The attraction is hosting a special event this Halloween
Emma is the parents editor for the Manchester Evening News. She covers news and events for families across Greater Manchester.
Partridge Lakes Cafe(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)
As far as fishing is concerned, it’s attracting some well-known faces, but there’s another reason people are heading to Partridge Fisheries and that’s for the cafe.
The place, in Culcheth, Warrington, is attracting more visitors than ever – and gets busy at weekends – but I had the luxury of popping in midweek for a bite to eat with my daughter and a stroll around with our dog.
It was a bit of a drizzly day, but the huge tipi tent they have there, with twinkling lights and heaters for when it’s cold, offers a cosy place to sit and there’s an indoor bit with tables too.
And while the likes of Wayne Rooney have been rocking up recently for a spot of fishing – bringing his son Kit along to join in the fun – it’s the food here that’s really reeling people in.
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Partridge Fisheries in Culcheth(Image: Partridge Lakes Fishery)
There’s a range of breakfast options at the Partridge Lakes Cafe, with a full English for £10.50, or a build your own option for 90p an item, which is always a bonus when you have fussy eaters in the family.
I went for the fully loaded breakfast sandwich, which isn’t far off a full English, and was stacked high with bacon, sausages, egg, hash browns, beans and cheese layered inside three slices of bread.
Eating it was a mission in itself and I ended up tackling it with a knife and fork, but it was delicious and worth every penny of the £8.40 price tag.
The fully loaded breakfast sandwich(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)
There’s loads more on the menu too, from burgers and hot dogs to toasties, club sandwiches, chicken nuggets and tenders, and chips with cheese, curry or gravy.
The drinks are a treat as well. We both enjoyed a hot chocolate and they’ve just launched some new autumn flavours too with pumpkin spice, caramel fudge and Baileys.
We were too full to enjoy any of the sweet treats on offer – there was a lovely selection of carrot cake, Bakewells and more inside the cabinet – and the donuts they sell here, from Planet Doughnut, are a reason to visit alone.
Even the dog got his chops on some treats and there’s a dedicated ‘dog menu’ with sausages, puppuchinos, treat bags and chews.
You can even get them their own Woofchester’s dog bowl dinner, with flavours including fish and chips and roast dinner.
Of course you can’t take your dog around the main fisheries – I know ours would have been trying to dive straight in and I’m not sure the anglers would be impressed with that – but there is a dedicated dog walking field across the car park, with a lake they can swim in if they wish. Dogs with good recall can be let off their leads.
As well as the cafe being open daily from 7.30am to 4.30pm (hot food served until 3pm) the attraction also hosts a number of events, including Halloweenville, starting from Friday, October 3.
It’s a lovely spot for a walk and a bite to eat(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)
Formerly known as the Halloween Lakeside Trail and now reimagined for 2025, Halloweenville is set to transform the picturesque 70-acre site into ‘an enchanted land where you can fully immerse yourself in all things weird, wonderful and witchy’.
This year’s theme will take visitors ‘under water’ to the haunting depths of the Gold Lake where ghostly sea creatures, sunken secrets and the skeleton pirates spring thrillingly to life.
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There’s a dedicated dog walking field and a lake they can swim in away from the main fisheries (Image: Manchester Family / MEN)
Described as ‘delightfully spooky rather than jump-out-of-your-skin scary’, it promises visitors of all ages a truly memorable Halloween adventure as they follow the quest, collecting glimmering treasures along the way before earning a place at the memorably magic Skeleton Crew Pirate Party.
The dog-friendly event, suitable for all ages and accessible for prams and wheelchairs, will feature live music in the Trick or Treat Tent, the chance to toast marshmallows and enjoy a range of treats including hot chocolate, hot dogs and burgers.
The event runs from October 3 to November 2 with tickets costing £25 for adults and £19 for children aged two to 16 (under twos go free).
Halloweenville starts next month(Image: David Munn Photography)
On-site car parking is available and can be booked online when purchasing tickets, £5 in advance or £10 on the gate.
Timings vary each evening between 5pm and 8pm, with time slots available every 15 minutes. The trail lasts an estimated 60-90 minutes, with the average time spent on site 90 to 120 minutes and the site closing at 9.30pm. Book on the website here.