In our return of the Faces Behind The Business series at Explore Liverpool, we spoke to Sophie Joyce, who works at Blackstock Market and is from Bootle.
Blackstock Market is a large food, drink and entertainment venue on Blackstock Street in Liverpool, combining street food, bars, live music and the Hot Water Comedy Club into one all-in-one hub.
How long have you been part of Blackstock Market and what is your role there?
I started off in 2021 in Hot Water Comedy Club when it was in Hardman Street as a bartender, then once Blackstock Market opened in 2023, I followed them over.
Since then, I have worked my way up to bar supervisor and was recently promoted to bar manager.
What inspired you to work in this industry?
I started off in hospitality and realised how much I really enjoyed the fast-paced working environment.
Since starting in hospitality, my passion has grown for working behind the bar.
I enjoy making sure the staff are happy, but also making sure all the customers that walk through the door have a great night out.
What’s a typical day like for you at Blackstock Market?
No two days at Blackstock Market are ever the same.
As a bar manager, you get to experience a wide range of responsibilities, from serving customers and creating a great atmosphere to handling stock counts and making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.
What’s the first thing that puts a smile on your face when working at Blackstock Market?
It has to be the atmosphere.
As soon as you walk into the venue, you can go from listening to live music and eating & drinking, to watching a comedy show all in one night.
The overall vibe itself is always good.
What makes Blackstock Market a special place to work?
The thing that makes Blackstock special is definitely how quickly things change.
There’s always something going on behind the scenes that, as a customer, you wouldn’t be aware of.
Every time you visit, there’s always something new to explore, and I love talking to customers about the things they haven’t discovered yet.
I also think how close the management team is makes this a special place to work.
We all get on so well and work well together, the whole team is like one big family.
What has been your most memorable moment working at Blackstock Market so far?
There have been a few memorable moments for me, falling down the stairs, doing my first-ever fire walk, after being promoted to bar manager.
I’ve also had some of the most amazing nights out up on the roof last summer, as well as on New Year’s Eve, which was an amazing one to remember.
What do you enjoy most about working in Liverpool?
My favourite thing about working in Liverpool is how welcoming and friendly everyone is who walks through the door.
What does the future look like for Blackstock Market?
I’m pretty sure the future for Blackstock is strong.
Each and every day is different, there is always new stuff opening and new adventures to take.
If someone was visiting Blackstock Market for the first time, what would you recommend they try or experience?
I would recommend they go watch any of our comedy shows.
If you’re visiting in summer, you have to come to the rooftop for our events up there as they’re amazing.
I also recommend they try our very own whisky & water, where you can find over 400 different whiskeys, but not in one night!
I’d also recommend getting some food from one of our incredible food vendors, try as much as you can from as many as you can!
You can follow Blackstock Market on Instagram here and check out their website here.
