Lerpwl
The Barrie Brothers, founders of the much-acclaimed Marram Grass on Anglesey have opened their first city-centre restaurant, Lerwpl, set on Liverpool’s historic Albert Dock.
The venue was created by Commercial Kitchen and Bar, the Manchester-based hospitality design, build and project management company.
On the back of the much-acclaimed Marram Grass restaurant, Ellis Barrie shot to fame on BBC TWO’s flagship Great British Menu and more recently on BBC ONE’s reboot of Ready Steady Cook.
The brother’s new venue ‘Lerwpl’ is a nod to both their Liverpudlian heritage and Welsh roots, with the ‘Lerwpl’ being the name for Liverpool in Welsh.
Lerpwl is located on the Britannia Pavillion in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Waterfront, known locally as ‘The Docks’.
The 80-cover restaurant is split across two levels – the main space downstairs wraps around an impressive open kitchen and to the back of the unit is a secluded cocktail bar called Margot’s, named after Liam Barrie’s daughter.
Showcasing a high-end finish, materials selected include copper, oak and marble to give a luxury feel with all furniture and lighting having been specifically designed and commissioned for the site.
In addition, the restaurant features lush greenery throughout, with a feature, 5m ‘preserved moss wall’ as a nod to the Barrie Brothers’ other site, The Marram Grass on Anglesey.
The brief outlined that the kitchen was to take centre stage of the space to reflect the restaurant’s focus on produce and provenance with the bar becoming a ‘hidden gem’ discoverable as you walk through the restaurant.
It features a white marble frontage with an elaborate bullnose copper worktop. The walls are clad with bespoke oak herringbone to absorb sound and offer perfect acoustics for pre and post dinner cocktails.
Managing Director of Commercial Kitchen and Bar, Raju W Haider, comments: “As the building was listed, we wanted to be as sympathetic to the existing finishes as possible to showcase the space.
“We polished the existing sandstone floors and incorporated the exposed brickwork throughout with the juxtaposition of these against luxury finishes, such as the copper and marble, working really well.
“In addition to the main space, there is a private dining room in the basement with a walk-in wine cellar. Again, luxury black marble features throughout offering a premium feel. I’m looking forward to the outdoor terrace space opening too, which features oak tables and contemporary chairs.”