The Ivy gets go-ahead for first Liverpool restaurant
Liverpool City Council has given the group the go-ahead to convert the Grade-I listed former Bank of England building on Castle Street into a restaurant.
Alongside its two sites in Manchester, it will be the group’s third outpost in north-west England.
Troia (UK) Restaurants, which trades as The Ivy Group, applied through development consultancy Pegasus Group for the change of use from bank to restaurant, as well as for external and signage alterations, which were also granted.
A planning statement submitted by Pegasus said: “The Ivy Brasserie will open seven days a week and will offer a full service from breakfast through to dinner. The menu will feature contemporary and classic signature dishes from the Ivy’s extensive menu and has been designed to meet the needs and desires of any occasion.”
News of the Liverpool site comes less than a month after reports suggested that a sale of Troia is imminent, with owner Richard Caring set to sell his entire share in the business to an as yet unidentified buyer.
The Ivy operates some 40 sites across the UK under its core brand and a further eight restaurants under its spinoff concept, The Ivy Asia.
In a statement issued following the planning decision, a spokesperson for Pegasus Group said: “Liverpool has an array of beautiful, historic buildings and we’re very pleased to have played our part in bringing 31 Castle Street back to life.
“The Ivy is much-loved across the UK and this new operation will further bolster the city’s burgeoning premium hospitality offering.
“We would like to thank the officers at Liverpool City Council for being proactive both at the pre-application stage and during the determination of the applications and will look upon the transformation of this building with particular interest and excitement.”
