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Restaurants
Liverpool
City Centre
Pen Factory
Pen Factory Reviews

Pen Factory

British, Dessert, European, Drinks

Dishes priced around£10

Photo of restaurant Pen Factory in City Centre, Liverpool
Pen Factory is not bookable via Quandoo. To make a reservation, contact the restaurant using the details below.

Reviews of Pen Factory (303)

Read what people think about Pen Factory. All restaurant reviews are written by verified Quandoo diners. Learn more about Pen Factory before you go by getting tips and ratings from other restaurant-goers. With real-life reviews, you can see what other diners loved about Pen Factory and book a table with confidence!

5.4/6

303 reviews

5.4/6

303 reviews

Food:Outstanding
Atmosphere:Excellent
Service:Excellent
Value for money:Great value
Waiting time:Exceptionally Good
Noise levels:Pleasant
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"Very good"
5/6
Graham C.7 years ago · 1 review

Really enjoyed this visit with colleagues. It was a warm day and it was not a problem for us to switch our table to outside. Food was ace, everyone really enjoyed it particularly the Spanish Chip Buttie. Only slight criticism is that you seemed very understaffed so service was a little slow, this was not the waiters fault at all as they were very friendly despite being obviously rushed off their feet. All in a pleasant place which we will definitely go to again, Graham

"Excellent"
6/6
rachel c.7 years ago · 3 reviews

Fantastic place this was our second visit in a big group and once again the service was excellent. Staff are great and food was wonderful

"Good"
4/6
Wendy O.7 years ago · 1 review

Nice place, great atmosphere. Food was just average, food was "ok". not the best tapas we have had. They do Liverpool gin too, note- you have to add the tonic to your drink price, separate to whats advertised.

"Average"
3/6
Quandoo Diner7 years ago · 0 reviews

It was a great evening ! Food was as good as usual . The problem I had was that I called the pen factory earlier in the week to specifically book the table at the back by hope street and was assured that I was being given that table. This was not the table we were given and it was consequently very noisy. This experience will unfortunately deter me from booking the pen factory again for a prebooked group.

"Excellent"
6/6
Jenna J.7 years ago · 1 review

Service, food and wine all great as usual! Well done to Paddy, Dave and staff for exacting standards. Highly recommend this venue, also great outdoor area.

"Not good "
2/6
Kayleigh H.7 years ago · 1 review

Food was very delicious but the service was terrible. We were ignored three times by waiter and waitress, who was extremely snotty and rude. Finally when the bill arrived we paid and left however the waiter chased us as we walked down the street asking if we had paid, very bizarre!

"Excellent"
6/6
rachel c.7 years ago · 3 reviews

Food was of excellent qualitity and the staff were great! Lovely venue and would definetley return. The whole place has a lovely atmosphere about it!

"Excellent"
6/6
Kate S.7 years ago · 4 reviews

There's a great vibe in this funky kitchen bar. The food is tapas style and delicious. Atmosphere is relaxed with many people drinking rather than eating. There's a lovely outdoor space so would suit al fresco dining too

"Excellent"
6/6
Sue H.7 years ago · 1 review

Excellent food - unusual menu but very tasty! Guest beers were enjoyed and good wine. Brilliant and efficient service! What more do you need? :)

"Excellent"
6/6
Elaine F.7 years ago · 1 review

Reservation worked perfectly. Good food, good service. We asked for quick service as we were due at the theatre and they were very helpful. Recommended.

"Good"
4/6
Lesley D.7 years ago · 4 reviews

Slow being served initially. Food very good when arrived. Couldn't read the specials board and staff did not know about them. May leave it a while before next visit.

"Excellent"
6/6
Denise C.7 years ago · 1 review

Great food and atmosphere. Service very good and ease of booking using the on line system made it really hassle free - a great place to eat and chill out

"Excellent"
6/6
Dawn W.7 years ago · 1 review

Had a Christmas get together for family & friends Friday 4th Dec. Fantastic food, interesting drinks, brilliant, friendly staff & a brilliant atmosphere - really great place and looking forward to going again!

"Excellent"
6/6
Angela H.7 years ago · 1 review

quirky menu but delicious. My first time to the Pen Factory and would highly recommend it. The staff were efficient and friendly and the food was extremely tasty. Will definitely be back .

"Good"
4/6
Laura B.7 years ago · 1 review

Service shocking! Had to ask two very unattentive waiters before any order was taken... And that was just for drinks. Shame, as the food and surroundings were great!

"Very good"
5/6
Helen m.7 years ago · 1 review

We were a group of 20. We loved the relaxed atmosphere and the fact that we weren't rushed off our table . They were very accommodating adding extra to our group last minute. Would be good to have a separate gluten free menu ( we were told there was but we had to work our way through the normal menu) waitress wasn't too helpful re: how many tapas to order per person and she wasn't rushing making sure we all had cutlery - had to ask 3 times. That said food was absolutely gorgeous and we would definitely go back!! Bar staff were brilliant too! A great night out!!

"Good"
4/6
James B.7 years ago · 2 reviews

Enjoyed pen factory and it certainly has a lively atmosphere. However I found some of the tapas dishes to be a bit heavy on the oil and with some very rich food combinations this could be overwhelming.

"Very good"
5/6
Caryn L.7 years ago · 1 review

the delicious food was delivered quickly by lovely staff, but we went on a friday night and found the bar extremely busy and very very loud

"Good"
4/6
Paul M.7 years ago · 1 review

Beautiful food and really nice drinks. Bit slow getting drinks once ordered, but overall good. Would certainly go back.

"Excellent"
6/6
Sam B.7 years ago · 1 review

There's such a good vibe in this place, the staff are amazing and the food is unreal - will be back very soon. Thank you!

"Very good"
5/6
Jhelen R.7 years ago · 1 review

Great atmosphere......quite a surprise when you enter off a busy,meet street......really buzzing early Friday evening.. Good pre-theatre food if you are going next door to the Everyman theatre. Friendly, efficient service.

"Excellent"
6/6
Therese I.7 years ago · 1 review

We can recommend the Pen Factory. The service was great. The food was good. The real ale was well served and there was a good choice.

"Excellent"
6/6
Carol B.7 years ago · 1 review

The food is exactly as discribed My partner does not do veggi but enjoyed his veg platter, very tasty Excellent service Will go again .

"Average"
3/6
Simon C.7 years ago · 1 review

There didn't seem to be nearly enough waiting staff for the number of covers in the restaurant. The food was satisfactory but waiting so long for each part of the meal did not improve our enjoyment of the evening.

"Excellent"
6/6
Rupert L.7 years ago · 1 review

Excellent food, service and atmosphere. The menu changes daily but we had beautifully cooked hake and lamb shank with home made hummus and fresh bread first. Thoroughly recommended.

"Very good"
5/6
Claudia F.7 years ago · 2 reviews

I like this place, lively yet laid back, staff is friendly and attentive, they have a nice choice of drinks and I was impressive a rose wine (I can be quite fussy about it) I really liked, and I went with Spanish friends who were really impressed with the choice and quality of tapas, so will definitely return

"Very good"
5/6
Brigid W.7 years ago · 1 review

Good beer and good food in a lovely setting. A nice relaxed atmosphere to enjoy a celebratory occasion with a good range of prices to suit all purses.

"Average"
3/6
David W.7 years ago · 1 review

Not up to the usually high standard. It was a busy night. Table not ready when we arrived service slow, poor selection on tapas style menu tinned muscles really. Good atmosphere though.

"Good"
4/6
Colette K.7 years ago · 1 review

The food was fine though tapas board overpriced for minimal amount of food. Poor initial service though improved as they obviously wanted us to leave. Absolutely no atmosphere. I won't be returning in a hurry

"Very good"
5/6
Jill S.7 years ago · 1 review

The staff were very pleasant. There was an interesting menu and the food was really tasty. The choice between small or large portions suited our group very well. The only downside was the noise level.

"Excellent"
6/6
Robert C.7 years ago · 1 review

excellent food and not rushed to leave as we were there for my 60th birthday and stayed for about 4 hrs excellent service and very relaxed atmosphere well worth it and well recommended

"Excellent"
6/6
Denise C.7 years ago · 1 review

great atmosphere and friendly staff tapas was really good just enough portions for people who like lighter bites - something for everyone and would highly recommend

"Good"
4/6
Kate S.7 years ago · 4 reviews

We visited on a busy Saturday night. The staff were lovely there were just too few of them. We counted only 2 waitresses for the whole busy restaurant. We had to ask to be seated, ask for menus and then send reminders for drinks orders on a couple of times. The food, when it cam was delicious and worth the wait. There was some confusion over what was still available which the waitress handled admirably. Some of the cars may be because there is no defined eating area, so bar drinkers share tables with diners. The atmosphere, interior design and lighting were all great. It did get very noisy later on so wouldn't be the place for an intimate evening. Once again, the waitresses did what they could but hey needed to at least double the numbers.

"Excellent"
6/6
James S.7 years ago · 1 review

Superb. If you can, try the prawns with garlic and chilli. The Liverpool gin is also great if you've never tried it before. Portion sizes were great and staff were brilliant.

"Excellent"
6/6
Pete H.7 years ago · 1 review

Excellent food and drinks as ever. The small plates always have some interesting combinations. Yesterday's aubergine fritters with honey delicious. Friendly and efficient service. Just what you need when time is short.

"Good"
4/6
Ruth D.7 years ago · 1 review

Great food, helpful serving staff but it is too noisy in the evening if you want to catch up with friends. We were shouting to hear each other! Had to go next door to the Everyman for coffee...

"Very good"
5/6
Eileen T.7 years ago · 1 review

When we arrived my table was for a table for 6 when my reservation was for 12 people, however this was quickly resolved and couldn't fault the staff or the food. We had a great night.

"Good"
4/6
Jan H.7 years ago · 1 review

Pleasent, if very busy staff. Took a fair while to place an order, but once taken, food arrived quite promptly. Varied menu, tasty food, fairly good value for money.

"Excellent"
6/6
Katy S.7 years ago · 1 review

A relaxed place to eat before the theatre or a concert. Excellent food, great wines, brilliant service with a relaxed atmosphere and not a big price.

"Excellent"
6/6
Kevin D.7 years ago · 9 reviews

Great tasty food served with imagination and a smile. Good wine and beer choice and buzzy atmosphere, albeit a bit noisy at times. Paddy's Pen Factory goes from strength to strength.

"Excellent"
6/6
Natalie P.7 years ago · 1 review

Great service- friendly and helpful. The food was delicious and came quickly. Puddings looked great but sadly I was too full. A relaxed atmosphere. I'll definitely be heading back there soon.

"Very good"
5/6
Chris B.7 years ago · 1 review

Was great tasting food but not much of a selection. Overall was a great atmosphere and a very welcoming establishment . . . . .

"Very good"
5/6
Julie C.7 years ago · 1 review

Lovely food but the order got a bit mixed up by waiting on staff who were new. They managed to sort it out very quickly though. Overall , really enjoyed the food and atmosphere there and would return at the drop of a hat.

"Very good"
5/6
Paul W.7 years ago · 3 reviews

My booking had mistakenly been written down as 8pm and not 7pm. However they still managed to find a table for all six of us. The food was delicious and the service attentive.

"Excellent"
6/6
Christine B.7 years ago · 2 reviews

Lovely food, good beer and a great atmosphere. A little noisy for me, but it didn't spoil the meal. Good waiter who knew his stuff.

"Very good"
5/6
Maria D.7 years ago · 1 review

Food was lovely and the service was perfect. Only one small peeve, was that they had no prossecco. I think someone should have made an executive decision and nipped ans bought a case from a nearby bar, because when a table of 6 ladies have no fizz its time to move on. Other than that it was a lovely afternoon/evening

"Very good"
5/6
Kate S.7 years ago · 1 review

Absolutely delicious food (highly recommend the baked Camembert) and nice, reasonably-priced wine too. Only downside was having to wait for a long time (about ten mins) until a member of staff acknowledged us and took us to our seat.

"Excellent"
6/6
Frank M.7 years ago · 2 reviews

The Pen Factory is a really relaxed place with good food and drinks and friendly service. The crisp butty is a must! Great for pre-theatre at the Everyman or for sharing a tapas board over a glass of ine or beer at lunchtime. Definitely one of my favourite hangouts in Liverpool.

"Very good"
5/6
Simon P.7 years ago · 1 review

Really enjoyed the visit, as it was our first time there, we had a lot of questions about the menu. The server while friendly was a little lacking in knowledge so needed to go back and forth to the kitchen which extended the ordering time a little but nothing terrible. The food was excellent and arrived promptly, overall a very enjoyable meal.

"Excellent"
6/6
Philip D.7 years ago · 1 review

Excellent setting and service: Tom Gill is a fine chef. It is good to see Paddy Byrne renewing the success he had with the old Everyman bistro. Great place

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