Bar duo launch new Liverpool venture

MARK Friend and Steve Slater have opened a new pub inside a landmark building in Liverpool’s after securing funding from The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).  

They have invested more than £250,000 to launch the Hub Alehouse & Kitchen inside the Casartelli building on Hanover Street. The venture has created 38 jobs. 

The partners opened their first restaurant, Bistro Pierre, in the Cavern Quarter in 2003.  Three years later the opened Bistro Jacques on Hardman Street and in 2009 they opened Bistro Franc on Hanover Street. They now employ 110 people across their four restaurants.

The Casartelli Building was built in 1760 on behalf of the wealthy Italian Casartelli family, who ran their scientific instruments manufacturing business from the site. It later became a wine warehouse before falling into disrepair. 

In 2001 the original building was declared unsafe and was demolished but an exact replica was erected in 2007 using the original material.    

Mr Friend said: “It has taken a lot of hard work and effort to reach this stage and we are very pleased to welcome our first customers. Although Steve and I have planned to open a fourth outlet in Liverpool for some time, we wanted to find the right location to introduce a fresh concept into the market.”