Gift ideas from your favourite venues
Leaving Liverpool without a belly full of great food and drink is just not an option. But we’re throwing the limelight on the bars and restaurants that have the merchandise to match the menus. So without further ado, here’s a gaff-by-gaff rundown of the Liverpool venues that leave you with tangible momentos of their cult dishes, coveted recipes, slapstick straplines and tasty little trinkets.
Bundobust
Bundobust is one of those places you simply can’t just leave behind with only a full stomach and a doggy bag to show for it. Once you’ve worked your way through the meat-free Indian street food menu and drank your fill of craft beers, you can stretch your legs with a mooch along the merch-lined walls framing the back quadrant of the technicolour restaurant.
Also available online, the Bundobust merchandise arsenal is an eclectic collection of tote bags, t-shirts, prints, postcards, aprons, tea towels, notebooks, mugs and even a branded bar blade. Personal favourites include the ‘Reebokra’ tee paying homage to the infamous Bundobust okra fries, and the Patel’s Off License tote made from 60% organic cotton and 40% recycled polyester, named after the brand’s founder, Mayur Patel. As is true for all Bundobust branches, the Liverpool restaurant offers city-specific souvenirs, including Liver Bird motifs created by Northern illustrator, Drew Millward, old school street art stylee.
Bundobust, First Floor, 17-19 Bold Street, L1 4DN
The Art School
Tradition dictates that places offering merch are normally dive bars, burger joints and street food shacks - the kind of urban establishments that are frequented by a hoodie-wearing, badge-pinning, postcard-collecting clientele. One place you might not expect to see merchandise is one of Liverpool’s most fabulous answers to fine dining - The Art School. A visit to their website however, revealed a nine-page online shop boasting an array of deli-style edible delights and non-edible treats alike. We’re particularly enamored with the Chef ‘Porky’ Askew tea towel, the branded handbag holder looking like something out of a boujie Christmas cracker, and The Art School apron (which is currently out of stock at time of writing, but keep your peepers peeled for a replenishment). Amongst the sophisticated souvenirs of time spent under the culinary capabilities of Chef Paul Askew is also a signed copy of his debut book, Onwards & Upwards, featuring 40 dishes from The Art School Restaurant.
The Art School, 1 Sugnall Street, L7 7EB
Crazy Pedro’s
Often, a night spent at Crazy Pedro’s is something you either can’t remember or just straight-up don’t want to remember. We’ve all been there - waking up with a severe case of pizza bloat and the furry remnance of Hooch coating your teeth. For those who would like a souvenir of Crazy old Pedro however, there’s plenty to be had on the flippin’ awesome merch front. Personal favourites amongst the Liverpool Confidential lot are the ‘Tip Your Bar Tender’ t-shirt, Pizza Panther hoodie, Crazy Pedro’s rucksack, Crazy Pedro’s beer pong kit (!!) and the official Crazy Pedro’s sticker pack because let’s face it, who doesn’t love a good novelty sticker? We’ve also got out eye on the ‘F*ck Politics, Eat Pizza’ tee because, well, there’s no time quite like the present…
Crazy Pedro’s, 25 Parr Street, L1 4JN
Jimmy’s
Ever wondered where rockstars stock up on their essentials? Well, ponder no longer because you can consider this your key to the Aladdin’s cave of must-have glam rock paraphernalia that is Jimmy’s merch collection. We’re talking plain t-shirts, striped t-shirts and long sleeve t-shirts; we’re talking tube socks, trawler hats and a Jimmy’s tote bag - all bedecked with the legendary lightening bolt emblem. These guys have even levelled up with a branded lighter-bottle opener and a gold bee pin badge, just crying out to be affixed to a leather lapel or a decorated guitar strap. Oh, and let’s not forget the psychedelic face mask in Jimmy’s signature black ’n’ red pattern because even the gnarliest rockstars need protection during a pandemic. Fancy treating yourself or a fellow Jimmy’s junkie to something from the online store? Take advantage of the current promo offer where you can get a free tote bag (worth ten quid) when you spend £60 or more.
Jimmy’s, 130 Bold Street, L1 4JA
Mowgli
We know and love Mowgli for its divine Indian street food menu devised from decades of family recipes but did you know that you can bring your favourite Mowgli dishes into your own kitchen too? On the restaurant’s online shop is a trio of titles published by Mowgli mother, Nisha Katona, including the popular Pimp My Rice recipe book, divulging the secrets behind popular plates such as the Mother Butter Chicken and Himalayan Cheese on Toast. Joining the line up is the Mowgli Cookbook and Katona’s The Spice Tree - neither of which would be complete without the Mowgli apron or tea towel, of course (both of which can also be purchased via the website). Mowgli merch also includes a branded t-shirt, tote bag and face mask, all featuring the synonymous monkey motif. If you’re still looking for this year’s Christmas cards, or even wanting to stock up for 2021, Mowgli have also created two festive cards, each designed by a member of staff with a keen creative eye.
Mowgli, 69 Bold Street, L1 4EZ and 3 Water Street, L2 0RD
Moose Coffee
Renowned for serving up what are arguably the best pancakes this side of the River Mersey, Moose Coffee is the place to be for an all-American brunch experience up North. The coffee, shakes and Eggs Benedict menu here are all magnets for diners queuing round the block for a taste of a Moose speciality but should anybody wish to show a little extra love post-visit, they can do so over on the Moose online shop. Wares include Moose maple syrup, Moose maple sprinkles, melting hot chocolate stick, ‘Moose Money’ gift vouchers and the ‘Home of Breakfast’ tote bag complete with illustrated pancake stack. Also available for purchasing are Moose’s own house coffee blends, either ground for you or left as beans to grind for yourself. Whichever you choose, make sure to pick up a Moose Diner Mug or one of their reusable, insulated travel mug whilst you’re there so you never have to go without.
Moose Coffee, 6 Dale Street, L2 4TQ and 88 Federation House, Hope Street, L1 9BW
Free State Kitchen
Old favourites on the Liverpool food scene but newcomers on the merchandise block, Free State Kitchen recently released a limited selection of items via their Instagram, urging followers to act fast on the first come, first served goods. For the FSK fanbase out there, there’s a choice of two t-shirts (one black, one grey), a classic peaked cap and a canvas tote bag with contrast black handles. All items are branded with the popular burger joint’s minimal, monochrome logo and selling fast so don’t hang about if you’re feeling the itch to claim one for yourself. All orders are available for free delivery for orders over £20 within 5 miles of the city centre, or collection from the restaurant if you’re visiting from further afield. We recommend picking up a portion of honey sesame pigs in blankets whilst you’re there, or go the full hog with the FSK Christmas turkey burger with a side of American-style gravy.
Free State Kitchen, 1 Maryland Street, L1 9DE
LEAF
As a restaurant-cafe-bar with the motto ‘where there’s tea, there’s hope’, it comes as no surprise that LEAF offers a whole plethora of loose leaf tea from around the world. The teas are arranged as an alphabetical catalogue of hygge temptation, ironically requiring a good brew to sip whilst you browse through the loose leaf library. From Butter Truffle to Fairy Wings, Gunpowder Supreme and Russian Caravan to more classic choices including Oolong, Turkish Apple, Earl Grey and good old English Breakfast, this little nook of the internet is a tea-lovers nirvana. For true tea connoisseurs, look to the LEAF tea bundles and the array of teaware accessories on offer, including spring-loaded tea infuser, tea ball infuser and the Insta-famous ‘where there’s tea, there’s hope’ tea pot.
LEAF, 65-67 Bold Street, L1 4EZ
Love Lane Brewery
As well as a selection of cans and bottled beers, the Love Lane online shop also offers a small but mighty collection of branded glassware, Love Lane trucker cap and exclusive gin distills. If lockdown has taught us anything, it’s that we should stock up on branded glassware from our favourite bars and breweries while we have the chance because you never quite know when you’re going to be quarantined with your 12-pack again. Pandemic or no pandemic, we’re convinced there must be some sort of science behind your Love Lane beer tasting that little bit sweeter when it’s being supped out of a Love Lane pint glass or schooner. Embellished with the brick logo we all know and love, these beauties are the perfect gift for a beer-boffin and a great way to enjoy a taste of the real experience back home.
Love Lane Brewery, 62 - 64 Bridgewater Street, Baltic Triangle, L1 0AY
Almost Famous
If you’ve ever been to an Almost Famous restaurant, you’ll know that this lot do not mess about when it comes to towering dirty burgers, calorie-laden dirty fries and signature cocktails with equally dirty names including the iconic Bitch Juice. Almost Famous is no place for top buttons or skinny jeans because you’re bound to leave feeling fit to bust. In fact, the only appropriate ensemble we could possibly recommend here is your most forgiving eating pants and the uber-comfy Almost Famous hoodie. “Super plush and super swag” by their own admission, the AF hoodie is the perfect place to harbour a food baby in style, complete with some “sweet ass burger wings” emblazoned on the back. Also currently available from the Almost Famous merch offering are gift vouchers from £20-£100 because let’s face it, you can never go wrong when you give the gift of burgers, wings and fries.
Almost Famous, 11-13 Parr Street, L1 4JN
