SERIES TWO – EDITION TWELVE
In edition twelve of our ‘Faces behind the Business’ series, we caught up with Dave Critchley, Executive Head Chef of Luban Restaurant; a Tianjin-inspired restaurant.
When did you first get into the industry?
At the age of 15 I rocked up at the local pub The Halway House in Childwall and asked if they had a Saturday Job ,little did I know then that this would be the start of a 23 year career (so far ) in hospitality.
How long have you worked at Luban Restaurant and what is your job role?
I started working for Lu Ban in July 2019 and was hired as Executive Head Chef of the brand. At this point we were still awaiting the completion of the restaurant. I travelled out to Tianjin in China in August for research, taking in the culture and the cuisine of the region and to meet our partners .
What is Luban Restaurant ethos?
At Lu Ban we bring an experience to our guests, not only do we want to bring the amazing food of Tianjin to Liverpool, we want to showcase the culture and knowledge that we have experienced in China to everyone who comes through our doors. We also spend a lot of our time ensuring not only our guests are well looked after but also our staff, suppliers and our local communities. We like to do things the right way and hopefully make a positive impact on the industry .
What’s the best bit of advice you could give to anyone looking at working in your line of work?
It’s a tough industry and it can be a tough life, with long hours and a lot of stress. But its also a really enjoyable job as well. Anyone can make a great career out of hospitality as long as you have the right attitude and eagerness to learn. The experiences and people you meet cant be matched , and the opportunituies are absolutely endless.. I went from washing dishes in the local pub round the corner to becoming Executive head chef of some of the top restaurants in the region and travelling across the world and being trained by one of the top chefs in China!
What do you love most about Liverpool?
Absolutely everything! This is my city , born and raised Im fiercely proud of it. It has such an amazing sense of identity and community that cant be matched anywhere else .The food and drink scene is just brilliant and the culture and history that’s shaped us is fascinating. Love it!
If you could describe your business in 3 words what would they be?
Hospitality, Culture , Learning.
Recently announced Dave is set to compete in the 16th series of Great British Menu for 2021, which starts on Wednesday 24th March on BBC Two at 8.00pm.
Follow @lubanliverpool or visit www.lubanrestaurant.co.uk
Are you a business in the Liverpool City Region and want to feature in our Faces Behind the Business series? Contact us now by emailing hello@explore-liverpool.com or get us on WhatsApp on 07568 532 537.
