Liverpool has been abuzz recently with the opening of The Club House, a Hamptons style “pub” on Chavasse Park.
Brought to us by the New World Trading Company, this is the 12th venue for the company who also own The Smugglers Cove in the Albert Dock as well as the Botanist and Trading House brands in Newcastle, Leeds, Birmingham…. the list goes on!
The interior decor of The Club House is inspired by a New England-style Hamptons beach house with a nautical theme, perhaps paying homage to Liverpool’s port history. White panelled walls and a grand staircase greet you as you enter. There is a stunning feature chandelier made from 64 suspended champagne flutes and wine glasses. Photographs and keepsakes are dotted around which make you feel as though you’re in someone’s home.
Upstairs there is a wrap around terrace with double doors opening into a dining room which accommodates up to 15 guests for private parties. There is an open kitchen which prepares deli style meals which are available all day every day. The food is simple but hearty.
The owners have deliberately steered the venue away from being called a restaurant, preferring for it to be seen as a relaxed pub. There is a beer tasting room complete with self-service taps. There will also be Ale Tasting Masterclasses available here, and cocktails are served on draught. Yes really, cocktails on draught! Apparently they are made fresh on site and then poured through draught. The garnishes and juices are all added in after the draught is poured so that it's fresh.
Outside the pavilion-style building there is an outside kitchen and BBQ for rotisserie style dishes, the wonderful smells waft out as you walk past. There is a a huge outdoor seating area that can cater for up to 400 covers. This is sure to be a hit when the sun’s out!
Once we had been shown to our table on the upstairs terrace, we ordered a glass of Prosecco each while we inspected the menu. We were introduced to our waiter, Chris, who was excellent. All of the team provided fantastic service with more than £100,000 apparently being invested solely in staff training prior to the launch last week.
We began by ordering a baked Camembert and fruit starter to share for £6.95. The hot melted cheese drizzled with sweet honey served on soft warmed bread went down a treat.
We then both chose from the deli board menu which offers four choices for £9.95 all served with fresh warm Turkish flatbread. I opted for hummus, home-dried tomatoes, potato salad and a chunk of Lancashire blue cheese. My friend chose the same tomato and potato dishes but with poached salmon and pomegranate and minted pearl couscous. The deli boards are a great option, allowing you to choose lots of little dishes which can be shared within a group. There are also some pub food favourites on the menu with a selection of classic pies, burgers and steaks.
Having convinced ourselves that our mains were relatively “healthy”, we allowed ourselves some dessert, all of which are priced at £4.95. Mine was a warm apple crumble with custard while my friend had a Hanging Strawberry, Marshmallow and Chocolate Kebab. This is definitely the star of the menu consisting of strawberries and marshmallows on a skewer while Sailor Jerry chocolate sauce is poured as it is served at the table, allowing the chocolate to slowly trickle down the hanging kebab. You can also opt for this dessert without the rum although I can’t imagine many people will.
After our desserts we sat for a while enjoying the live music. The music is a mixture of new and old and played on a piano or guitar. Live music will feature every evening as well as Sunday afternoons.
There’s definitely a bit of theatre to The Club House. I love the concept and think it’s a brilliant new addition to Liverpool. The location is perfect. You can do a little shopping in Liverpool One and then pop up to Chavasse Park for some food and drinks with beautiful views across the Liverpool docks.
I’m looking forward to returning in the summer to sit outside in a deckchair with a cocktail in hand. The Club House is sure to be Liverpool’s al fresco dining destination this summer!
Chavasse Park, Liverpool One, L2 9SQ
0151 709 5366