A Liverpool bar has been given a makeover ahead of reopening following the lifting of lockdown restrictions.
The Vale Bar on Walton Vale also has a new outdoor beer garden and is undergoing renovations on the upper floor which is going to be transformed into a restaurant.
Business partners Eddie Kelly and Keith Prothero started the project last December and hope to have Mo’s Bistro @81, named after Keith’s late mum, open from June 21.
Eddie told the ECHO: “We have always thought of extending the bar over the years, so when Keith bought the building just over two years ago, the idea started to become reality.
“Keith has always thought about a possible restaurant/bistro upstairs, as the main bar downstairs is usually busy, customers don’t have to go anywhere else to eat and can enjoy staying local for a night out.
“Lockdown was a good excuse to do major renovations, as it didn’t interrupt anything in the main bar with us being closed. It has been a long process making two more floors above the bar, which had no access or stairs too and hasn’t seen the light of day since the early 1960s, no utilities, electricity, even floors were missing in some places.”
Eddie and Keith have named the new restaurant in memory of Keith’s mum Maureen Prothero who sadly passed away suddenly last October. Keith was very close to his mum and after a discussion with his sister Karen, who also works at the bar, they decided on the name to honour their mum.
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The restaurant will serve up tapas, freshly made pizzas and a large grill selection with new chef Matt Ambrose at the helm. Eddie added that they also plan to host regular monthly themed nights and fine dining.
The Vale Bar reopened on Friday (May 21) with queues of customers waiting outside the door even in the rain to go in.
Eddie said: “We had people waiting outside in the rain – it was great to see all our regulars again. it’s so lovely to be back open again. We just want to say thanks to all our customers and hope they like all the improvements we’ve made.”
