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THE ART SCHOOL IS HONOURED TO BE THE CITY REGION ’ S ONLY RESTAURANT IN HARDEN ’ S 100 BEST UK RESTAURANTS 2023
BY PAUL ASKEW , CHEF PATRON OF THE ART SCHOOL RESTAURANT
I am extremely proud to write that for this coming year The Art School is the city region ’ s only restaurant to make the prestigious Harden ’ s 100 Best UK Restaurants for 2023 .
The annual guide features the best of the best , with over 2800 further entries in total , it is the most comprehensive and detailed look into the UK ’ s dining scene , from major cities and towns to tiny hideaways . Myself and the team are immensely proud of reaching no . 33 this year after what was their biggest year to date in 2022 .
Just over a year ago in December 21 ’ we cooked for the G7 delegation and almost a year later we had the immense honour to cater for The Turner Prize which took place in the spectacular St George ’ s Hall in December just gone . The year also included debuting at The Grand National in April , for which 2023 ’ preparations are underway , bringing fine-dining to Topham House where The Art School has been recreated . I also helped to launch Taste Liverpool . Drink Bordeaux in June as its patron whilst running the Bordeaux Bar au Vin in the spectacular Martins Bank Building during the festival .
Making no . 33 in Harden ’ s 100 Best UK Restaurants 2023 is a huge achievement for us all and one we are incredibly proud of - our second successive year ranked close to the summit . And to be the city region ’ s only entry also I feel shows recognition for what we continue to do at The Art School – creating a world-class fine-dining experience which starts from the moment guests join us to the moment they leave . Harden ’ s are respected at the highest level and it ’ s heartening for us to be back in there at no . 33 out of almost 3000 overall restaurants and also to see a lot of fabulous new entries too – it shows just how innovative and resilient the gastronomic industry is here in the UK . And after a crazy 2022 you might think we ’ d be taking a breath , but no ; we ’ re returning to The Grand National in April at Topham House and also we will be involved with Eurovision and there are other plans for the year we can reveal soon .
Harden ’ s comments on The Art School say : “ Paul Askew ’ s ‘ high-class ’ venue (‘ next door to the Philharmonic ’) is the most commented on in ‘ The Pool ’ in our annual national diners ’ poll and wins extremely high scores for all aspects of the operation . ‘ Brilliant ’ cooking is the main talking point , providing ‘ very subtle flavours and textures from a varied and ambitious menu .’” It concludes with : ‘ This is a place to savour and it is a mystery as to why Paul does not get recognition from the Michelin Guide .’”
January is a great time of year for forward planning and the rest of the year is looking incredibly busy , with the Golf Open at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club Hoylake also returning , the anniversary of the battle of the Atlantic and some food & drink celebrations in the Autumn months which I will be revealing to our readers soon . Not forgetting the coronation of King Charles III … something tells me that food & drink is going to be playing a massive role in the celebration of all of these events , and we want to make sure that The Art School , Barnacle and the beautiful artisan producers of the Liverpool City Region are at the forefront .
Until the next issue , Yours as ever , Paul Askew x
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