Announced late 2024, the group behind PINS Social Club is hard at work redeveloping 60 Hope Street into their latest venture, The Dog & Collar Pub.
With the pub set to open in the next few months, they have announced today that Liverpool Chef and Great British Menu 2025 contestant Livia Alarcon will be joining the team as Head Chef.
Livia is set to represent the North West in this year’s series of Great British Menu, the show’s 20th anniversary.
Appearing in her first heat tonight, Tuesday 28th January at 8pm on BBC TWO, the Liverpool born Chef is challenged with creating dishes that honor regional and national historical figures for presenter Andi Oliver as well as judges, Tom Kerridge, Ed Gamble and Scottish Michellin starred Chef, Lorna McNee, a former champion of champions on Great British Menu. The winning dishes are due to be served at a magnificent historical banquet at Blenheim Palace.
Joining the industry aged 16, Livia has pushed herself hard to land roles at some of the City’s favourite independents such as Maray, where she was head chef at just 21 years of age, more recently going it alone establishing her own brands, such as La Bistroteca in the Baltic Market and appearing at London’s Meatopia.
“My goal for The Dog & Collar is to add another strong name to Liverpool’s food scene. I want to celebrate all aspects of ‘home’ with the menu we develop here. The site is beautiful, a cherished Liverpool address. I don’t want to overcomplicate things and instead want to celebrate British produce in a pub setting, pulling influence and inspiration from the North, my culture and upbringing.
“The producers we work with must fit into that. I’ve spent a lot of time finding the right suppliers. I have to be proud to share their story and want to introduce a new wave of information, knowledge and flavour to Liverpool. Seasonality is always a must, we won’t be getting that wrong at The Dog & Collar!
The menu Livia has developed is predominantly cooked over open fire, a process and technique that is quickly becoming a signature style for her,
“Cooking over fire is mesmerising. There’s a real art and skill to it, as there is to all aspects of cooking, but recently cooking over fire has captured my imagination. I don’t think there’s a better flavour profile than that of smoke + fire + food.
Having first appeared on our screens as part of Jason Atherton’s Chefs Brigade in 2019, Livia accepted roles in Glasgow before heading back to Liverpool where she became Head Chef at Queen’s Bistro, where she cooked for food critic and writer Jay Rayner. Though she feels there’s a definite and conscious effort on TV to challenge perceptions of who can be a professional chef, there’s still work to be done in the kitchens across the city,
“The industry is still very male dominated, but I use this to my advantage. It allows me to push myself further and hopefully accelerate a change in perception. I’m proud to represent a minority in our industry and I continue to remind myself of this when pushing for personal goals and wider female recognition.
“There’s a lot of people in the city pushing the local industry forward, but I still believe we can do much better. If I said it was perfect as it is, I’d be undermining my own values.
Bookings will be made available in the coming weeks via dogandcollarpub.co.uk – to stay up to date with openings and bookings please join our mailing list by visiting dogandcollarpub.co.uk
About The Dog & Collar Pub
The Dog & Collar Pub is the latest venture from the team behind PINS Social Club as they look to expand and diversify their portfolio.
The pub which is located at one of Liverpool’s most loved addresses, 60 Hope Street, will see return of an elevated dining experience to the first floor of the property, whilst the upper ground Taproom and lower ground Tavern are to be converted into a traditional public house, reminiscent of Chesire country pubs, as well as some of London’s recently revived and elevated watering holes. The name, The Dog & Collar, is a playful nod to the building’s proximity to both the Anglican and Catholic Cathedrals, located at either end of Hope Street.
About Livia Alarcon
Livia Alarcon is a Liverpool born and bred chef from Wavertree.
Having started her career at 16 years old, Livia has featured on TV, held a number of Head Chefs roles and opened her own pop-ups and brands, as well as representing herself at national festivals, all in a short pace of time.
Her career so far includes highlights:
Head Chef at Maray Bold Street – Her first role as a kitchen leader at the age of 21, where she received mentions in the Good Food Guide 2018 and 2019.
Featured on Jason Atherton’s BBC 2 show Chefs Brigade
Head Chef at Queens wine bar & bistro – Exhibited at Meatopia, London. Cooked for and reviewed by Jay Rayner. And featured in the Guardian on Mother’s day.
Owner of Liverpool based operators La Bistroteca, Chin Zano and Pizzoteca.