Eccleston: The Griffin Inn ‘thriving’ with varied offer

Originally established as coaching house named 'The Magpie' back in the 1600s, the Griffin Inn has acted as a warm and welcoming place to stay for four centuries.

With the Griffin retaining 11 traditional guestrooms, the business has adapted and diversified to stand the test of time, and now acts as a popular pub, restaurant, function venue, and hotel.

And with its sold-out Christmas light switch on event set to take place today, floor supervisor and team leader Emma Campbell admitted that the business is the "best pub [she] has ever worked in".

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The bar at the Griffin (Image: The Griffin Inn) With a high-quality ethos running throughout the Griffin, the four main strands of the business has helped to assuage the many difficulties that have faced the hospitality industry in recent years.

With an extensive refurb completed in 2020, Emma said that the business' elegant hotel rooms are frequently booked up and the function room is a frequent host for birthdays, weddings, funerals, and work events.

A mouth-watering roast at the Griffin (Image: The Griffin Inn) The Griffin's mouth-watering menu, from traditional pub lunches to small plates and bistro options, is another big draw while the public house provides a warm and cosy atmosphere for customers and regulars alike.

With cosy nooks and crackling fires, the Griffin's pub is a popular venue for many in Eccleston, with a varied cask and draught offer as well as various events and entertainment such as live music and quiz and poker nights.

The restaurant terrace and beer garden are popular points at the Griffin (Image: The Griffin Inn) And while the Griffin runs a slick operation, Emma said that it is the "amazing team" that helps to run everything so smoothly.

Mum-of-one Emma said: "We all have our own set roles and jobs but everyone sticks together and helps each other out.

"It all fits together very well and the pub runs so smoothy. We have an amazing team, and as I have a 10-year-old son, the foundations and the way the pub runs is great for me.

"I've worked in pubs for the past 10 years and this is the best pub I have worked in by far."

Emma and General Manager Mike (Image: The Griffin Inn) In addition to the Griffin's various business strands, the team also offers a luxury beer garden, restaurant terrace, and a varied event schedule to bring the community together.

In addition to the quiz, poker, and music nights, there will also be wreath-making workshops, 'breakfast with elves' events, ladies nights, and charity evenings in the coming weeks.

And one of the most popular events on the Griffin's calendar is the jam-packed Christmas light switch on event, with 500 people set to descend on the pub today (Sunday, November 24).

Starting at 2pm, there is a huge collection of activities on offer, including Christmas stalls, fairground rides, elves and reindeers, live music, as well as fireworks and the Christmas tree light switch on at 7pm.

The Griffin's Christmas light switch on events are one of the pub's most popular events (Image: The Griffin Inn) And with new General Manager Mike Newton recently taking over the running of the Griffin, Emma said that there will be even further events and workshops to look forward to in the new year.

Located on Church Lane in Eccleston, The Griffin Inn is open from Monday to Sunday. More information can be found here.