Station House Coffee Birkdale

If you're nipping through Birkdale and fancy a proper coffee, Station House Coffee is a good shout. It's got a solid 4.8 stars from 25 reviews, so people seem to rate it. It's not massive, so maybe more of a quick stop than a long afternoon affair, but definitely does the trick on a rainy day when you just want to warm up.

They do your usual cafe bits – cakes, sandwiches, that kind of thing – but it's the coffee that stands out. They know what they're doing, and it's a step up from your average instant stuff. I've seen a few people meeting for business there, so it has a decent buzz without being rammed.

It's open early most days (7:30 AM weekdays, later on weekends), which is handy if you're heading to the station. They close up shop at 4 PM most days, and 3 PM on Sunday, so don't go too late.

Worth checking if they have any specials on the board when you pop in. Parking can be tricky around Birkdale village, so give yourself a bit of extra time to find a spot.