Renowned chef Aiden Byrne pulls out of deal for Steven Gerrard’s restaurant
Michelin-starred chef Aiden Byrne’s plans to open his latest venture in Liverpool have collapsed.
On April 2nd he announced he had acquired The Vincent Café & Cocktail Bar in Liverpool’s Exchange Flags from owners Paul Adams and former Liverpool FC player Steven Gerrard for an undisclosed sum.
But earlier today (April 20) The Vincent posted a notice on its facebook page saying the move will not now take place.
It said: “Further to the press release recently issued, and due to unforeseen circumstances, Aiden Byrne and his team will no longer be operating from The Vincent Cafe & Cocktail Bar Liverpool. We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.”
A statement issued by Kirkby-born Mr Byrne’s company, Medusa Hospitality, declared: “It is with regret that we confirm that we are unable to progress with the deal to acquire The Vincent Café, after undertaking due diligence.”
Mr Byrne outlined ambitious plans for his proposed venture into the Liverpool restaurant scene when he first announced the deal earlier this month.
He said The Vincent would trade seamlessly under the new management in time for the Grand National weekend, and would then relaunch as The Metropolitan Bar & Grill Rooms later in the year.
Mr Byrne said at the time: “I have built my reputation with a fine dining tasting menu, however, I have always wanted to deliver a high-end grill rooms concept.
“The realisation of The Metropolitan Bar & Grill Rooms is a lifetime ambition to pay my respects to legendary venues like The Savoy Grill and The Grill at the Dorchester, who have set the standards for all to aspire to.”
Only two days ago, he tweeted images of taster dishes that were being planned for the Liverpool venture, which opened in Liverpool city centre in 2015 and offers 190 covers.
One of our taster starters at @VincentcafeLpl in our interim period. Full menu to follow. Loving Liverpool pic.twitter.com/Ywm8dUOkzH
— aidenbyrne (@aidenbyrne) April 18, 2019
It would have been the second restaurant that Mr Byrne had opened, backed by a group of investors who joined forces to open restaurant MCR in Manchester’s Spinningfields in December last year.
The investors include Gemma McGowan, who operates the iconic Isla Gladstone building in Liverpool’s Stanley Park, a popular events and conferencing venue, and is a director of Xenia Restaurant Group, and managing director of Xenia Hotel Group. Xenia Restaurant Group is behind Restaurant MCR.
Mr Byrne has been one of the UK’s leading chefs for more than two decades since receiving his first Michelin star aged 22.
