A BUSY 2025 AHEAD ...
W L
A BUSY 2025 AHEAD ...
BY PAUL ASKEW , CHEF PATRON OF THE ART SCHOOL RESTAURANT
Welcome , dear reader , to 2025 .
I hope this finds you and your loved ones very well and you had a fantastic festive period .
As we leave January behind us , I sense how life shifts gear from now , putting the darkest weeks behind us . Because whisper it – whilst there are still a few more shorter days to come , already they are getting lighter for longer . Spring is really not too far away with its abundance of new produce to work with . This excites me greatly , as always .
We ’ ve got lots to look forward to . Valentine ’ s Day at The Art School this year takes place on Friday 14th February and myself and my team are ready to welcome everyone wishing to celebrate this very special day in Liverpool .
For me , Valentine ’ s Day is always one of the biggest dates in the gastronomic calendar . This February , we will immerse guests in the exquisite splendour and beautiful details of our Sugnall Street home . As always , we continue to champion and represent the city region ’ s independent suppliers , dedicated to seasonality and sustainability through our world-class gastronomy , alongside a global wine list from some of the finest vineyards . The Art School ’ s 10th anniversary year also continues , which officially began in September 2024 and continues this year – and what an anniversary it ’ s been so far .
So for Valentine ’ s Day , our lunch and early evening prix fixe service is available , followed by a Celebration Menu for our complete taster experience . Both are available with an optional wine flight to enhance the experience even further for this most romantic of occasions and make it even more indulgent . Then over in The Moriarty Room , we ’ re celebrating love in all of its wondrous forms with Penhaligon ’ s and their elegant fragrance . A three-course menu including drinks and a Penhaligon ’ s voucher is included . And downstairs in The Art School Cellars , there ’ s a Valentine ’ s Afternoon Tea service from 2-4pm and a live singer from 6-10pm for pre and post-dinner drinks . ambassadors which is a huge honour for us . For this evening , we ’ ve got a taster menu paired to their exceptional wines . Then Mother ’ s Day is in March and bookings are already coming in so don ’ t delay if you want to dine with your family and loved ones .
And a little later , in April we return for our fourth year at The Grand National in April at Topham House . We are absolutely thrilled with our relationship with The Jockey Club . Since 2022 we ’ ve proudly served the world ’ s greatest horse racing event ’ s patrons in the magnificent setting . Quite simply , there ’ s no other sporting event like The Grand National and we ’ re honoured to part of their story . And of course , showcasing some of the region ’ s finest produce and exquisite global wines helps tell the wonderful story of Liverpool ’ s food and drink ambition , creativity and stature too , in a perfect pairing . I ’ m so proud of every member of staff who creates this incredible Art School experience on site and I also want to say huge thanks to our wonderful customers and their continued support for what we do at The Grand National with The Jockey Club . We can ’ t wait to welcome everyone back in April . More events will be announced in due course and there ’ s much to look forward to in 2025 .
My commitment is always to champion what local many farmers , artisans , cultivators and more grow around us . And already the land is adjusting and readying itself for the new bounty . Spring is getting closer and it will bring an abundance asparagus , Wirral watercress , wild garlic , new season lamb from Edge and Sons and Jersey royals – wonderful ingredients to work with . I love thinking of the seasons , to richly decadent Kings Caviar which is available most of the year and a magnificent treat , to James Peat and his tractor in Southport , extracting shrimp from the sand . Or the Edge family and their fabulous cuts of meat to the kaleidoscope of colours at Growing Fields where produce of every colour grows . Spring will soon be with us .
With much love as always , Chef Patron Paul Askew x
Next up , we ’ ve got Antinori back for a Winemakers Dinner on Thursday 20th February . They are the number one wine producer in the world who chose The Art School to be their northern
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