A team rooms nestled on a busy road treats customers like family and serves the "best" pies.
Lilly’s Victorian Tea Rooms has been serving up a slice of Victorian civility on Hall Street in St Helens for nearly two decades. Owner Taryn Byron took over the restaurant in 2013 after leaving her office job and said it was always her dream to own a tea room of her own. The 40-year-old got the inspiration after cooking with her nan and the recipes she passed down to Taryn.
Lilly’s Victorian Tea Room has gained a reputation for its full English breakfast, homemade chips and steak and Guissnes pies. Taryn said that from the moment someone walks through the door she wants them to feel at home.
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Taryn told the ECHO: “It was always a dream and I thought I’d go for it. If it did not work out I could go back to the accountancy company I worked for.
“I love the Victorian era and my nan would always cook and bake with me so I got so much of it from her. I think we offer something different to St Helens and we stand out.”
The tea room offers everything from breakfasts, homemade pies, afternoon tea, and cream teas. The food is always cooked fresh and many are secret recipes passed down from Taryn’s nan.
She said: “Probably our most popular dish is the steak and Guinness pie I used to sit there and watch my nan make it. So many of her recipes are on the menu, especially her homemade cakes.
“I don’t know what is so good about the steak and Guinness pie but people always tell me it is the best they have ever had. I get asked how to make it but I will never give the recipe away.”
Taryn said that all her customers are like family and has not put up her prices during the cost of living crisis so that her regular customers can have an affordable meal.
Taryn said: “My regulars have supported me throughout and I know them all by name. It is a nice homely atmosphere here from the moment you walk in.
“They are the most important people and I think people love it because we cook good homemade food. We take our time to speak to everyone who comes through the door and we do treat people like family.”
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