Riddling Rack in St. Helens

Been here on many occasions and have to say it's actually my favourite bar in Newton, great selection of wine and 2 great draught beers. However, on entering recently, on an evening that wasn't busy we sat down on a table near the bar and were told it was table service only, which really, sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. We sat waiting patiently and chatting and noticed that the bar staff had finished preparing other guests drinks and then proceeded to polish wine glasses whilst the waitresses decided to have a chat. I then had to leave my table to go to the bar and ask can we order drinks, "yes, no problem at all, what would you like?" Strange, but true.. My partner then went to use the toilets and then told a member of staff that there wasn't any toilet paper in the toilets, to which she was told "I'll let the cleaners know in the morning"??? Really??? We had the one drink then left, absolute shame, love this bar but unfortunately all good things come to an end. Good luck and for your sake and future please improve on your customer service asap...

I've been here a lot of times over the years and always been a fan. I organised a surprise party for my mum in the champagne lounge back in June and it was a perfect venue. The team were very helpful and very responsive. Thank you 😊

After being a patron from the very start I’ll move away after tonight. Food has progressively got more expensive relative to economy and area but the platter tonight was a little too far. A sharer when things are served as 3, and if you was a party of 3 would be expensive, is a reduction on previous described as ‘we didn’t follow the book menu before’ is a sad reflection of management cost cutting, and obvious to clients on a sharing platter, two each means 4, simple math. Rest of it, the serving staff. Are lovely and accommodating, the food ‘chef’ aloud and disconnected with rest of staff and more so customers, it’s now a wine bar with music so loud you need to shout or bend to someone’s ear, might as well go to another one of the excellent establishments on the High Street.

Been coming here for quite some time now always had lovely service from staff. There have been some really nice girls and lads. Just recently feel it is going down, staff not as good, service not as good and not much atmosphere during the day. Really sorry to see this happening

I love the Riddling Rack during the day. The staff are great - always smiling and happy to be there. The food is excellent and I love that they are so kid friendly.

I did a delivery there and the staff were very friendly and welcoming.

i came in for a quiet, relaxing lunch with my mother on sunday 11th august around 2 pm. the young brown haired girl who served us was delightful and was a joy to be around. she needs a raise. the food was also lovely. will be coming back soon!

Enjoyed my time in there although I thought the sandwiches were a little on the expensive side as they use basic sliced bread. Staff were very pleasant and attentive no complaints though.

Great place for coffees in the day and cocktails in the evening. It’s a popular local place so can get busy. I’d probably book a table next time just in case.

When I go out for a snack with my husband I don’t want to listen to the manager liaising with her staff about who didn’t turn in for their shifts and whether she is on the case. Whether Joe is late or not (he wasn’t actually). Who can cover the early shifts or whether she has got avacados. Her young staff were amazing. Polite and Cheerful. Maybe she could take a lesson from them. And maybe use the office upstairs🙄

Been here a few times and always order an expresso martini as I do everywhere else as it’s my favorite drink. Albeit expensive. Came for our usual drink with my friend last Saturday and ordered the expression martini as I usually do and the glass was only half full. My friend even laughed and said why have they given you half a drink? I went to the bar and joked and said where’s the rest of my drink? Could you make this again please and give me a full one? The attitudes from the staff at the bar were shocking, not only were they patronising saying “that’s how it’s made” and “that’s a normal measurement” but they looked at each other and pulled their faces. I worked in a cocktail bar myself and I know for a fact that wasn’t a proper measurement. I’d literally been given half a glass. Myself and my friend simply got up and left. If you’re going to charge expensive prices for drinks at least get the measurements right and don’t try to rip off your regulars and then patronise them when they simply ask you to re-make the drink that you made wrong. Won’t be returning. Arrogant staff. Bad attitudes.

A tasty sharing platter and some good wine. I think that the Vegetarian platter could offer more, especially as one key ingredient, the olives, were an unmentioned ingredient in the meat and cheese platter. However, a good place to visit for an enjoyable evening.

nice cafe ,but waited 40 mins for 4 cocktails , very slow service wouid of stayed for another drink but couidnt chance another 40 min wait

Hired the Champagne Lounge upstairs for a private event - the room is beautiful and the staff at the venue went out of their way to ensure the celebration was perfect.

Lovely little place, good food and warm welcoming staff.

Absolutely LOVE this place! We have just discovered this little gem and couldn’t be happier. The drinks, the food, the attention to detail and the finest ingredients help make this place one of Newtons best. Lovely owners and lovely staff. Well worth a visit.

I love that we have Riddling Rack so close to us. Beautiful wine, amazing olives and fantastic bread and oils. Lovely atmosphere, very relaxed and great service. Thanks again 👍

Great venue. Friendly staff and amazing atmosphere.

Nice little cafe with friendly staff

Came for a cookery class upstairs .. welcoming atmosphere

We hosted a 40th in the Champagne Lounge and everything was perfect. The staff helped me prep in the weeks before, advising on food and decorations and answering all of my questions. Everyone had a great night, thank you 🤩

Very chill atmosphere, nice coffee

We had our wedding reception at the Riddling Rack yesterday and can't praise it highly enough as a venue. Bernie, the Manager, deputy manager Alex and ALL the staff were amazing. They looked after us from start to finish and took away any worries that we may have had about organising our big day. The food was amazing. Everyone commented how nice the buffet was - were felt very looked-after. The room looked amazing and had been set out perfectly - (*thanks especially for sorting out the macaron tower). We can't thank you all enough - we wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Riddling Rack and will definitely be visiting again soon 😊

A small cafe that becomes a bit more bar focused as the day goes on. Also seems to have a small function room upstairs. Quite a simple and relaxed set up with a small wine menu, couple of draught beers (Estrella was very good), and a range of cocktails. Service was good, though a bit surprised when we had a breakage and spillage we were given stuff to sort it out ourselves. Table a bit chilly next to the door. Decent place to have a few drinks away from the crowds.

My sister and brother in law had their wedding reception here last night. It was so good, the service was so professional but friendly and the atmosphere was lovely. Nothing was too much trouble. Would certainly recommend it. Drinks prices were certainly reasonable and everywhere was so clean.

My sister and brother in law had their wedding reception here last night. It was so good, the service was so professional but friendly and the atmosphere was lovely. Nothing was too much trouble. Would certainly recommend it. Drinks prices were certainly reasonable and everywhere was so clean.

Fantastic coffee and really nice atmosphere. Thoroughly recommend rather than motorway services.

Tasty food and very kind friendly staff. We felt very welcome and will be back again. Good coffee too.

Spent a pleasant couple of hours in the Riddling Rack with a decent bottle of red. The staff were very pleasant.

We didn't have any food but the drinks and service were great!

Love this place. Was able to reserve the table we wanted easily.

Nice location, ok food. A bit expensive for what we got. Cheese and ham sourdough toastie with a few crisps and small portion of coleslaw. Probably better value having a coffee and a cake than lunch. Staff very pleasant though.

Went last night and it was great. Nice beer and very good service.

Lovely place to meet with my friends. Always good food service and atmosphere 😊

Lovely cappuccino and nice simple food. Dog friendly. Can get a little loud as it is a small place and the coffee machine makes people raise their voices a bit but overall lovely place.

We would like to thank the gent who served us on Friday night we met up with friends and we wanted cocktails he certainly obliged he was accommodating friendly and great rapport The cocktails were amazing especially the tea for two quirky and delicious Thankyou for making our night

Went for drinks with a few friends. First visit. Lovely, chilled little place. Staff were lovely and friendly. Fab service and lovely cocktails. Will definitely return.

Where do I start… The Riddling Rack is such an amazing place to host any party. They did such an amazing job for my daughters surprise sixteenth Birthday. Even though we used our own caterer they went above and beyond to make sure that everything looked perfect. I can’t thank you enough for a wonderful night, we will all be back again xxx

Came here for a couple drinks before going out. The place was packed but we managed to get a table. Atmosphere was nice, lots of noise but in a good way. Service was a little slow but it was very busy so that could be why. Prices are on the expensive side but the drinks are very good. And there is a LOT to choose from.

Went to the Rack yesterday 18th Nov to celebrate friend’s birthday and the service was fabulous! The girls really looked after us and were very accommodating. Thank you and we’ll be seeing you soon 😊 Gosia

After going to The Riddling Rack on a Tuesday morning for the Mum and Baby group and meeting some wonderful friends, it seemed only right that we celebrated our daughters first birthday at The Riddling Rack. It is a brilliant venue, with great food and drink and amazingly helpful staff.

Hosted my birthday party. Absolutely amazing service from start to finish. Highly recommended 👌

Had a wonderful afternoon Friday 21/10 for birthday drinks !🎉🎉🎉🍾🥂the food and drinks were excellent as always 🥰

Nice inside but to expensive for drinks 1 orange juice and a cider £9

Can't comment on food as didn't eat here but the service and atmosphere was fantastic, will definitely visit again

Cheese & wine - need I say more? Just delicious. Gorgeous wine bar, a great addition to the high st, since opening I have enjoyed glass of vino here every now and then, but recently tried there cheese platter too. Friendly & attentive staff. They have some great social events on and good coffee & cake too. I would highly recommend visiting. Thank you

Waited around twenty minutes for a cheese and ham toastie but the time it arrived our coffee was nearly gone, had to pace ourselves to save some, then it was cold.

Iced coffee was lovely. Tea cakes, crumpets and toast were nice. Had to wait a bit for our food but had a nice time.

"An Enigmatic Experience at the Riddling Rack 🕵️‍♂️ Upon my maiden voyage to this intriguing establishment, I was greeted by a promising location and an alluring bar that held a world of possibilities. The menu beckoned with tantalizing delights, but alas, time was not on our side to sample its treasures. The concept of table service appeared to be in play, yet it felt as though the staff were participants in their very own riddle, untrained in the art of order-taking and customer enchantment. A comedy of errors unfolded as we patiently awaited the bar's charm to reach our table, only to watch it vanish like a magician's illusion. It appeared that our drinks embarked on an expedition of their own, circling the bar counter while we puzzled over their whereabouts. We weren't alone in this befuddling ballet, observing fellow patrons waltz through a symphony of disarray and bewildering leadership. Deciding that this riddle wasn't worth solving, I journeyed back to the bar to settle our financial puzzle. Promised assistance at our table, I found myself a part of a waiting game that even seasoned detectives would find vexing. After a cryptic exchange, I ended up parting with an unexpected £10 to untangle myself from this labyrinth. While the allure of the Riddling Rack may beckon, I find myself hesitating to return. Time is a precious resource, and my hours are too valuable to indulge in enigmas that defy solution. Until the staff becomes masters of their own puzzle, I fear my path won't cross this way again. 🕰️🔍🚪 #RiddlesGoneAwry"

The owners have hit the nail on the head here. The atmosphere is relaxed, the decor is perfectly stylish. Such a great place for meeting pals as well as lunch dates. And even a cheeky posh coffee on the way to work! The food we ate was delicious and really great quality. The staff are always happy and welcoming too. 10/10!!!

Unsatisfactory We visited on Saturday evening and ordered a meat platter with extra bread. The quality and presentation was poor. Three types of ham on a plate with some burnt toast and one butter and some jarred geeking thrown on a plate. Will never eat here again. It was shocking for the price.

Lovely staff, good selection of food and drink. Nice friendly atmosphere

I love it here for morning coffee and brunch/lunch or an afternoon wine. The team here genuinely seem really happy to serve you. Extremely helpful and I love how they add their personality to the service, it just feels really natural. I’ve never had a bad experience here! You won’t get this service anywhere else on the high st.

A very relaxing, friendly cafe. Well placed on Newton High Street as well. The staff are very friendly and accommodating. Also a wine bar I believe in an evening - so could make a good spot to start or finish an evenings bar crawl! Just the coffee for me - and an enjoyable one at that!

Riddling rack is just the most amazing little place. The staff are wonderful and always so friendly, and the cocktails are second to none. I often get cravings for their brie panini too 🤤 Definitely our favourite place for a drink in Newton

Loved it. Great coffee and the staff were helpful. A tad more expensive than other venues but it was more than made up for the quality of the decor and the coffee. I will be going there again.

Cocktail Master Class - 20 middle aged women in the upstairs area, with poor Bernie trying to keep order! We had the opportunity to make 2 cocktails (or mock tails) each and had an absolutely amazing time Bernie was a great teacher - giving us the history of cocktail making alongside some technical tips on making our preferred choice Thanks to Bernie for making it a brilliant afternoon for everyone

Decent atmosphere but slow service was off-putting

Great drinks, lovely staff and gorgeous food. Really nice selection of locally sourced things to buy.

Great bar ..great service .Happy smiling bar staff ..refreshing ..good beer and gin cocktails 🍸 ..highly recommended ..

Very pleasant. We sat outside and had a coffee. Reasonable prices and great service.

Great little place. Just had a coffee and sat outside. We had our dog with us so it was fine. Coffee was lively and hot as well not like warm like some places. Highly recommended

The establishment is really nice and we have been a few times but this last time will be our last. We had booked a table as it was my daughters birthday and ordered quite a few items to eat to share. Food was nice , needed a little more bread for dipping but can’t complain at all. Was very similar to what we’ve had in other tapas places. We did find it a little strange that we were told to look online for what drinks they offer. I don’t understand why they didn’t have a drinks menu to choose from - what if we didn’t have a phone? We always find the atmosphere a little uncomfortable here, both on messenger and in house - always seems to be on the defence if you ask or suggest something. It’s a lovely place but there is something missing, it’s just personal preference and it isn’t for us. We’ve tried a few times. We found the cocktails were expensive and we’ve never tasted an espresso martini like it before - and we’ve had plenty - it just wasn’t good. As mentioned the food is very good - we’ve had graze boxes in lockdown times from here but again it’s just not friendly enough for us. It’s lacking warmth and personality.

An amazing place to have a party ! I celebrated my 40s birthday and we had a wonderful time. It is such a lovely place , the drinks, food and staff were excellent . If you are looking for a place to celebrate with friends, I highly recommend the Riddling rack. Thanks!

Friendly staff and good service

Brilliant little place. Great atmosphere.

Nice quiet lunchtime restaurant serving a good selection of toasted sandwiches. This place is also a bar in the evenings, which i imagine gets quite busy.

Beautiful place for food and drink and very friendly atmosphere and staff

Had to sit outside, as very busy. Table service only.

Held my husbands 50th here in the top room last night for mostly family and close friends, and it was brilliant the whole team were fantastic and the buffet they did for us was amazing and huge !!! Everyone really loved the food had a great night all round, we come here for lunch or coffee all the time but highly reccomend too for a party or night out as it was superb, many thanks to Johanna, and Alex who took care of the whole booking and all the staff who lookex after us.

We held my husband’s 30th birthday party in the top room. It was mainly family and close friends. We chose the gold buffet and grazing table options and honestly it was the most insane buffet I’ve ever seen. Insane in a good way. The food was incredible. Johanna and Scott’s deli went all out to accommodate the awkward ones with allergies (me) and the bar service was brilliant. Everyone commented on what a lovely day it was. I want to do it again!

Lovely little bar we tried with friends. The staff were super friendly and so nice. Amazing cocktails and professionally made and served. I’ll definitely be going back either with my wife or friends. Best bar in Newton by far

A lovely spot, only popped in as my train was cancelled but the staff were friendly and kind, the decaf tea I had was spot on and the whole place had a nice relaxed vibe.

We had a function here on Friday. I cannot say how professional Alex was with the arrangements and her communication On the night, we had a great member of staff on the bar. He was helpful, knowledgeable and diligent. Thank you for all your time, effort and support. Laura

So just been 5 minutes ago after a great day in Manchester decided to go to the riddling rack asked the girl what wine have you got she said everything was on line so download the menu how pathetic is that an d the girl had not got a clue about what wine you had we were about to spend over 40 p0und I was totally disgusting and we have now moved on to another pub to spend our money elsewhere

Had a lovely afternoon here, met with outstanding staff, very friendly lovely atmosphere, with quick service and a warm welcome definitely happy to go again

I only visited this place 3 times and was there for coffee and a bite to eat in the morning. I’m not a coffee snob…or maybe I am…I dont know but what I will say is the coffee was the best I had during my two week return to the UK. I had the toasted sandwich’s and I cant fault the standard. Staff were very friendly and helpful. If you are going for a coffee in summer then go after 10am as the locals complain and you have to sit inside. Not the fault of the Riddling Rack but of some miserable people.

I only go infrequently but it's a really nice place. Staff excellent and friendly. I am not a big spender, just a coffee and sourdough toast. Worth a visit.

This was our first visit to the Riddling Rack and it won't be the last ! Lovely welcome from a very nice lady who gave us the menus and sorted out our drinks. The toasted sandwiches were lovely, we had a mixture of Brie & Chilli Jam and Cheese & Onion. The presentation was excellent and it all tasted great. The place itself is lovely inside and we look forward to returning....with our pooch welcome .....

Great little watering hole. Staff also great. Bit of a gem actually B

This place used to be really good with good selection of food and drinks. I personally feel like it's standards are slipping. I used to like going in here but it has fallen out of my top 3 places to visit on Newton High Street.

Such a lovely little spot. Stuff are always so nice and helpful everytime I've been. Highly recommend!!

Nice atmosphere,coffee lovely and food tasty,what more can you ask for.

Lovely food and great service 👌

Vast array of Gins Wines and other alcholic beverages. Beautifully presented bar area and very pleasant and helpful staff. Highly recommend a visit.

Charming place with great food and the loveliest staff x

Not much atmosphere, seating uncomfortable.

Just been in for a really nice drink flight friends.

Couldn't be better. Friendly staff, great atmosphere and food.

Amazing selection of Gin which is my favourite so I was very happy. Cake was beautiful 😍 However we had a table booked at 15 past 7 when we got there 15 minutes early we couldn't get food apart from bar snacks! we was not aware of that unfortunately! Lovely place but sat right next to the door! little cold! Definitely recommend and will be back!

Really lovely place. We had the cheese and meat platter, some olives and artisan breads. Everything was really good. Was very busy (Saturday afternoon) so advisable to book as it's really popular, and rightly so

Fabulous place, great staff & service

Been here many a time over the years. Never disappoints

Alison is incredibly knowledgable and personable to her customers!!! Great drink selection and amazing food too!!! Highly recommend!!

Nice pleasant place to drink coffee and have lunch. Would definitely go back

Lovely coffee and even had an outside heater

Great atmosphere, drinks and service. Highly recommended!

Popped in for drinks after a little shopping spree on the High Street, and had a fabulous time! Our waiter was so friendly, suggested cocktails and had a bit of banter with us. Very attentive and so lovely to deal with. We will absolutely be back for another fla-gin-go too - delicious!!

Popped in for a couple of drinks and a snack. Very nice food and drink. Very friendly staff!

Could only order via phone which we couldn't do. Got no help from staff or any attempt to tell us what they had for lunch menu so after 3 attempts to order we left.