Moor Hall
Moor Hall is located in Aughton, West Lancashire, set in five acres of beautiful gardens, with views to the south over a glistening lake, said to be the remains of a medieval moat. Here you’ll find Mark Birchall’s award-winning, two Michelin star Restaurant with seven unique, luxurious bedrooms and The Barn at Moor Hall – Mark Birchall’s neighbourhood restaurant.
Moor Hall itself was first recorded in 1282. A grade II* listed gentry house of mid-sixteenth century origin, Moor Hall is one of the most important listed buildings in the UK. It was acquired by Peter Stanley of Bickerstaffe, who built the present manor house, in 1533.
Andy & Tracey Bell took over the site in 2015, and Moor Hall opened two years later, following a multi-million pound renovation. In partnership with talented chef, friend and business partner, Mark Birchall, Moor Hall is now an award-winning Restaurant with luxury rooms, holding two Michelin Stars, a Michelin Green Star and 5 AA Rosettes. It was also recently crowned ‘Restaurant of the Year’ at the National Restaurant Awards 2021, for the second time.
The Barn, Mark Birchall’s neighbourhood restaurant, launched not long after the opening of Moor Hall following a conversion project. Located within the grounds of Moor Hall, The Barn offers delicious, seasonal menus and was awarded a Michelin Star in 2022.
Mark Birchall
Mark was born in Chorley, Lancashire and trained at Runshaw College. He won the Roux Scholarship, the premier competition for chefs in the UK, in 2011. He also worked at El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, a 3 Michelin Star Restaurant owned by the Roca Brothers, twice voted the World’s Best Restaurant. Mark was previously Executive Chef of 2 Michelin Star L’Enclume in Cumbria.
Mark’s menus showcase his own style of modern British cuisine, wherever possible using produce grown on the five-acre Moor Hall site or from local suppliers, and reflecting the broad culinary experience he has garnered over the last 20 years.
Read More
Things to do at Moor Hall
Many of our guests like to venture out and explore the local area during their stay with us, or as part of their journey to and from Moor Hall.
We share some of the top things to do in and around the area, and a little further afield – whether you’re keen to stretch your legs, shop, play golf or simply relax…
Explore
Moor Hall is located in Aughton. One of Lancashire’s best kept secrets, Aughton is a quiet but attractive residential area on the outskirts of Ormskirk.
The local area is well served with a good variety of shops and cafes. Ormskirk has a popular art gallery with some exciting exhibitions and contemporary collections.
If you want to get back to nature on your trip, the Gorse Hill Nature Reserve offers spectacular views over the West Lancashire Plain. Alternatively, on the east side of Ormskirk, Ruff Wood is a 19-acre wildlife spotting haven.
Moor Hall is also situated close to a number of pleasant footpaths and other trails of varying degrees of difficulty. A popular circular walk starts 1 mile down the road from Moor Hall and lasts for 8.5 miles, taking in part of the Liverpool Leeds Canal.
You can find this route and others nearby on AllTrails.
Other local destinations
Formby // Formby Beach is a perfect day out when it’s bright and sunny. On clear days, the dunes offer spectacular views over the Irish Sea and the mountains of Cumbria.
Visitors may also be able to find prehistoric footprints preserved in the sediment beds of this National Trust coastline. And if you are really lucky, you may be able to spot a red squirrel in the site’s extensive woodland. There are also some great walking trails, such as the Formby asparagus trail. You can drive to Formby in 25 minutes from Moor Hall.
Anthony Gormley’s Another Place // Another Place is an art installation from British sculptor Anthony Gormley. It consists of 100 life-size, cast-iron figures spread out across Crosby Beach, all looking wistfully out to sea. The spectacular installation has moved between Germany, Norway and Belgium, but when it arrived at Crosby – a 25 minute drive from Moor Hall – it was decided the figures should stay there for good.
Southport // With sandy beaches, a 1,000-metre iron pier, arcades and some excellent fish and chip shops, Southport is the quintessential British seaside town. A 25 minute drive away from Moor Hall, Southport is perfect for a day out.
Liverpool // With unique attractions, exciting events and an unrivalled musical heritage, Liverpool is a one-of-a-kind city and it’s only a 30-minute drive from Moor Hall. There’s all sorts to see in the city centre. Albert Dock is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site and is home to several world-class galleries and museums, including TATE Liverpool, The Museum of Liverpool and The Beatles Story.
Other attractions in the city include The Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool Cathedral, Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King and The Cavern Club.
Shopping
We have two great shopping cities within easy driving distance from Moor Hall.
Liverpool // A city that’s always looking to set the next trend, Liverpool is a paradise for shoppers. Liverpool ONE is a shiny new shopping centre that features all of your high-street favourites, plus high-end designer outlets and the UK’s only Beauty Bazaar, Harvey Nichols.
Elsewhere in the city you’ll find many boutique arcades and bohemian streets, interspersed with some fine coffee shops and independent eateries.
Manchester // Manchester is a little further to drive, but it’s easy to see why it’s popular with shoppers from around the world. In the city centre you’ll find the Manchester Arndale shopping centre, Selfridges and other destinations like Exchange Square and Market Street.
A little outside the city centre, The Trafford Centre has a great range of shops (including another Selfridges) and restaurants.
Sport
Anfield, Goodison Park, Old Trafford and the Etihad // In this part of the world, football is more than just a game. To the people of Liverpool, Manchester and many of the towns and villages in between, football is a religion.
Whether you’re red, blue or neutral, visiting one of these historic clubs is a must-do activity for any sports lover. All of the clubs offer stadium tours and, if you’re lucky, you might be able to catch a game as well.
England’s ‘Golf Coast’ // Home to the finest stretch of coastal links golf courses in the country, including three Open Championship venues.
Located in Southport, just 25 minutes from Moor Hall, Royal Birkdale is widely regarded as one of the finest courses in Great Britain and Ireland. Royal Birkdale has hosted more Championship and International events than any other course in the world since World War II.
Royal Liverpool, around 50 minutes drive from Moor Hall, is another fine links course that hugs the northwest corner of the Wirral Peninsula. Royal Liverpool is set to host the Open Championship again in 2023.
An hour’s drive north of Moor Hall, Royal Lytham & St. Annes is another historic club that has hosted 11 Open Championships and two Ryder Cups.
Other nearby courses ranked in the Top 100 Golf Courses in Great Britain and Ireland include:
• Hillside Golf Club, Southport
• Formby Golf Club, Formby
• Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club, Southport
• West Lancashire Golf Club, Blundellsands
We can arrange for our guests to play at these courses, along with any transportation required. Just call our Reservations team on 01695 572511 should this be of interest.