A series of pop-up teaser events took place during February and March to herald the addition of brand new experimental restaurant Oktopus to Liverpool’s food and drink scene.
Liverpool is in the midst of pop-up mania. Here today and gone tomorrow, what is it that attracts us so much to the world of pop-up? Especially ones with food. Part of it is the excitement of being apart of something that wont be here for very long and if you agree, you’re going to love the sound of Oktopus. Launched by the team behind the city’s Black Lodge Brewery, a permanent restaurant has just opened after a series of successful pop-up events at Buyers Club, just off Hardman Street. Oktopus was devised to showcase a number of Black Lodge’s own-brewed craft beers which are paired with menus by Christopher Ineson, formally Head Chef of Maray and The Clove Hitch, who has recently worked with Mowgli founder Nisha Katona & Penguin Publishing on her upcoming cookbooks.
Oktopus is the definition of a hidden gem. So much so, that Google Maps didn’t even have a clue what we were on about when trying to find it. It is just beyond the Old Blind School, a narrow corridor of nothingness that doesn’t look like anything special. But, how often we’ve found that down these unassuming roads we come across the most special of spaces. Speaking about the concept, Oktopus Head Chef Christopher Ineson commented: “We thought it was a great opportunity to use the Black Lodge Brewery to offer a glimpse of what Oktopus on Hardman Street will be about; clean, simple & seasonal cooking with a focus on the highest quality vegetables & seafood, weekly changing menus pairing dishes with beers on sale at the brewery”
The launch menu includes Parisian Gnocchi with pink goats cheese, beet crisps and thai basil, Lamb belly with white anchovies, cumin soubise, fried parsnips and braised leeks, plus cured Sea Trout with cucumbers, buttermilk labneh. Black Lodge Brewery opened its doors in December 2015 and is a venture by Paul Seiffert who established Liverpool Craft Beer, Rob Tufnell of The Clove Hitch and 23 Club, and creative agency Smiling Wolf. If you haven’t been yet, make sure you do as it’s such a good place for a beer. The hops headquarters of The Baltic Triangle.
The Brewery has picked up a number of industry awards since it launched, including Beer of the Festival at Craft Beer Calling Newcastle, for its Exotic Garden Pale Ale, which was brewed in collaboration with LEAF, and has recently upgraded its brewing kit so it can now offer wholesale lines to customers. They open their doors officially to the public as of April 21st and menus can be found at www.oktopus-restaurant.com or by calling Black Lodge Brewery on 07565 299 879 or by emailing hello@oktopus-restaurant.com.
Special thanks to Secret Diners Club for the featured image.
Address: 24 Hardman St, Liverpool L1 9AX
