
The Pen Factory
An industrial-chic bistro bar beneath Hope Street, offering a vibrant atmosphere, a lovely beer garden, and a diverse menu of small plates and real al...

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

The Pen Factory

Highlights
Must-see attractions
An industrial-chic bistro bar beneath Hope Street, offering a vibrant atmosphere, a lovely beer garden, and a diverse menu of small plates and real ales.
"Great atmosphere, lovely outdoor area, and delicious food - perfect for a relaxed pint or meal."
Visit during off-peak hours
To avoid loudness from crowds, consider visiting during quieter times.
Make reservations
Ensure prompt seating by making reservations in advance, especially for groups.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Bistro, Bar
Price
Mid-range
Phone
+44 151 709 7887
Address
13 Hope St, Liverpool, L1 9BQ, United Kingdom
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Charming Beer Garden Oasis
Escape the city bustle in this serene, green courtyard perfect for socializing and enjoying the sunshine.

Eclectic Small Plates
Savor creative small plates like Caribbean lamb curry and Spanish chip butty, ideal for sharing.

Extensive Craft Beer Selection
Discover a wide array of real ales and craft beers, many not commonly found elsewhere.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Visit during off-peak hours
To avoid loudness from crowds, consider visiting during quieter times.
Make reservations
Ensure prompt seating by making reservations in advance, especially for groups.
Try unique dishes
Explore adventurous options like Caribbean lamb curry or Spanish chip butty.
Enjoy the garden
When the weather is nice, the beer garden is a perfect, leafy spot to relax.
Tips
from all over the internet
Visit during off-peak hours
To avoid loudness from crowds, consider visiting during quieter times.
Make reservations
Ensure prompt seating by making reservations in advance, especially for groups.
Try unique dishes
Explore adventurous options like Caribbean lamb curry or Spanish chip butty.
Enjoy the garden
When the weather is nice, the beer garden is a perfect, leafy spot to relax.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Diners praise The Pen Factory for its friendly staff, vibrant atmosphere, and lovely beer garden, particularly enjoying the small plates and beer selection. However, some reviews mention concerns about portion sizes relative to price and a less favorable experience under new management compared to previous iterations.
"1st time at this venue and we absolutely loved it ! Very friendly welcoming staff and lovely food. Would deffo recommend thank you"
Lisa L
"Was here because attending a social event, but arrived early so we had some food while waiting.
Food were great, but portions were a bit small for the price.
Staff was friendly and service was reasonably fast.
Can be a bit loud when there are lots of people."
Stenly
"A beautiful bar with a good beer selection and staff that are lovely and really friendly. The vibe in the Pen Factory is great and the interior is a great space to visit anyway.
You can clearly see the effort the team put in to ensure you have a pleasant experience and although we didn’t eat on this visit. The food looked and smelled great
Great beer, stunning interior and it’s also dog friendly."
Christopher Lewis
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
The Pen Factory has an industrial-chic ambiance with exposed brickwork, long wooden tables, and a lively vibe, especially with its popular beer garden.
Yes, The Pen Factory boasts a lovely and popular beer garden, described as a quiet oasis perfect for socializing, especially during sunny weather.
Popular choices include herb-crusted cod, mussels, Caribbean lamb curry, and Spanish chip butty, often enjoyed as shareable small plates.
Yes, its industrial-chic design with long wooden tables makes it a perfect spot for large groups.
The Pen Factory offers a wide range of real ales and craft beers, as well as wines and spirits.
Yes, The Pen Factory is dog-friendly.
Yes, the menu offers options suitable for both vegans and meat-eaters, such as the Caribbean lamb curry and Spanish chip butty.
Mentioned in
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Opened at the start of December, this relaxed basement bar and (if you feel peckish) canteen, has been packed out ever since. The reputation of its owners, Paddy Byrne and chef Tom Gill, who used to run the Everyman Bistro, clearly precedes them. On this fly-past, its five real ales included beers from Liverpool Organic Brewery, the fantastic Mallinsons and Salopian.
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Nestled beneath the noise of Hope Street, The Pen Factory should definitely be on your list of restaurants for alfresco dining. A bistro bar inspired by the Lang Pen Company, this airy, industrial-chic haunt features exposed brickwork and long wooden tables making it the perfect spot to bring a large group of friends. Bask in nature with herbs and flowers providing a leafy backdrop to a delicious selection of small plates like Caribbean lamb curry and a Spanish chip butty which are suitable for vegans or meat-eaters alike, alongside a selection wines, spirits and beers.
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The Pen Factory is Hope Streets relaxed Bistro and Bar, found next to the Everyman Theatre. That does mean its a frequent for the theatre crowd, but, when the suns out, this cosy place becomes host to a crowd of people who are after that more relaxed pint (one might say sophisticated). It's absolutely gorgeous and the food, served from its theatrical open kitchen, is divine, and well worth a visit for that alone.
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Tucked away below the hustle and bustle of the bohemian Hope Street, the Pen Factory has quickly become a favourite spot for sun seekers. Offering diners and drinkers an eclectic menu featuring seasonal small plates and a huge range of cask ales, it’s the ideal destination for a relaxed dining experience. A quiet oasis away from the city, the Pen Factory beer garden is a beautiful place to catch up with friends.
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As part of the Everyman Theatre, the Pen Factory is a relaxed and casual bistro, ideal for a lunch stop while exploring the city of Liverpool. Serving seasonal small plates including the likes of king prawns in paprika, smoked salmon and pea risotto and soy and honey glazed chicken wings everything is made for sharing. Given it is so close to the Theatre it’s the ideal spot to enjoy a craft ale after a show too.
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One of Liverpool’s best secret beer gardens, the courtyard at the rear of The Pen Factory is a gorgeous little gem!. Located next to The Everyman Theatre on Hope Street, the underground venue offers incredible small plates and a fantastic range of drinks including cask ales and fine wine — with a relaxed open plan environment and a newly refurbished ‘Vault’ connecting to the courtyard.
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Hope Street’s latest independent has only been open for a few months but has made a big impression. Spearheaded by Paddy O’Byrne, the building has been many things but was originally, yes, you guessed it, a pen factory. Whilst the ink has run dry the pints haven’t and whilst you wouldn’t suspect this to be a great place at first glance for a drink, it certainly is.
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Perfect for foodie workaholics, The Pen Factory offers a relaxed atmosphere and some of the best dishes in town. Award-winning chef Tom Gill will keep you fuelled as you get down to business. If the sun’s shining, the garden is the perfect quiet oasis, and with a small selection of board games, you can stay entertained until well after five!
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Imagine how the old Everyman Bistro would have been with fresh air and sunshine instead of artificial light and ciggie smoke. Too much for some, admittedly. But they (the first two) were always on proprietor Paddy Byrne’s wish list and it all came right when he reopened as the Pen Factory, in the basement of the Annexe next door.
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Hidden away from the madness of the day’s hustle and bustle, the Pen Factory is a mid-summer oasis to visit. Located on Hope Street, the venue boasts a menu of fantastic food, amazing drinks menu and a great beer garden to relax and soak up the friendly atmosphere.. and some rays at the same time of course.
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Based on the vibe and style of a bistro, the Pen Factory has a relaxed atmosphere and a friendly staff ready to help provide you with great quality food and delicious drinks. They’ve got small plates and mains, as well as spirits, wines and beers for you to enjoy in their quiet and peaceful garden.
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Pen Factory on Hope Street is a bit of a hidden gem for food. Right next to the Everyman Theatre, it’s a casual bar / restaurant place in the bottom floor of what used to be a factory (yes, it made pens). Again, it’s all about small plates, and the menu is manageably short, and totally delicious.
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Sorry, you need to accept cookies from Instagram to view this content. Nowhere is safe from seasonal small plate menus, not even Liverpool. While it’s easy to get cynical about restaurants charging you £12 for a plate of asparagus spears, Pen Factory is a place that does small plates right.
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The Pen Factory, 13 Hope Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 9BQ - Visit now. The Pen Factory is an inviting restaurant with a knock-out craft beer list. It is one of the few places where diners are positively encouraged to linger with a good book, a well-poured pint and a crisp butty
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Next up is a belter of a beer garden at Pen Factory, also situated on Hope Street. It has a great menu, so you could pop there for lunch and stay through the afternoon, taking in the relaxed, friendly ambience with a drink in hand. What better way to enjoy the bank holiday?
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The Pen Factory specialises in bistro food with a mix of main dishes and small plates for sharing. Everything is reasonably priced and perfectly presented. This is food to enjoy with friends – much as it was at owner Paddy Byrne’s previous outfit, the Everyman Bistro.
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The Pen Factory on Hope Street is a really relaxed basement space that’s perfect for a meet-up with friends, especially if you’re heading to the Everyman next door. The food is incredible, make sure you try their croquette specials, and the short rib is divine!
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The Pen Factory is a dog-friendly gastropub and restaurant, serving up delicious seasonal dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. With its cosy atmosphere and inviting outdoor space, it’s a lovely spot to enjoy a meal with your furry friend pup.
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Friendly and welcoming, the Pen Factory has a cosy interior and a luscious garden space. With a variety of wines and beers on offer, the cocktail selection here is less expansive; however, I always like to think it’s quality over quantity!
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A trendy restaurant offering a blend of European cuisine in a stylish setting. It’s housed in a former warehouse and maintains an industrial-chic vibe, making it a favourite with travellers looking for unique dining.
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After a quick break, we had dinner at the fancy new Pen Factory. This was a great meal for the night. The night before, we ate at London Carriage Works (inside Hope Street hotel).
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Down the steps from the cathedral is the closest Liverpool gets to cavern dining: an industrial-chic restaurant known as the Pen Factory (guess what it used to be).
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Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere amongst the beautiful creeping shrubs and feast on sharing dishes or small plates influenced by cuisine from around the world.
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Another alternative is the Pen Factory's Sunday brunch, where you can get an English breakfast with a bit of live music.
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That was in 2017, and then we moved to the Buyers Club, had a space in the Pen Factory and now we're here.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit