AUTUMN IS UPON US
W L
AUTUMN IS UPON US
BY PAUL ASKEW , CHEF PATRON OF THE ART SCHOOL RESTAURANT
Greetings to you all , dearest readers , and my warmest welcome to autumn .
This of course marks our 10th anniversary at The Art School . We ’ ve been building up to this truly momentous occasion since we unveiled Emma Rodger ’ s spectacular Le Cochon Volant last year , which takes pride of place in The Moriarty Room .
Myself and my team can ’ t wait to celebrate with you all and the excitement is really building . We ’ ve got some great events lined up as we raise a glass or two to our decade , including Lynda La Plante for a special evening to celebrate the launch of her memoir . More events will be announced soon .
We also have Christmas to look forward to with our brochure now available and festive dates ready to book – more on that a little later .
When I think of all that ’ s happened , it ’ s been a life-changing journey to reach a decade of The Art School and for everyone who is part of our story . We took a leap of faith back in 2014 when we first set eyes upon our fledgling home on Sugnall Street and the adventure has not stopped . My treasured team including Vince , Rob , Cathy , Esther and Sarah have been with me for the journey so far and continue to inform how we evolve as a bastion of fine-dining in the region . Then there ’ s my son Harry who ’ s an integral part of all we do and of course my wonderful wife Helen supporting us .
Everything at The Art School is dedicated to creating a world-class experience which starts from the moment you join us to the moment you leave . We are wedded to the relentless pursuit of refining and enhancing every guest ’ s experience and this remains the heart of our work .
We ’ ve had a truly fantastic year so far including everything from our third year at The Grand National with The Jockey Club to embarking on a fantastic adventure to see our friends in Bordeaux for the spectacular Fête le Vin in June . There I had the grand honour to curate the Launch Lunch at The Town Hall for one hundred esteemed guests . And at The Art School , we ’ ve welcomed global dignitaries and Nobel Prize winners to world-class sports figures and leading lights in arts , culture , science and politics .
With Christmas now approaching , we look forward to not only welcoming you during this wonderful celebratory time but to also reflect on the journey myself and my team at The Art School have embarked on to get us here . I have immense passion and pride for Liverpool . More than anything I want the city to thrive . We should collectively aim high and for the accolades and awards to keep coming , including Timeout naming Liverpool the 11th best city in the world for food this year which is very much deserved for everyone ’ s collective efforts . As you will know by now , my ultimate goal is to help raise Liverpool ’ s reputation as a destination for gastronomic excellence and maintain capital standards in our wonderful city . My work has always been about celebrating and championing Liverpool , with The Art School and its reputation helping the city region grow .
And with Christmas coming , eleven pipers are most certainly piping as we invite you to dine with us during the forthcoming festive season and our bounty of the finest seasonal menus with exquisite wines , champagnes and cocktails .
This month heralds the opening of our bookings for Christmas . We relish the chance to be creative with the abundance of seasonal produce available , reflected in our wondrous display of contemporary fine-dining . An array of menus are on offer this Christmas in the Lantern Room , from full festive Taster Menu to prix fixe , through to Excellence , Christmas Eve and finally New Year ’ s Eve with an early prix fixe service followed by a Celebration Menu to see out the year in the finest of styles . We can ’ t wait to welcome you .
In addition , our beautiful Victorian home on Sugnall Street features The Moriarty Room and The Art School ’ s Tasting Room . They are available to book for private Christmas gatherings , parties and events from the very intimate to the more sizeable – please enquire to find out more . And my Christmas Emporium also returns and includes a fantastic selection of gift ideas for loved ones and vouchers are also available . Then lastly , in The Art School Cellars , Afternoon Christmas Tea takes place including selections of sumptuous sandwiches , cakes , desserts , tea and coffee and fizz . My biggest thanks as always go to each and every one of you who continues to support The Art School in all we do and to my incredible team who make everything happen .
With my best wishes , Paul Askew x
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