CHRISTMAS IS NEAR
W L
CHRISTMAS IS NEAR
BY PAUL ASKEW , CHEF PATRON OF THE ART SCHOOL RESTAURANT
Welcome , dear reader , to the final chapter of 2023 as we behold Christmas and the New Year in all their gilded glories .
As December beckons , the busiest few weeks at The Art School and for the region ’ s hospitality industry begin . We are fortunate that bookings are looking healthy for this critical period yet we must not rest on our laurels – as always , there is much to do and 2024 is going to be our most significant year so far with our 10th anniversary to come in September .
There is time to take a moment and look back across 2023 . The Art School has been the focus of many great things , both from Sugnall Street as we work seasonally and sustainably to our external endeavours including The Grand National in April and being involved in some of the stellar events which crowned Eurovision in May . We unveiled Le Cochon Volant – The Flying Pig - and welcomed our friends and supporters for an epic party in September as we entered our 10th anniversary year . I ’ m honoured to have been made a Disciple of Escoffier in 2023 and proudly we are a UK top 50 restaurant with Harden ’ s . I continue to volunteer my time at Hugh Baird College and other sites across the North-West for Master Classes with the students and to find and nurture the next generation of talent . We ’ ve also visited Bordeaux and I ’ ve recently been truffle hunting in Italy which was a fantastic experience . It ’ s been quite the year . And as always , we keep going and maintain our gastronomic principles set to the highest standards at The Art School , the heart of all we do .
So now the festive season is in full flow . The trees are up . Winter ’ s chill pervades . The season ’ s slow segue takes us into the long and darker nights and shorter days . It ’ s my favourite time of year , I think , because it ’ s a time of celebration and reflection , of looking back and planning ahead . We ’ ve crafted I believe some of our strongest festive menus ever for you – from prix fixe to the full tasting experience – using the goodness ripe and ready around us right now from the region .
Christmas is always a special time for me as the year comes to a celebratory climax . If you ’ re looking to buy a special someone something very special , my Christmas Emporium is packed with the finest festive goodies and treats including our divine hampers and vouchers for loved ones . We then see out 2023 with our New Year ’ s Eve events , with an early prix fixe service followed by a Celebration Menu to see out the year in the finest of styles . If you ’ re thinking to join us this Christmas , now really is the time to get booking .
Then we enter the build up to September 2024 . There we will reach a decade of The Art School and this will be a momentous celebration . It ’ s been a lifechanging journey to get here for everyone who is part of our story – we took that wild leap of faith back in 2014 when we first set eyes upon our fledgling home and the adventure has not stopped for any of us . A journey we hoped would follow this sort of path , yet to be able to even get close to 10 years is truly momentous for us and testament to everyone ’ s hard work who are part of this story .
It ’ s always important to me to begin each year strongly and I feel that January 2024 is arguably shaping up to be our best ever . And what better way to welcome some of my dearest gastronomic friends to cook with me and also to share their experiences with you - we have a run of four very special Thursday dates to choose from .
So if you ’ d like to join me with these legendary figures , please do not delay . January 11th features ‘ A farewell to Le Gavroche ’ with Steven Doherty MCA , followed by January 18th and a special evening with James Golding of ‘ The Pig ’ & Royal Academy of Culinary Arts . Then on January 25th Gary Jones is warmly welcomed , recently of Le Manoir aux Quat ' Saisons and he ’ s a leading Michelin-starred chef from the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts . Then finally on February 1st , my good old friend Simon Rimmer of Greens and Sunday Brunch is special guest at The Art School . Tickets for these events are already flying out rather swiftly .
To conclude , we wish you all the most wonderful Christmas with your loved ones and all the very best for what the New Year brings . My incredible team at The Art School we be working hard over the next few weeks , then there ’ s a much needed break to begin January .
We could not do what we do without your continued support .
And to fondly finish here with you for 2023 - on the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me : 10 lords a-leaping .
With much love as always , Chef Patron Paul Askew x
38 wirrallife . com