There's nothing better in glorious weather than enjoying a leisurely meal al fresco.
Luckily for us, there's plenty of cafes and restaurants on Merseyside where sitting outside is an option - and some have beautiful views you can enjoy while you eat. Last Sunday, having just been paid, we decided we'd treat ourselves to breakfast out - inviting a friend along to join us.
As the day was already shaping up to be a warm one, we headed to Wirral's popular Claremont Farm, where we could enjoy our food in the sun. Claremont is always popular, especially at the weekend, and there was already a small queue of people waiting for a table when we arrived.
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Breakfast is only served until 11.30am, so you have to make sure you get there with plenty of time to spare. We arrived at 10.50am, and luckily, as there were only three of us, we were seated quite quickly - being offered either a table inside the café, or outside.
We opted for a table in the garden area, making the most of the warm morning while under the shade of a large parasol. The breakfast menu is fairly extensive, offering everything from a simple jam on toast, or muesli, to eggs benedict and homemade beans on toast - with the option to add halloumi.
We decided to go for Claremont's pick your own breakfast, which starts with two Raby Woodland eggs (which you can have poached, scrambled or fried) with two pieces of white or granary toast - priced at £4.90. From there you add items to the plate, with options like beans, bacon, sausage, black pudding, salmon, avocado, kimchi, and mushrooms all priced separately.
I opted for poached eggs on white toast, adding a ramekin of baked beans at 80p, and two hash browns at £2.40. My friend opted for similar, two poached on granary toast with a side of avocado priced at £2.50 and a slice of black pudding at £1.60.
My husband, who doesn't eat bread, treated himself to four rashers of bacon, priced at £3.20, scrambled egg, priced at £2.80, a side of avocado priced at £2.50, tomatoes, priced at £3.20 and a couple of slices of black pudding, priced at £3.20.
We also ordered two coffees and an orange juice. We didn't have long to wait for the drinks to be served, but we were warned there would be a slight delay on the food given just how busy the kitchen was - which we really didn't mind.
As we were gabbing away, we didn't really notice a delay anyway, and we were soon presented with three piping hot breakfasts. The waitress asked if we needed sauce - and I requested HP, because you simply can't have beans without brown sauce.
I don't think any of us were quite prepared for how large the tomatoes on hubby's breakfast were going to be, absolutely dominating his plate. But he said they were juicy, full of flavour and cooked to perfection.
The bacon was sliced thick, and not overly fatty - which can be the danger with bacon. The golden, scrambled eggs were not runny, and the avocado was packed with chunky pieces that he said made it more like a guacamole - minus the spicy extras.
My breakfast was equally delicious. My one grumble was the amount of butter I got wasn't quite enough for both slices of bread, but that's just me being picky as I do like a slather of butter on my toast. My hash browns were crispy and golden on the outside, and soft on the inside, and even doused in the baked beans they refused to go soggy.
Our friend also enjoyed her breakfast, the tasty black pudding not overpowering the avocado or poached eggs, the yolks of which she moped up with the remains of her granary toast.
In total, the bill for our three hearty breakfasts and drinks, came to £41.30, which we split three ways, rounding it up to £15 each with a tip. Given that the food was fresh, and in most cases, locally sourced, it felt like excellent value for money.
Paying at the till meant standing next to the vast array of cakes the farm's café has to offer, and even as stuffed as I was, it took an enormous amount of willpower not to order a slice to take away with me.
Claremont Farm is on Old Clatterbridge Road, Bebington. Breakfast is served from 9am to 11.30am every day except Tuesday, when the Doughbros are in the garden serving Breakfast pizzas from 9am.
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