This little UK village is known for its delicious gastropubs, quirky shops, cool, indie atmosphere and is considered one of Britain’s most desirable places to move to
Britain is well-known for its beautiful villages, distinctive for their quaint cottages, cosy pubs and winding lanes. For those looking to take a day trip, or even a weekend getaway, they can make fantastic short stay destinations. So, if you’re looking to take a staycation – or who knows, even move somewhere new entirely – there is one little town that has a particular reputation for being a charming ‘little Notting Hill’.
Unfortunately, the one downside of staying in a small village is there can be a limited amount of restaurants and a lack of variety. But this isn’t the case for Hoole. Just a 15 minute drive from the Welsh border, this little dwelling was awarded the title of Great British High Street of the Year in 2016. Seven years later, The Times listed its postcode, CH2, among the 11 trendiest in the country, according to the Liverpool Echo.
The Times praised the suburb for its “indie spirit and cool café culture” as well as the restaurants owned by Gary Usher, an award-winning Chester-based chef and restaurateur. Its variety of independent shops and eateries has even led it to be likened to Notting Hill in London, a district famous for its quirky charm.
According to the The Times wrote: “Beyond bagging a res at the neighbourhood favourite Sticky Walnut, the chef Gary Usher’s flagship bistro (the rotation of hearty dishes includes chicken schnitzel and ox heart kebabs), foodies can head to Okells for breads, spreads and silky flat whites, or there are brill brunches on offer at Little Yellow Pig, a thoroughly cute café.”
Hoole has gained a lot of notoriety in the foodie scene, with The Faulkner being named the area’s go-to gastropub. Locals are also massive enthusiasts of the veg boxes from Hoole Food Market. As for notable regulars, North Wales Live reports that the east London designer Oliver Hooson is now a fixture in the community, as he is currently refurbishing one of the town’s distinctive Victorian red brick houses.
Hoole’s status is an upmarket and desirable place to live, reports the Echo. In September 2023, Innes North made the decision to move from Toxteth to Hoole. He said: “I retired from working at BT when I was 67 and decided to move here to be near my daughter. It’s a lovely place to live.” He also added that even though his friends and family still live in Liverpool, they constantly come down to visit and he “can’t get rid of them”.
