Hydes Brewery Plans £1.5 Million Refurbishment of Wirral's Boathouse at Parkgate

The Boathouse at Parkgate, a landmark pub sitting at the end of The Parade on the Dee Estuary, closed its doors on Monday, March 2 for a three-month, £1.5 million refurbishment by Salford-based Hydes Brewery. The venue is expected to reopen in early June.

Hydes managing director Adam Mayers called the pub "a jewel in our estate, occupying a truly unique location on the Dee Estuary," and framed the investment as part of the brewery's ongoing commitment to its estate. "By enhancing the outdoor terraces and modernising the interior while respecting its 19th-century heritage, we are ensuring The Boathouse remains a premier destination for both locals and nature-watchers for years to come," Mayers said.

The scope of work includes a brand-new outside trading area and a new upstairs terrace specifically designed to capitalize on the venue's coastal dining reputation. The interior will be modernized while preserving the pub's 19th-century character. Once reopened, The Boathouse will align with Hydes' premium pub dining estate, with a focus on seasonal menus. The pub has built a local following around dishes like treacle-baked ham, stuffed peppers, and a well-regarded Sunday lunch.

Beyond the bricks and mortar, the project will create 25 new hospitality roles, including a new general manager. Anyone interested in those positions can reach the recruitment line at 07890 573544.

Mayers described The Boathouse as "our first major refurbishment of 2026," and the project fits squarely into a broader multimillion-pound Hydes estate programme with additional sites already earmarked: The Nursery Inn at Heaton Norris in Stockport and The Mount Inn at Chester are both in the pipeline. Total Hydes investment across the estate this year is projected to reach seven figures, including smaller-scale works at other pubs in the portfolio. For context, Hydes spent £4 million across its estate in 2023, with major refurbishments at The Jolly Thresher in Lymm and The John Millington in Cheadle Hulme.

For a brewer-operator with Hydes' footprint, the Parkgate project signals something worth watching: a deliberate push into destination dining in scenic locations, with the outdoor terrace investment suggesting they're betting heavily on The Boathouse's estuary views as a genuine competitive asset.