Lifelong friends Gavin Williams and James Kennedy opened Allotment Birkdale, their second venue, after securing a £65,000 loan from Liverpool-based MSIF. Tony McDonough reports

Bar entrepreneurs Gavin Williams and James Kennedy are targeting Liverpool city centre for their third venue.

This year the lifelong friends opened Allotment Birkdale, a botanically themed Gin bar and restaurant in what was formerly an  HSBC bank in the village, which is close to Southport.

It followed on from the opening of their first Allotment outlet in the Northern Quarter of Manchester in summer 2014.

They then set about finding a location in Merseyside and eventually opened the Birkdale premises, in Liverpool Road, after securing £65,000 loan from MSIF, formerly Merseyside Special Investment Fund.

Mr Williams said: “We have spent three years refining the Allotment brand in Manchester and have found the feedback to be phenomenal.

“Birkdale is a beautiful village full of independent traders who work together to create a vibrant and buzzing community – and it is an honour to be part of that.

“Our ambition is to continue growing the Allotment throughout the country, with Liverpool city centre being the home of Allotment number three.”

The Birkdale bar has retained numerous features from the old bank, including the grand marble floor and the bank vault.

The vault, which was previously a working safe for the bank, has been transformed into a a separate, exclusive dining area for groups of 10-12 people.

Allotment Birkdale is open all day, seven days a week, serving different menus throughout the day.

Andy Jones, MSIF investment manager, said: “Allotment Birkdale brings a unique offering of food and drink to Birkdale Village. Both Gavin and James have masses of experience within the industry.”