Fancy a drink in the sunshine in this award-winning beer garden?

The popular St Helens pub has just won our latest Best of 2024 award – St Helens’ Best Beer Garden.

Cheers to everyone at The Turks Head!

In April, we launched our Best of 2024 competition.

This year’s search for St Helens Star’s best in a whole host of categories started with hair and At Gems was crowned our first winner quickly followed by Burchall’s and their pies and Nails by Mandy took the best nails title.

Next up, The Moss Bank is officially Best for Roast Dinners, we toasted Cinema Bar for their cocktails and Shakey J’s serves up the area’s best breakfast.

Then we moved onto fish and chips with customers and readers sending their nominations and votes for their favourite plaice to get the perfect Friday night treat.

The Nelson Chippery in St Helens was last week’s winner.

Voting for St Helens’ Best for Fitness is currently taking place and we’re also looking for nominations in our latest search - Best for Tattoos.

Vote for St Helens’ Best for Fitness 2024

Nominate your favourite for St Helens’ Best for Tattoos 2024

We said cheers to 12 top beer gardens in St Helens with some great spots for a drink in the sunshine making the shortlist and Turks Head took this year’s coveted crown.

Daryl and Deborah took over at The Turks Head in 2005

Daryl Arrowsmith and Deborah Wilson are the owners of The Turks Head on Morley Street having taken over at the pumps nearly 20 years ago in 2005.

The couple grew up in Billinge and Deb’s family is originally from St Helens.

Daryl owned an off licence before the opening the pub and Deb worked for the local council before joining her partner at The Turks Head.

Daryl, who is 48, said: “We are a community real ale pub offering high quality homemade food all week.

“We offer live music, quiz nights and poker nights as well as charity fundraising events.

“We also have coach excursions with CAMRA.

“Deb and I have a love for traditional pubs and real ale and this is what drove us to opening The Turks Head.

“The opportunity to own and run one in our community was too good to miss.

“We own two pubs next door to each other that share a large outdoor space, which we are very proud of.

“We have a fantastic community between both pubs.

“We have recently opened The Cowley Grill on site and also have a cocktail lounge upstairs that’s available for private hire.

“We offer more than twenty real ales and more than 15 real ciders.”

The outside space is shared with the sister pub next door

The new Cowley Grill offers a takeaway style menu which is served out into the garden and they offer live music on a Sunday in the beer garden during the summer months, which has proven popular.

Daryl said: “Our staff are fantastic.

“We support a very welcoming and friendly approach to our service treating everyone as friends as well as supporting the local community.

“They are all so well informed about the real ale we serve.

“We also offer a high standard of homecooked food with chefs that have a lot of pride and passion in what they do.

“We all love supporting the local community and try to keep the traditional pub alive while growing and making improvements.”

What do customers think about The Turks Head beer garden? Why do they think it deserves to win our latest Best of 2024 award?

Live music keeps customers entertained on Sundays throughout the summer

Customers love the beer garden with “great beers, delicious food and great table service from staff".

Some say they are “treated like royalty”!

Daryl and Deborah were “hugely proud” to be included in this year’s shortlist for St Helens’ Best Beer Garden.

Daryl said: “There are lots of fantastic beer gardens in the local area so it’s an honour to win the award.

“We have been overwhelmed by customers’ support and we’re so pleased that our community is enjoying the outdoor space.

“We would like to thank all our staff for all their hard work.

“We have a fantastic team and are very proud of them.

“And, of course, we’d like to thank our customers for their continued support, over what has been a very difficult time for all pubs.

“Thank you to everyone who has voted - we have been overwhelmed with the support and positive comments.”

Customers say they are treated like royalty at The Turks Head