W
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WIRRAL LIFE VISITS THE NEW
CHAMPAGNE BAR AT HILLBARK HOTEL
We didn’t wait for New Year’s Eve to drink our Champagne this
year, we headed to Contessa Champagne Lounge of the Riviera
Brasserie at the Hillbark Hotel in Royden Park, Frankby. classics from their drinks menu. Of the many cocktails we tried,
Spice and Sparkles, a Christmas favourite comes with Champagne,
Orange and a Cinnamon stick.
The Contessa Champagne Lounge is like no other place on the
Wirral as it boasts a unique 24 hour liquor and bar licence making
it the place to go for happy hour or when everything else is closing
and you need a relaxed yet buzzing place to enjoy cocktails and
caviar. The Bo, with Red Brachetto Sparkling Wine, Strawberry Jam and
Rhubarb Vodka also hits the sweet spot. We learned that before
Aperol Spritz came along, it was commonplace to drink what was
called the Venetian which was made with the original crimson
bitter, Campari, Orange and Prosecco.
Around about the same time that the house now known as Hillbark
Hotel was being built at the end of the 19th century the posh ladies
and gents of the age were already drinking Champagne Cocktails. Besides these, the Contessa Champagne Lounge offers a delicious
menu of Kir Royals, Mimosas, Bellinis and Mojitos but on Fizz
Fridays they up their game and offer a bottle of Prosecco for a very
Festive £19.
While the original recipe varied from place to place, it featured a
sugar cube doused in Angostura Bitters, enveloped in Cognac and
was topped up with Champagne to produce an explosive reaction of
magical bubbles.
We caught up with Ratko, the Butler, Chef and Mixologist at the
newly refurbished Contessa Champagne Lounge and sampled
13 Champagne & Prosecco Cocktails as well as some old school
There is also a comprehensive food menu with decadent Ossetra
caviar available throughout the day and night including smoked
salmon, Pata negra, Duck Sausages, the Nicoise sandwich,
Macarons and Baklava.
To find out more, call 0151 625 2400.
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