alison1403's Qype profile

The Emporium is a wine bar/coffee shop/brasserie over 3 floors, and is lovely. The decor is fantastic (check out the lighting) and the food and service great. The furniture/accessories are provided by the shop underneath on the ground floor, so you can actually order any of the furniture you see upstairs. Quite a unique idea, and it allows you to 'try before you buy’!

The Queen Victoria is a pub/restaurant housing a 'Brewster Bear’ kids play area. Part of the restaurant overlooks the kids area, so it’s the ideal place for having a meal whilst keeping the kids entertained! The food is OK, nothing to rave about but sizeable portions and reasonably priced. There’s an icecream machine for the kids where they get to choose their own toppings - what more could you ask for?! Big on kids Birthday parties, and there’s a Premier Inn adjacent. Also an outside seating area overlooking the canal, but they could do more with this area I feel.

Great takeaway for those night when you just can’t be bothered cooking! The chicken kebabs in pitta are excellent, as is the garlic bread with cheese and mushrooms. The delivery is fairly quick, and free with orders over £6. Plus you get a Christmas card every year!!??

The Hollywood Star is opposite the Apollo Cinema, and is a great place to go either before or after a movie. Serving food and housing a 'Wacky Warehouse’ kids play area, it’s an ideal family venue.

Visited recently to see Igor with my seven year-old son! An excellent afternoon, the Apollo is always clean, warm and comfortable. It’s a shame the prices of the sweets and drinks is so high!

We visited on a busy Saturday afternoon, and the place was full. We didn’t eat on this occasion however the beer was excellent and chilled, and the ambience and decor were agreeable. My only criticism is that a couple of the staff members looked a bit scruffy, although they were all very friendly. Maybe it’s just the fashion these days??!!

I visited the Imax cinema for the James Bond movie preview - the seating in the cinema was well spaced and on such an angle that you didn’t have to look at the back of the head of anyone in the row in front of you. The screen was massive and the surround sound excellent - a very enjoyable experience. Lots of excalators up to the cinema - don’t go if you have an aversion to those!

Nice clean secure kennels/cattery - I have been taking my cat there for several years, sometimes for 2-weeks at a time, with no problems. The cats each have their own little room with an outside area and a raised level, plus heat lamp if required. You can provide you own food if you wish, and your details are on their computer database, so they know your cat’s requirements etc from the previous stay. Their prices have increased quite a bit in the last couple of years, but I believe it’s worth it for peace of mind regarding your pet!

Pub/restaurant very conveniently placed just off the M65, Barrowford exit. Thatched roof (hence the name) but I have noticed the thatch is in need of some attention lately. Plenty of parking. Has changed hands a couple of times over the last few years, and the current owners seem to be doing a fairly good job with the food, ambience and general cleanliness. The prices of both food and drink are reasonable, my only dislike is the bizarre 'smokers’ area’ outside the front of the building, behind a trellis - you feel a little uncomfortable and under scrutiny when entering the building.

The decor is lovely, and the food is tasty. There’s a large outdoor seating area for the summer, and in the winter open fires ensure the place is cosy and atmospheric. The staff and service are great, and there are bedrooms upstairs which you can book on a B&B basis, if you fancy stopping over. The village of Waddington is one of those quaint typically English villages, very pretty.