Cunard restaurants confirmed by Living Ventures

Tim Bacon’s Living Ventures has confirmed plans to open two restaurants at Liverpool’s Pier Head in a £6m venture backed by a private syndicate comprising a boxing promoter, a property developer, a barrister and a wealth manager.

Building owner Liverpool City Council signed a deal with Living Ventures which will see restaurant concepts Australasia and Cunard House opening at the Cunard Building on the Pier Head.

The agreement triggers a £6m investment on the ground and first floors of the Grade 2*-listed building, creating 150 jobs.

The two new outlets are supported by Astutus Strategy, a newly incorporated company registered in Liverpool. The directors and equal shareholders in Astutus Strategy are local boxing promoter John Hyland, wealth manager Placid Paul Gonzales, Lord Alex Carlile QC, and property developer Eric Grove, founder of Catesby Estates.

Lord Carlile, chairman of Astutus Strategy and a Liberal Democract peer, said: “The development is a great opportunity to bring a great building back into the growing Liverpool powerhouse. It promises to be a wonderful restaurant, and a go-to meeting place.

“The Mayor is to be congratulated on his support for this exciting venture.”

Australasia is expected to open in April 2016 on the ground floor and Cunard House in September 2016 on the first floor. On the ground floor, Australasia will serve modern Australian cuisine combining Pacific Rim flavours underpinned by European cooking tradition. It will also have a bar serving cocktails and music from resident and guest DJ’s. On the first floor, Cunard House, with a kitchen led by Liverpudlian Aiden Byrne, will serve fine food in an informal atmosphere. It will be accompanied by cocktail bar and training academy for young chefs.

Living Ventures, Byrne and the council were tight-lipped when Place North West contacted them in February about the deal.