Woodwards

I see that not many people have bothered to comment — and understand why, as this was a real disappointment to us. Like to support independents, but the service and coffee served were both poor quality. The girls were busy chatting to the ‘yuppy-​wine-​drinking’ regulars about their previous evening, and when our order was taken mistakes were made and I had to repeat items more than once to correct. Then we still got served with TWO incorrect items — that was 50% of our order! Certainly won’t bother next time we’re in town. Free coffee at Waitrose — with better service for us.

This little coffee shop began its life owned by ex-​Everton centre-​half Alan Stubbs, who opened two coffee shops — one in Formby and a significantly larger one in Birkdale down the road.
Unfortunately for Formby, it got stuck with the smaller version, with coffee drinkers squeezed into the narrow inside whenever it’s raining or cold. If it turns out to be quite a pleasant day, customers will almost certainly be found at the outside seating, because people like nothing more than to sit by the side of a road in the village (never seen the appeal, myself).
Of a night, Woodwards becomes another one of Formby’s busy bars as its finest (and some minor celebrities, if you’re lucky) quickly fill the inside and out, meaning those spilling out of here and at D’Art often meet.
Like The Gallery, if trendy wine bars are your cup of tea, I’d recommend it but I generally find it all a bit too posy for my liking and therefore generally try to avoid it.

Owned by modern footballing legend, Everton’s ‘Big’ Duncan Ferguson this café-​bar-​bistro is a bit of a chameleon. By day it is filled with ladies who lunch, dining on the selection of decent-​enough bar snacks and throwing back lattes like their rotary club membership depended on it.
Of a night though it transforms into one of Formby’s most popular nightspots with live music (usually by covers acts or local acoustic guitarists playing a selection of middle-​of-​the-​road pop’n’rock picks) beer-​quaffing customers spilling out onto the pavement in various states of merriness.
Inside it’s a little narrow and there’s probably a bit too much in the way of padded leather seating but it is almost impossible to not get caught up in the lively atmosphere of a Friday or Saturday night spent here, especially in the summer months. They should really stop showing that video of the fireplace on the television when it’s not being used for sport though.