The Pen Factory is an independent pub and bistro at 13 Hope Street in Liverpool, next door to the Everyman Theatre. Paddy Byrne opened it in 2014 inside a building once used by the Lang Pen Company, which produced pens and gold nibs on the site. New custodians continue to share that industrial history while running the venue as a relaxed place to eat and drink.
Food is prepared by the chefs in an open kitchen, with a seasonal menu that lends itself to smaller plates and shared ordering. Meat, fish, vegetable, cheese and soup choices allow a table to assemble a varied meal without everyone committing to the same format. British and European influences keep the cooking broad while remaining grounded in recognisable ingredients.
The informal service works for lunch, pre theatre dining and a longer evening with friends. Sunday food and occasional prix fixe menus give certain dates their own rhythm, while live music and quiz events bring the room to life after the kitchen winds down. Allergy requirements should be discussed with the team using the current menu.
An extensive wine list sits alongside cocktails and beer from local, national and international breweries. The bar identity is genuine, but the kitchen remains central rather than an afterthought. The Pen Factory combines Hope Street history, independent hospitality and flexible seasonal dining in one of Liverpool’s most culturally active neighbourhoods.
Address: 13 Hope Street, Liverpool L1 9BQ, United Kingdom
The Pen Factory Menu
Starters
Cauliflower Bites
Sticky chilli & soy cauliflower bites with toasted sesame, spring onion & herb oil
Soup of the Day
Please see our specials board for our Soup of the Day offer
Salt & Pepper Whitebait
Salt & pepper spiced crispy whitebait served with a lime wedge & garlic aioli
Garlic King Prawns
Pan seared garlic & herb king prawns with shallots and toasted sourdough
Cajun Fried Aubergine
Tempura aubergine with Cajun spice, chilli & ginger oil & garlic aioli
Braised Pork Belly
Braised pork belly with apple & fennel salad and a tomato & chilli chutney
Croquette of the Week
Please see our specials board or ask your server for this week’s croquette option
Deli Board for Two
A trio of cured meats served with chutney, pickles & crostini
Main Dishes
Fish & Chips
Beer battered haddock served with triple cooked chips, mushy peas, tartare sauce & burnt lemon wedge
Pea & Mint Risotto
Pea & mint risotto with goats cheese & chives
Scouse
Our famous Scouse stew with beef and root vegetables. Served with pickled red cabbage & sourdough
Tofu Noodle Broth
Fried tofu in a mirin & miso rice noodle broth with bell pepper, carrot, pak choi, spring onion & toasted sesame
8oz Rump Steak
Rump steak served with triple cooked chips, grilled tomato & cream beef sauce
Pan Roasted Stone Bass
Pan roasted stone bass with lemon and dill, salsa verde, new potatoes & mediterranean vegetables
Lemon & Honey Chicken
Pan fried lemon and honey chicken with new potatoes & a chilli-ginger dressed salad
Daily Specials
Please see our specials board or ask your server for our daily specials
Sides
House Salad
Cucumber, vine ripened tomato, bell pepper & mixed leaf with a lemon & black pepper dressing
Sourdough Bread
Locally made sourdough served with olive oil & balsamic vinegar
Proper Chips & Garlic Aioli
Triple cooked chunky chips served with garlic aioli & sea salt
Marinated Mixed Olives
Mixed olives marinated in a herb olive oil & fresh lemon
Hummus & Bread
House made hummus served with herbs, chilli oil, sumac, crispy chickpea & sourdough
Desserts
Mousse
Chocolate mousse served with a biscuit crumb, strawberry, blueberry & mint
Apple & Rosemary Cake
Apple & rosemary cake served with chantilly cream
Tiramisu
Brandy & coffee soaked lady fingers biscuits with vanilla cream & chocolate
Cheesecake
Please ask your server for today’s flavour of cheesecake
Cheese Board for Two
A trio of cheeses served with chutney, pickles & crackers
Sunday Lunch – Starters
Soup of the Day
Please see our specials board for our Soup of the Day offer
Whitebait
Crispy whitebait served with a burnt lemon wedge & garlic aioli
Croquette of the Week
Please see our specials board or ask your server for this week’s croquette option
Meatballs
Pork meatballs in a spiced tomato sauce with basil, lemongrass & herb oil
Cauliflower Bites
Sticky chilli & soy cauliflower bites with toasted sesame, spring onion & herb oil
Deli Board for Two
A trio of cured meats served with pickles, crostini & chutney
Sunday Lunch – Main Dishes
Chicken Supreme Roast
Served with Roast Potatoes, braised red cabbage, Roast Parsnips & Carrots, tenderstem broccoli and Yorkshire Pudding & Gravy
Topside Beef Roast
Served with Roast Potatoes, braised red cabbage, Roast Parsnips & Carrots, tenderstem broccoli and Yorkshire Pudding & Gravy
Nut Roast
Vegan nut roast served with braised red cabbage, roasted parsnip & carrots, tenderstem broccoli, roast potatoes & vegan gravy
Fish & Chips
Beer Battered Haddock Served With Triple Cooked Chips, Mushy Peas, Tartare Sauce & Burnt Lemon Wedge
Scouse
Our famous Scouse beef and root vegetable stew served with pickled red cabbage & sourdough bread
10oz Rump Steak
Rump Steak served with triple cooked chips, grilled tomato & cream beef sauce
Sunday Lunch – Sides & Extras
Sourdough, Oil & Balsamic
Locally made sourdough with olive oil & balsamic vinegar
Proper Chips & Garlic Aioli
Triple cooked chunky chips served with garlic aioli and sea salt
Honey Glazed Chipolatas
Sticky glazed chipolata sausages with honey & thyme
Sage & Onion Stuffing
Traditional sage & onion stuffing
Extra Roasties
Double up on your crispy roast potatoes
Extra Yorkshire Puddings
An extra two Yorkies
Extra Gravy
An extra jug of piping hot gravy
Sunday Lunch – Desserts
Mousse
Chocolate mousse served with a biscuit crumb, berries & mint
Trio of Ice Cream
Please ask your server for today’s choice of flavours
Apple & Rosemary Cake
Apple & Rosemary cake served with chantilly cream
Cheese Board for Two
A trio of cheeses served with pickles, chutney & crackers
Prix Fixe Christmas Menu – Starters
2 Course £30pp – 3 Course £35pp
Stuffed Mushroom
Portobello mushroom stuffed with Blacksticks blue cheese & sundried tomatoes
Chicken Ballotine
Rolled chicken ballotine with a cheese & herb stuffing, wrapped in bacon with an apricot sauce & rocket salad
Pan Fried Scallops
Pan fried scallops with black pudding, crispy bacon & cauliflower puree
Braised Pork Belly
Honey & mustard braised pork belly with roasted fennel & cider apple sauce
Soup of the Day
Please see our specials board for our winter Soup of the Day. Served with sourdough bread
Garlic King Prawns
Creamy garlic & chilli king prawns on toasted sourdough with coriander
Spiced Sweet Potato
Roasted sweet potato with a tahini sauce, pickled chilli, pomegranate molasses. Topped with a spiced dukkah, nuts & seeds
Prix Fixe Christmas Menu – Main Dishes
2 Course £30pp – 3 Course £35pp
Roast Turkey Dinner
Roast turkey with roasted carrots, roasted parsnips, braised red cabbage, tenderstem broccoli, brussels sprouts, pigs in blankets & gravy
Roast Beef Dinner
Roast beef with roasted carrots, roasted parsnips, braised red cabbage, tenderstem broccoli, brussels sprouts, Yorkshire pudding & gravy
Nut Roast Dinner
Nut roast with roasted carrots, roasted parsnips, braised red cabbage, tenderstem broccoli, brussels sprouts & vegan gravy
Smoked Haddock Risotto
Smoked haddock & pea risotto topped with a charred leek & cheddar cheese crostini
Pan Roast Duck Breast
Pan roast duck breast with fondant potato, heritage carrots, swiss chard & a red wine plum sauce
Tandoori Lamb Rump
Tandoori style marinated 6 oz Lamb rump with roasted sweet potato & peppers, tri-rice, onion bhaji & a mild curry sauce
Pan Roast Cod
Pan roast cod with a creamy leek & white wine sauce, crushed new potatoes & lemon & herb peas
Roast Celeriac Bake
Thinly sliced celeriac layered with cheddar cheese, onion & spinach & baked. Served with a spicy romesco almond sauce & dressed green salad & parmesan cheese
Cauliflower Steak
Roast cauliflower steak with roasted red pepper, zhoug green chilli sauce, tahini, sauteed spiced chickpeas & pomegranate seeds
Prix Fixe Christmas Menu – Sides & Extras
2 Course £30pp – 3 Course £35pp
Extra Roasties
A generous helping of crispy seasoned roast potatoes
Sage & Onion Stuffing
Traditional sage & onion stuffing
Proper Chips & Garlic Aioli
Triple cooked chunky chips served with garlic aioli & sea salt
Pigs in Blankets
Bacon wrapped & honey glazed chipolatas
Extra Yorkie
One crispy Yorkshire pudding
Extra Veggies
A side portion of seasonal vegetables
Extra Gravy
A jug of gravy for all you enthusiasts
Prix Fixe Christmas Menu – Desserts
2 Course £30pp – 3 Course £35pp
Mousse
Chocolate mousse served with Chantilly cream, raspberry, mint & chocolate shavings
Rosemary Cake
Rosemary cake served with roasted hazelnut & Baileys ice cream
Black Forest Tiramisu
Coffee soaked lady finger biscuits with vanilla cream & dark berry compote
Rum & Raisin Cake
Rum soaked spiced raisin cake with rum honeycomb
Trio of Ice Cream
Please ask your server for today’s flavour of ice cream
Whipped Coffee Affogato
Whipped coffee affogato with chocolate sauce & vanilla ice cream
Buffet Menu
Minimum buffet size of 30ppl. Choose any 2 hot dishes from below at £12.50pp
Scouse or Blind Scouse
Traditional Liverpool beef or root vegetable stew with pickled cabbage
Mushroom Bourguignon
Hearty mushroom stew with red wine, caramelised onions and herbs served with rice
Beef or Veggie Chilli
Spicy beef or vegetable Mexican stew served with rice
Butter Chicken Curry
A fiery chicken and tomato curry with chillies, ginger, garlic and onion served with rice
Cottage Pie
Traditional cottage pie with beef mince and mashed potato
Deli Platters
Hummus, Charcuterie, Cheese & Breads with chutney
Pesto Pasta Salad
Fresh and zingy pesto pasta salad packed with herbs and served cold
Sandwich Platters
A selection of freshly made, deep filled sandwiches
Triple Cooked Chips
Our famous triple cooked chips served with ketchup and mayo
Rosé Wine
Prices shown as 125ml/175ml/250ml/Bottle where applicable.
Bear & Star Zinfandel
California USA 11.5% A medium sweet style rosé with a fruity and mouth watering palate.
Les Terrasses Dry Rosé
Ardeche France (vv) 13.5% A dry rosé with delicious watermelon & strawberry fruit notes with crisp acidity.
St Louis Provence Rosé
France (org vv) 12.5% Rose petal hue with a citrus candy nose, complex summer fruits with lemony notes.
Red Wine
Prices shown as 125ml/175ml/250ml/Bottle where applicable.
El Costillar Merlot
Vallw central Chile (vv) 13% Red berry fruits, well rounded – a smooth quaffing red wine.
Incensio Malbec
Mendoza Argentina (vv) 13% Medium bodied style, rich black fruits and rounded lasting aftertaste.
Tondeluna Joven
Rioja Spain (vv eco) 13% An unoaked fruity red, classic black fruits & liquorice flavours of tempranillo. Can be served chilled.
Classiques Pinot Noir
Ardeche France (v) 12.5% A ruby red colour with light aromas of ripe fruits of blackcurrant & cherry with spicy notes.
Woolpunda Shiraz
South Australia (eco vv) 14.5% Big jammy mouthful, well rounded black fruits & grippy tanins and black pepper.
770 Miles Zinfandel
California USA 13% Flavoirs of coffee, blackberries and red berries with a warm lingering finish.
Casa Del Capo Sangiovese
Tuscany Italy (org vv) 14.5% For the Chianti lovers, 100% sangiovese grapes, garnet colour with a herbal bouquet & rich dark fruit on the palate.
Valpolicella Superiore I Gadi
Veneto Italy (vv) 13% Alluring ripe cherry, plum and vanilla, delightfully well balanced with supple tanins.
Vallemayor Reserva Rioja
Spain (vv eco) 14% Classic Rioja, velvety texture black fruits, vanilla, coffee & spice with a long finish.
Sparkling
Prices shown as 125ml/175ml/250ml/Bottle where applicable.
Bellino Prosecco
Veneto Italy (vv) 10.5% High quality Prosecco, firm delicate ‘Mousse’ with refreshing fruits and clean finish.
La Fea Organic Cava
Penedes Spain (org vv) 11.5% Light, well balanced with fine crispness, rounded with elegant fruits and a long finish of orange.
Cremant Bourgogne
Burgundy France 11.5% Floral Aromas are backed by peachy notes, the soft palate shows some green apple character.
Tribaut 8 Terroirs Brut NV Champagne
France (org vv) 12.5% Minimum of three years cellaring creates a highest quality, elegant and balanced champagne from the Tribaut family’s own vineyards.
Zeno 0% Alcohol Sparkling NV
(vv) 0% A quality non alcohol wine made using a new technique which retains and maximises the flavours from the best quality grapes.