When footballer Jamie Carragher opens a sport-themed restaurant you expect it to be all about family. His Cafe Sports England is just that. Healthy food for kids and a relaxed, unthreatening atmosphere for young sports fans to cheer on their heroes.

The Venue
Cafe Sports England is on Stanley Street, right next to Liverpool’s famous Mathew Street and in easy reach of the nightlife. It's also a short distance from shopping at the Met Quarter, Cavern Walks, Church Street or Liverpool One. This restaurant has a welcoming atmosphere, and even if you're not into sport you're made to feel at home.

Comfortable booths and large family sized tables enable you can spread out and unwind while watching the footie with friends and family. It's light and airy with large windows upstairs, wooden floors, metallic tables and brick work floors. Everywhere you look there are large screens showing sports as well as video montages paying tribute to sporting heroes.

The People
While Cafe Sports England is aimed at families, everyone is welcome here. Healthy eating is heavily promoted, with the emphasis on children eating well. Inevitably the restaurant has a somewhat masculine feel due to the sports theme, however the family atmosphere means that this isn’t an issue. The waiting team are friendly and helpful, ready to advise on the menu or to make you feel at home.

The Food
There's a healthy but varied menu, suited to a variety of diners. Starters are priced from £1.95 for marinated olives, going up to £5.95 for an antipasti dish. The barbecue spare ribs priced at £4.95 are a delicious choice, with a sticky, sweet barbecue sauce which brings out the flavour of the tender pork ribs.

Main courses are varied, with a range of salads, pizzas and pastas, as well as a chargrill section and a section called “the best of British”. There are four salad options, which are priced between £5.50 for a caesar salad and £13.95 for a tuna nicoise, there are 10 different pizza options, such as margherita, fiorentina and rustica, priced at around £8.50. There are also 12 pasta options at around £8.50.

The chargrill menu includes steaks and burgers ranging in price from £7.50 for a vegetarian burger, up to £19.95 for a fillet beef rossini. The Best of British menu includes several traditional British dishes, such as fish and chips and corned beef hash. The homemade scouse is a delicious choice, priced at £6.95 during the week or £7.95 at the weekend; it contains juicy, large chunks of tender meat, with delicious, soft stewed vegetables.

Desserts are priced between £3.75 and £4.95, the chocolate brownie is a tasty option, it's fluffy and delicious and melts in the mouth and is contrasted by the refreshing chocolate-chip ice cream. There is also a children’s menu priced at £6.95 for a main course and a dessert. The main courses include dishes such as spaghetti bolognaise, chargrilled chicken and a side order or a cheese burger and a side order. The desserts include fruit cocktail and ice cream.

The Drink
The wine list is varied, with eight white wine choices, ranging from £2.95 a glass for the sauvignon, going up to £19.95 a bottle for the chablis. An excellent choice is the crisp, fruity pinot grigio, priced at £3.75 a glass. There are two rose options priced at £11.95 and £14.95 a bottle and eight red choices starting from £2.95 for a glass of shiraz, going up to £19.95 for a bottle of the Rioja Crianza Tinto.

If your team scores and you're feeling flush you can pick between three champagnes priced from £16.95 for the prosecco Spumante, up to £60 for the Laurent Perrier Cuvee Rose. Or opt for their cocktails which go from £4.95. Lagers, spirits, soft drinks, smoothies, juices and hot drinks are also available.

The Last Word
Cafe Sports England is a healthy alternative to watching footie down the pub. This is a sports bar the whole family can enjoy.

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