Living Ventures to open two restaurants in Liverpool's Cunard Building

19 June 2015 by
Living Ventures to open two restaurants in Liverpool's Cunard Building

Living Ventures is to open two restaurants and a training academy at the Cunard building in Liverpool - once the headquarters and main passenger terminal for the famous Cunard shipping company - following a deal with Liverpool City Council.

The agreement will see £6m invested in the Grade II-listed site on the Pier Head.

Living Ventures will open Australasia there, as well as another restaurant called Cunard House fronted by Aiden Byrne.

Along with the training academy, the move is expected to create 150 new jobs.

Australasia will sit on the ground floor, serving modern Australian cuisine combining Pacific Rim flavours with European cooking tradition.

Meanwhile Cunard House will be led by Manchester House chef Aiden Byrne. It will serve fine food in an informal atmosphere and will be accompanied by a cocktail bar and training academy for young chefs to train under Byrne.


"Aiden is also very excited to be returning to his home town, Cunard House will be a showcase for the amazing food Aiden produces and the training academy will give him the opportunity to pass on his knowledge and experience to aspiring young chefs who could not ask for a better mentor."

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: "I am delighted that we are able to announce the investment by Living Ventures in Cunard Building.

"It will breathe new life into the Cunard building and the wider Pier Head, complementing the recent investment the council has made.

"It will provide a world class dining experience for residents, tourists and office workers in this part of the city and be a catalyst for further investment in the Pier Head area.

"We know there is a huge demand for dining at the Cunard building, demonstrated most recently through the success of the Aquitania pop-up restaurant during the Three Queens visit.

"It is also a great economic deal for the city, creating a significant number of jobs and economic spend, and will generate business rates and rental income for the city council which we can reinvest in essential services."

Lord Carlile, chairman of Astutus Strategy, which is supporting Living Ventures, said: "The development is a great opportunity to bring a great building back into the growing Liverpool powerhouse. It promises to be a wonderful restaurant, and a go-to meeting place.

"The mayor is to be congratulated on his support for this exciting venture."

Subject to planning approval, Australasia is expected to open in April 2016 on the ground floor and Cunard House in September 2016 on the first floor. The deal has been organised by John Hyland of Astutus Strategy.

Tim Bacon and Jeremy Roberts founded the Living Ventures Group in 1999. It currently owns and operates 11 Gustos, eight Blackhouses, four Alchemists, nine New World Trading Company units; the Oast House, six Botanists, the Smugglers Cove and the Trading House, Australasia; Grand Pacific, Artisan and Manchester House.

Last year the pair won the Group Restaurateur award at the Cateys in recognition of their achievements in the sector.

New World Trading Company to open the Club House in Liverpool >>

Gusto to open £1m Leeds restaurant >>


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