10 restaurants at the Royal Albert Dock in Liverpool are getting ready to reopen for outside diners on April 12 and one has already had more than 1,000 bookings. Tony McDonough reports
Just one restaurant in Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock has already taken more than 1,000 bookings ahead of its expected reopening for outside diners in April.
Maray Dockside is one of 10 restaurants or cafes around the dock getting ready to reopen on April 12 if, as expected, the Government relaxes COVID-19 restrictions to allow outlets to serve food and drink to customers outside.
The Grade I-Listed Royal Albert Dock is one of the most popular free tourist attractions in the UK, welcoming more than 6m visitors a year in normal times. Many of its businesses are now working to open up again next month.
And one restaurant, Maray Dockside said diners are clamouring for tables. Co-founder James Bates said: “More than a thousand people have booked one of our dockside booths between April 12 and May 16. We’re overwhelmed once again by the people of the Liverpool city region.”
Other restaurants planning to open on April 12 include Madre, Gusto, Revolution, Revolucion de Cuba, Turncoat Bar, What’s Cooking and Rosa’s Thai Cafe. Lunyalita – will open weekends from April 16 while the Tate Liverpool Cafe will open weekends from April 17.
A number of visitors attractions at the dock are also getting ready to welcome back the public after lockdown. They are Escape Hunt, Quay Confectionery, Pride Liverpool, The Nest and Leather Satchel Co.
Royal Albert Dock’s sheltered colonnades and waterfront setting make it a prime spot for outdoor dining, with six of the restaurants extending their outdoor areas to accommodate more diners.
Maray’s outdoor dining area has been enhanced within the past year with private booths, while over at Anchor Courtyard, Madre is adding additional seating and finalising new menus in preparation for reopening.
The dock estate team have been working throughout lockdown to ensure the destination remains a safe place to visit, with visible guidance and signage throughout, and thorough cleaning measures in place.
Sean Morrison, estate manager of the Royal Albert Dock, added, “The hard work shown by our cleaning and maintenance teams throughout lockdown has been immense.
“We’ve added additional cleaning routines to their already robust procedures to ensure the estate is as clean as possible, and we can’t wait to welcome visitors back to the dock to showcase our extended outdoor seating areas.”