A pop-up brasserie and bar will occupy the banking hall of Martins Bank Building in Liverpool during the Jubilee weekend with top chef Paul Askew offering a ‘magical’ food and drink experience. Tony McDonough reports
It was last home to a branch of Barclays Bank but over the forthcoming Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend the magnificent banking hall in Martins Bank Building will be transformed into a brasserie and bar.
Located at 4 Water Street, the Grade II-listed Martins Bank Building, which famously stored England’s gold reserves in World War II, is currently undergoing a multi-million transformation into a small business and leisure hub by owner Kinrise.
From Thursday, June 2, to Sunday, June 5, the banking hall will be taken over by Chef Patron of The Art School Paul Askew and Bordeaux Wines as part of the Taste Liverpool. Drink Bordeaux festival over the extended holiday weekend.
They are hosting Bordeaux Bar A Vin – offering a sumptuous dining experience. A brasserie menu will run 1pm to 7pm on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Saturday will see a Jubilee lunch with the Liverpool Commonwealth Association and the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside toasting the Queen on the 70th anniversary of her ascension to the throne.
The brasserie menu will include terrine of Rhug Estate organic chicken, sauté of Mr Askew’s Singapore-style tiger prawns and Loch Duart salmon as well as slices of seared salt-aged Cumbrian fillet of beef. Shared platters are also on offer celebrating the city region’s local and seasonal produce.
Video offers unique look at Martins Bank Building
Martins Bank Building opened in 1932. For four days the gilded interior and marble detailing with its decadent film-set feel will be used for the first time as a brasserie and bar, available to Bordeaux Wine Experience pass holders during the festival.
Bordeaux boasts more than 6,000 vineyards, producing red, white, sparkling, rosé and Cremant wines, from affordable bottles through to special occasion vintages. At Bordeaux Bar A Vin, more than 20 of these wines by the glass will be available at subsidised prices and all can be purchased by the bottle too to take home.
During Taste Liverpool. Drink Bordeaux, the building will host several events with food from The Art School. On Thursday, June2, the Blessing Of The Grape starts at 9am – the Bordeaux Intronisation Ceremony – and culminates in a brunch from 10am with dignitaries and guests from the Bordeaux Wine Council and the city of Liverpool.
Across the weekend at Martins Bank Building, music from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra will echo through the lofted space which has been closed for decades.
Paul Askew said: “Liverpool is blessed with many wonderful and historic buildings and I think Martins Bank is perhaps the most jaw-dropping of the lot. I really want to thank Kinrise first and foremost for letting us use their incredible space and it’s brilliant to be part of Taste Liverpool. Drink Bordeaux in this location.
“For me, this is what the festival is all about, celebrating the fantastic wines Bordeaux produces with our food from The Art School. We really want people coming to the festival to be immersed by the wine culture from this beautiful region – it’s not all about expensive vintages, there’s a huge range of affordable bottles which we really want to talk about – and drink – during the festival.
“This is about the story of Liverpool and Bordeaux Wines coming together to create something truly magical in the city and setting the path for years ahead too.”