Wirral Life July 2020 | Page 34

W L FOOD & DRINK IT’S GREAT TO BE BACK! BY PAUL ASKEW, CHEF PATRON OF THE ART SCHOOL RESTAURANT 104 days, 2,496 hours, 149,760 minutes. Friday 20th March is a date that will stay with me for the rest of my days. It’s the day we last welcomed guests to The Art School Restaurant. Everything has changed in those 104 days. Many will have lost loved ones and friends and for you I send my condolences and warmest regards. After the darkness comes the light and 4th July 2020 marks the first ray of light for The Art School and our restaurant team. We will reopen the Restaurant, Moriarty Private Dining Room (limited to 12 guests from 2 households) and The Art School Cellars on Saturday 4th July 2020. Of course, some things have changed since you were last with us. To ensure the safety of our guests and staff we have implemented a number of new measures, we believe these go above and beyond what is required. Our teams will greet and serve you wearing visors, each member of staff will be temperature checked prior to starting their shift and additional perspex screening has been installed in our kitchen area. We would respectfully ask you to play your part and not to join us if you are showing any signs of Covid-19. Our table plan has changed and we have removed a number of tables from service to ensure we adhere to the latest social distance guidelines. Our operating hours have also changed to allow us to create 2 team bubbles. The restaurant will be open from Thursday to Sunday, it will be closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Our priority has always been the comfort and safety of our guests, in that regard nothing has changed, our approach to using the finest local, seasonal and responsibly sourced produce and ingredients is also unchanged. Our menus have been updated, although we will continue to offer Prix Fixe, Excellence and Tasting menus. Lunchtime service in the restaurant will be 12-2pm Thursday to Saturday, with Prix Fixe and Excellence menus available, dinner service will be 6pm- 9.15pm (last sitting) serving Excellence and Tasting menus. For the first time we will offer afternoon tea in the restaurant from 2pm-4pm on Thursday - Saturday, with a choice of speciality tea, Prosecco or Champagne. Perhaps our biggest change to the operation is Sunday opening, we will open 12pm - 5pm with two sittings serving Prix Fixe, Excellence and a special weekly changing Sunday roast, served from our carving trolley. Full details of our openings and new menus can be found on our website, we have reduced the number of tables we can accommodate so early booking is advised. Our Cellars bar will open Thursday - Saturday 2pm - 11pm and Sunday 2-9pm, but restricted to 20 guests. The Cellars housing our Emporium of Gourmet Food and Fine Wines which is open Tuesday - Sunday from 10am and Sundays from 2pm. I’ve been delighted with the initial success of the Emporium, we’ve sent Art School love to fathers across the UK, from Devon to Scotland and major cities in-between. Our range of produce will develop over the coming weeks, and as we open up the Cellars bar once more you can enjoy coffee and pastries whilst you browse. I look forward to welcoming the brigade back and we very much forward to welcoming you back to the restaurant and bar. With Love Chef Askew 34 wirrallife.com