue with Ian Pitts.

Sophie Yates and Rebecca Peacock (Image: St Helens Star)

"We try to offer something different - to being that city-style feel to St Helens. We get a lot of couples and groups of friends coming here. We have the room at the back for celebrations."

If you're heading to the bar earlier in the evening, expect to hear some disco tunes from the 80s, but later in the night, after 11pm, when a younger crowd often arrives, the soundtrack switches to a more modern feel. Whatever your age though, it's bar that is all about having a great night and good times.

Secret Garden also stages theme nights (there was a Barbie one in the summer for instance to coincide with the blockbuster film release) and people can keep updated on what's on through its social media channels.

Rebecca is keen to thank all the regulars who stuck with the bar through the tough times of Covid and is hopeful more people will return to a town centre nightlife that has still to fully recover from the impact of 2020.

Showing people that there are different offerings in the town centre than "vertical drinking" bars or traditional boozers could be one way of doing that.

With the sun shining over during a beautiful early September, it's the perfect opportunity to check it out.