A swanky Liverpool restaurant has been named among the top 50 in Harden's Best UK Restaurants 2023 guide.
The Art School, based on Sugnall Street, is the only Liverpool city region restaurant to make the cut in the annual guide, which showcases the best restaurants across the country. There's more than 3,000 entries overall, with the comprehensive guide shining the spotlight on the UK's hospitality industry, including venues in the famed big cities, and smaller, lesser known sites spotted in towns and lesser known areas.
The Art School's chef patron Paul Askew has expressed his pride at the restaurant coming in at number 33 in the guide. The last 12 months have been eventful for the restaurant, with a number of high profile bookings and events.
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In December 2021, Paul and his team cooked for the G7 delegation, while in spring 2022, The Art School debuted at Topham House for the Grand National weekend. In December 2022, the team catered for the prestigious Turner Prize ceremony at St George's Hall, where artist Veronica Ryan was confirmed as the winner.
Of Harden's ranking, Paul said: "Making no.33 in Harden's 100 Best UK Restaurants 2023 is a huge achievement for us all and one we are incredibly proud of - our second successive year ranked close to the summit. And to be the city region's only entry also, I feel, shows recognition for what we continue to do at The Art School – creating a world-class fine-dining experience which starts from the moment guests join us to the moment they leave.
"Harden's are respected at the highest level and it's heartening for us to be back in there at number 33 out of over 3,000 overall restaurants and also to see a lot of fabulous new entries too – it shows just how innovative and resilient the gastronomic industry is here in the UK.
"And after a crazy 2022, you might think we'd be taking a breath, but no; we're returning to The Grand National in April at Topham House and also we will be involved with Eurovision and there are other plans for the year we can reveal soon."
Harden's entry on The Art School states: "Paul Askew's 'high-class' venue (next door to the Philharmonic) is the most commented on in 'The Pool' in our annual national diners' poll and wins extremely high scores for all aspects of the operation. 'Brilliant' cooking is the main talking point, providing 'very subtle flavours and textures from a varied and ambitious menu'."
It concludes with: "This is a place to savour and it is a mystery as to why Paul does not get recognition from the Michelin Guide."
The Art School can be found inside the stunning lantern room of the Victorian 1888 'Home for Destitute Children' building. The restaurant's sumptuous dining room hosts a range of seasonal menus which celebrate the best of the region's artisanal producers.
It can be found at 1 Sugnall St, Liverpool L7 7EB. You can view The Art School website here.
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