New south Liverpool independent restaurant secures cash injection via River Capital and creates 13 jobs. Tony McDonough reports

New independent restaurant Solace has secured a £50,000 cash injection via River Capital as it looks to bring all-day-dining to Allerton Road in south Liverpool.

Creating 13 new jobs, including a sous chef, four chef de parties, two front of house managers and six front of house and bar staff, Solace is the first venture for Tasha Godwin, Eugen Raka and Mark Lavelle.

Between them the trio bring 55 years of combined hospitality experience to the venture. They have worked alongside each other at several Liverpool venues over the past decade and have been looking for the right site to open their own restaurant for some time.

Now they have secured a £50,000 loan from NPIF II River Capital & GC Business Smaller Loans managed by River Capital and GC Business Finance. 

By day, ‘Solace at Sunrise’ serves brunch, high-protein options and specialty coffee from Liverpool roaster Crosby Coffee. In the evening, ‘Solace After Dark’ turns the space into a small plates venue with a curated wine list and cocktails. 

This venue is now open seven days a week, from 9am until 10pm Sunday to Wednesday and until midnight Thursday to Saturday.

Tash Godwin said: “The response we’ve received since opening Solace has been absolutely incredible. We’ve been overwhelmed by the warmth, kindness and support shown to us by the local community.

“Our vision has always been to create somewhere that brings people together, whether that’s our neighbours, people visiting from across the city, or tourists discovering Liverpool for the first time.

“We want Solace to be a place where everyone feels welcome, enjoys exceptional food and hospitality, and leaves looking forward to their next visit.”

Funding from River Capital sits alongside “significant” investment committed by the three partners and has funded the refurbishment of the premises, new kitchen equipment, opening stock and working capital for the restaurant’s first months of trading.

Tasha Godwin, who will lead operations and marketing, began her career at Browns Liverpool and rose to assistant general manager at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant before managing the refurbishment and launch of Emily’s in Formby. 

Eugen, who will run front of house as general manager, has worked his way up through Fazenda, Miller & Carter, 60 Hope Street and Mason’s while Mark Lavelle, head chef, has led kitchens across the city since 2013, including Neon Jamon and Bistro Franc and was a senior chef at Brunch Club & Emily’s.

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Sue Chambers, investment manager at River Capital, added: “Tasha, Eugen and Mark have spent their whole careers in hospitality, and between them they cover the three roles every successful restaurant depends on.

“They have put a significant amount of their own money into Solace and arrived with a clear, well researched plan and a team already in place.”