Executive chef Matt Cox takes the helm at The Lake Kitchen
A new multi-million-pound leisure development in the heart of Crosby Coastal Park in Waterloo has officially opened its doors to the public.
The venue will help to propel Waterloo and this area of Sefton’s fantastic coastline into the national arena.
The Lake House sits alongside the leisure facilities at Sefton Council’s Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre and is home to a new café and restaurant - The Lake Kitchen - as well as four conference and events spaces and 14 refurbished rooms as part of its accommodation offering.
At the helm of The Lake Kitchen is head chef Matt Cox who has enjoyed a fantastic career at restaurants including The Vincent Hotel, Crowne Plaza, Marriott, Radisson and The Bastion at The Shankly. General manager of the cafe and restaurant is Vicki Hanlon.
Led by Sefton Hospitality Operations Ltd (SHOL), the new development hopes to become a destination in the borough and further afield, creating more than 70 jobs within the local community. SHOL is wholly owned by Sefton Council and was formed in June 2021 to run the Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre.
Kellie Rixon, chair of SHOL, said: “The Lake House has been created with the local community at its core and throughout this whole process, regeneration has been a key objective. Not only are we going to appeal to several different demographics in what we are about to deliver, but we believe that the venue will help to further propel Waterloo and this area of Sefton’s fantastic coastline into the national arena.
“Sitting alongside the internationally renowned Antony Gormley's Another Place Iron Men statues, our coastline development aims to have a considerable impact on the borough and ultimately, it’s about time that we showed everyone what we have been up to. People have been waiting for this, and we want to provide a space that you can enjoy with your family and friends, which is right on your doorstep.”
The Lake House is one of a collective of properties that are being considered for redevelopment as part of a long-term strategy for reinvestment throughout Sefton.
Kellie said: “There is a real emotional connection to this site and it’s easy to see why. What we have tried to do is amplify that and to build on the memories that already exist here and to take it forward into the next part of its history.
“The team that are leading this are experts within our field and that is why we are here; to make this a success. It’s brilliant to see everything coming together, from the number of people we’ve welcomed on our recruitment open days, to the newly formed relationships with local community producers that we will use as our suppliers.”
The Lake House is open from 11am to 9pm Sunday to Thursday and 11am to 9.30pm Friday and Saturday every week.
Crosby Coastal Park, The Esplanade, off Cambridge Rd, Waterloo, Merseyside L22 1RR
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