The inaugural Taste Liverpool. Drink Bordeaux took place over the Bank Holiday Jubilee weekend, attracting thousands of food and drink lovers across the city whilst heralding a bright future with Bordeaux Wine for the years ahead.
From The Town Hall and Martins Bank Building to The Bombed Out Church, the 4-day long festival brought into vibrant life the thriving gastronomic scene across the region in the most delicious weekend of the year.
Taste Liverpool. Drink Bordeaux was organised by Culture Liverpool, Marketing Liverpool, Liverpool BID and the festival’s Patron Paul Askew. With Bordeaux Wine the partnership will celebrate the food and drink cultures and wider hospitality and tourism markets of each city. Plans are in development for Liverpool to be the guest city at the Bordeaux Wine Festival in 2023 – more news will come on this soon.
During the Jubilee weekend, over 50 participating restaurants, cafes, food halls and bars had special festive menus whilst the Town Hall hosted sold out daily Bordeaux Wine Experiences and Martins Bank Building offered a brasserie service from The Art School. Packed free chef demos took place in The Bombed Out Church with guests including Simon Rimmer (Sunday Brunch), Lizzie Acker (GBBO), Gabriella Margiotta (Gabriella’s Kitchen), Paul Askew (The Art School) and Ellis Barrie (Lerpwl), a Producers’ Market ran in Derby Square offering wonderful artisanal wares and music from Good Tasting Music popped up across the city whilst The Kitchen Disco at St. Luke’s had everyone dancing between the cooking.
Liverpool’s Mayor Joanne Anderson says:
“Liverpool can proudly reflect on a fantastic inaugural Taste Liverpool. Drink Bordeaux festival. Together with Bordeaux Wine, we have perfectly demonstrated how our two cities can work together to create a truly special event, uniting our fabulous food and Bordeaux’s wonderful wine. It’s another step towards positioning Liverpool as a renowned gastronomic destination and I look forward to what the future of the festival holds.”
Bill Addy, Chief Executive of Liverpool BID Company, says:
“I am delighted that the critical private sector funding from the BID enabled the initial Taste Liverpool. Drink Bordeaux to be the success it has been. We have been working hard to bring the private and public sector together to create Taste Liverpool. Drink Bordeaux. It’s a pivotal step forward for the city with our strategy for the key hospitality and tourism sectors which do so much to support the wider economic function of the city’s growth.”
Paul Askew, Chef Patron of The Art School and Patron of Taste Liverpool. Drink Bordeaux, adds:
“It’s always been my belief we can elevate the Liverpool city region’s culinary and gastronomic reputation to international standards and make Liverpool a must-visit city. We already have a fantastic family-like relationship with the team at Bordeaux Wine and I can’t wait to build on this further.”
Allan Sichel, Bordeaux Wine President, continues:
“We are delighted with the great success of this first edition of Taste Liverpool. Drink Bordeaux. Many interested and passionate visitors came to taste our Bordeaux wines at the Town Hall and in many Liverpool restaurants. The growers were very enthusiastic in explaining their work, their philosophy and their wine. The whole delegation is very grateful for Liverpool’s hospitality as everyone made them feel so welcome. The ties between Liverpool and Bordeaux are strong.”
And Julia Huf, the festival’s Project Director, concludes:
“Wow! We are bowled over and humbled by the response to Taste Liverpool. Drink Bordeaux. It’s been an incredible weekend all around and to see how the city has embraced it is fabulous. We are all very excited for what 2023 and beyond can bring, with Liverpool and Bordeaux working together as two great culinary cities.”
