The catering and hospitality sector in Liverpool
- Executive Head Chef Salary (June 2019) in Liverpool: £45,000 a year / £21.89 per hour
- Sous Chef Salary (June 2019) in Liverpool: £26,746 a year / £12.86 per hour
- Chef de Partie Salary (June 2019) in Liverpool: £22,352 a year / £10.75 per hour
Liverpool is one of Britain’s most iconic cities. From The Beatles’ early appearances at the legendary Cavern Club to Liverpool FC’s glorious European triumphs, this port city on the River Mersey has long carved out a reputation for creativity and success. But when it comes to food and drink, Liverpool is probably no more than an afterthought. Thanks to some forward-thinking individuals and businesses, however, the region’s culinary scene is starting to turn heads.
Alongside Manchester and Leeds, Liverpool’s bar and restaurant industry is undergoing something of a golden age. In 2018, the city topped the tables for the fastest growing bar and restaurant scenes in the UK, with a whopping 408 new sites – an increase of 25.2% – opening in Liverpool in the previous five years. For catering and hospitality professionals, the opportunity to make a mark on the Scouse scene has never been stronger.
Given the gathering pace of the restaurant boom, it’s little surprise that a number of high-profile chefs have opened establishments in the city. Paul Askew’s The Art School champions seasonal and local ingredients and has received critical acclaim from the Michelin, Good Food and AA guides. Liverpudlian restaurateur and Sunday Brunch star Simon Rimmer owns three gastropubs in the city (two in Woolton and one in West Kirby), while TV presenter Nisha Katona brings the rich flavours of Indian street food to her Bold Street restaurant, Mowgli.
If you’re a chef looking to make a name for yourself, a number of industry-recognised training courses across Merseyside can help you upskill. In 2016, the city became the first in the North of England to offer the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts (RACA) Chefs Apprenticeship courses, which are regarded as the gold standard for chef training in Europe. Greenbank College also provides a number of catering and hospitality courses.
Liverpool’s bar and restaurant scene is award-winning, trailblazing and diverse. Simply put, it’s the place to be for catering and hospitality workers who want an alternative to the London rat race. With countless opportunities across the culinary universe – from sophisticated restaurants and indie bistros to boisterous bars and pop-up coffee stalls – the Liverpool dining boom shows no sign of slowing down. And thanks to competitive salaries, you don’t have to achieve your careers goals on a shoestring, either.
