Hospitality consultancy Foursquare Group has helped more than 100 Liverpool bars, restaurants and cafes to become COVID-19 compliant and is now expanding into Manchester. Tony McDonough reports

A Liverpool hospitality consultancy that helped more than 100 local businesses keep trading through COVID-19 is expanding into Manchester.

Foursquare Group is a health and safety specialist and the firm’s experts have been in overdrive since March helping bars and restaurants in the Liverpool city region to ensure they are compliant with COVID restrictions.

In June Foursquare launched what it claimed was a UK-first – offering hospitality clients a pay-what-you-can service. With many bars, cafes and restaurants already struggling, the firm was keen to do what ti could to keep the battered sector afloat.

It also created a public register of the safest venues to visit – all of whom have prioritised the safety of their customers and staff by passing a robust an comprehensive Foursquare Covid-Safe audit.

Now, with Manchester remaining under Tier 3 COVID restrictions it is keen to reach out to hospitality businesses in the city to help them reopen when the the restrictions are eventually eased.

It will be taking its pay-what-you-can service to Manchester to ensure the support is accessible to all businesses that need it, regardless of their current cash position. Foursquare Group’s first local recruit for its Manchester base is former Hawksmoor front of house employee, Callum O’Neill. He will be liaising with local businesses to guide them through the COVID-safe scheme.

The group’s Manchester expansion marks its first phase of growth, with Foursquare Group having an plan to extend its services to operate across the whole of the North of England over the next five years.

Founder Liam Jones said: “This year we’ve been incredibly busy with supporting the amazing independent hospitality venues we have in the Liverpool city region. We are genuine in our efforts to help and protect the industry as much as possible which is why we have changed our pricing model to offer our help to everybody. 

“We’re the first company in the UK to be offering a trust-based pricing model like this and although it’s been quite a task creating it, we’re really proud to be doing so for the right reasons.

“Taking Foursquare Group and our health and safety services to Manchester is the natural next step for us. The Greater Manchester area is brimming with inspiring independent businesses and we are looking forward to contributing.

“Now seems the perfect time for us to do that, with Manchester remaining in Tier 3 restrictions, we are bringing our toolkit to help speed up the recovery process into Tier 2 and Tier 1.

“Callum is a fantastic addition to the team. He is obsessed with the Manchester hospitality scene and can’t wait to get stuck in to helping the industry get back on its feet. It’s really important for us that our team in Manchester is both local and understands the industry.”