Brunswick Street restaurant reopens after £500k makeover

The Restaurant Bar Grill Liverpool Brunswick Street Halifax House

Confidentials 15 October 2021

Features inside the historic venue include a six foot chandelier and ornate gold leaf ceiling

ONE of Liverpool’s most iconic venues, The Restaurant Bar & Grill, has reopened its doors following an extensive £500k refurbishment. Located in Halifax House, on Brunswick Street, the Grade II heritage building has had its historical features revived with a stunning new look.

It has the most photographic appeal and simply has to be seen

Focal point is a vast chandelier measuring over 6ft by 7ft, and an incredible ornate ceiling, which sees all intricate features, including the building’s original liver bird motifs, cornice, and columns, restored and decorated in gold leaf.

The Restaurant Bar Grill Liverpool Brunswick Street Halifax House Chandelier — **Liverpool's own gold leaf expert, David Thelwall, has worked on the restoration**

The job was undertaken by world-renowned gold leaf specialist David Thelwell and took over four weeks to complete. The project is the latest in a series of decorative refurbishments by the 55-year-old from Prescot, with Thelwell having also restored the gold leaf at Liverpool Town Hall and St George’s Hall, in addition to a number of palaces in Saudi Arabia.

The work to the ceiling is just one of a number of changes to the striking 200-cover restaurant, including new upholstery, statement light fittings and a stripped back and freshly polished floor. The £500k refurbishment was delivered by leading restaurant designer Bernard Carroll of Carroll Design and took five weeks to deliver.

The Restaurant Bar Grill Liverpool Brunswick Street Halifax House Seabass Cevice — **Sea bass ceviche, passion fruit, chilli, cucumber and avocado**

Halifax House was built circa 1870 as the head office of the Union Bank, and the venue was taken over by The Restaurant Bar & Grill in 2007. Manchester's Restaurant Bar & Grill on John Dalton Street announced closure earlier this year, but the company still operates Northern restaurants in Chester and Leeds, as well as the popular Piccolino in Liverpool.

Coinciding with the Liverpool restaurant makeover is the launch of a new autumn/winter menu, with a focus on classic and inspired seasonal dishes, steaks and cocktails.

Just some of the new appetisers and starter dishes include truffle and leek croquettes with truffle aioli (£8.75); cider and onion soup served with cheese sourdough toast (£6.95); and sea bass ceviche, passion fruit, chilli, cucumber and avocado (£10.25).

The Restaurant Bar Grill Liverpool Brunswick Street Halifax House Duck — **Slow roast crispy duck, red wine, apple, honey and sage**

New additions to the main dishes include risotto with porcini mushrooms and mascarpone (£14.75); linguine with lobster (£28.50); veal chop Milanese (£28.50); and slow roast crispy duck, red wine, apple, honey and sage (£18.95).

Seasonal desserts include chocolate brownie served with white chocolate, sour cherry and pistachio ice cream (£7.95); peanut butter cheesecake served with blackberry and bilberry ice cream and caramel coated popcorn (£7.95); and passion fruit crème brûlée (£7.95).

The Restaurant Bar Grill Liverpool Brunswick Street Halifax House Brownie — **Chocolate brownie with white chocolate, sour cherry and pistachio ice cream**

Kate Keyes, general manager of The Restaurant Bar & Grill, said: “I couldn’t be more pleased to reopen the doors.

“The transformation of the beautiful Grade II heritage building, one of the most iconic venues in Liverpool, is nothing short of incredible and I look forward to welcoming our loyal guests to experience it for themselves. It has the most photographic appeal and simply has to be seen.”

The Restaurant Bar & Grill, Halifax House, Brunswick St, Liverpool L2 0UU