Open Restaurant Group has acquired Wreck Bistro from chef Gary Usher, expanding its hospitality portfolio and strengthening its presence in the Liverpool market. Jennie Lewis reports
Open Restaurant Group will take over operations at Wreck Bistro, part Usher’s popular roster of restaurants, from early October.
The deal continues the groups focused expansion and takes its portfolio to nine sites across the North West and Wales.
It is the second acquisition from the Elite Bistros founder and follows Hispi in Didsbury, another long-standing restaurant previously operated by Usher.
The entire existing team at Wreck Bistro will be retained as part of the takeover, meaning no jobs will be lost.
Open Restaurant Group, led by Sam Morgan and chef Andrew Sheridan, will take over the Ropewalks restaurant following its final service on Sunday 4 October. The venue will close for a short period before reopening with a brand new food and drink offer.
Open Restaurant Group says it plans to build on the venue’s established reputation for hospitality while introducing a new concept tailored to the Liverpool market.
Gary Usher said: “Wreck has been such an important part of our journey over the years, so choosing the right people to take it forward was really important to us.
“Following the success of the Hispi acquisition, we know Andy and the Open Restaurant Group team will give Wreck the same care and attention, and importantly, they’ve shown that they understand how important the people behind a restaurant are by retaining the existing team.
“I’m really excited to see what they do with the site and know it’s going to be in good hands.”
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Sam Morgan, chief executive of Open Restaurant Group, said: “We’d like to pay tribute to Gary and his team for everything they’ve created with Wreck. It’s become a much-loved part of Liverpool’s independent restaurant scene and we’re very conscious of the responsibility that comes with taking on a restaurant with that history.
“This is another really exciting step for Open Restaurant Group. Liverpool is an important part of our story and we’re looking forward to bringing a new chapter to this brilliant site.”
Open Restaurant Group already has strong roots in Liverpool, the home city of chef and co-founder Andy Sheridan. Its regional portfolio includes Sheridan’s flagship Liverpool restaurant, 8, which holds three AA Rosettes and is listed in the Michelin Guide.
Andy adds: “Wreck is a brilliant site in one of the best parts of Liverpool, and there’s a huge amount to work with.
“Gary and the team have built something that people really care about, so we want to respect that while giving the space a new direction.”