A Different Discount.

 

If you share our mutual love of Liverpool’s independent scene, you may be interested to read about a discount card that allows you to take advantage of the best food and drinks in the city, at a fraction of the price!

As you will know, you cannot step foot into High Street businesses such as Tesco, McDonalds or Nando’s without being offered a discount card/loyalty card of some sorts. These cards may seem to some as extremely handy but why choose to own a card that offers discounts in just one store?

As of last August, it is possible to get your hands on a discount card that will not only help maintain trade for small local businesses but also open your eyes to a whole range of products that small businesses in this city have to offer. After all, Liverpool is renowned for its culture therefore it is important to make sure these charismatic, and sometimes quirky stores, have a chance to thrive in a country that seems to be drowned by large profit making corporations.

The Independent liverpool discount card entitles you to discounts in over 50 independent stores across the city and can be yours for just £10.

Maybe catching up with friends over a latte is your thing? Or maybe you are trying to find a costume for your best friend’s birthday party? Either way, there is almost certainly a space in your wallet for this one. The discount card offers exclusive bargains at bars, café’s, restaurants, clothes shops, massage parlours… the list goes on.

10% off on Tuesdays and Wednesday’s at Whisky Business is a personal favourite of ours but there are also some other hidden gems that could leave you with a few more pennies in your pocket. For example, 20% off for a haircut at Root 69 on Hanover Street and 10% off your repairs at Geeks in the City on Smithdown Road the next time your laptop decides to break down.

Why don’t you take a look for yourself and grab your own card at independent-liverpool.co.uk and make the most of what this unique and vibrant city has to offer.

 

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NoLita Cantina

If you’re after gorging on the tastiest and most enchanting food then head to Liverpool’s famous Bold Street, home to some of the finest independent cooking in Liverpool and possibly THE FINEST burger and American style food in town.

NoLita Cantina is an independent restaurant and bar located slap bang in the heart of Bold Street. If you’re in to your pastrami to your pulled pork, NoLita will satisfy the hungriest student to the starving all-day shopper.

The low key and lo-fi setting isn’t fussy with the kitchen staring straight back at you. The backdrop of a faultless playlist sucks you in, sits you down and surrounds with the teasing scent of a classic American diner.

Founders and chefs Grace Makin & Jen Roberts wanted to change the common misconceptions that people tend to hold over American style cuisine and felt that there was a distinct lack of this type of food in the city center.

The restaurant is inspired by the old deli-style dive bars of Manhattan which successfully bring both old and new cuisines from all over the world. The menu reflects this eclectic yet proven formula by following traditional Jewish-Italian recipes to southern state street food, each with their own distinctive NoLIta twist.

If you’ve never heard of a frickel or a latkes then pop down and sample the starter plate which holds a vast array of classic American dishes. A combination of traditional cooking and fresh local produce mixed with cool modern presentation offers a unique dining experience that only NoLita can offer.

However, The NoLita burger is in a total league of its own. Go to any chain in town and you’ll find a trivial looking burger that looks nothing like the picture and pay extra for some old chips that look like matchsticks. For a tenner you can get a burger as big as your head with proper fries mixed with some very naughty sweet potatoes fries than are just pure genius. Wash this down with an ice cold premium beer and you’re on to a winner.

Amongst the menu are slow cooked meats such as brisket, pastrami & pulled pork which are rubbed and marinated in a secret recipe seasoning for up to 12 hours, handmade burgers which have undergone extensive & rigorous taste tests to ensure perfection & satisfaction to any burger connoisseur.

You can tell from the moment you step in that NoLita knows what they are doing and the best part of it is that they don’t try to be anything that they are not. Simple, honest and delicious food with time, effort and attention to detail is the perfect combination and NoLita have it nailed.

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Record Store Day

With Record Store Day 2014 just around the corner it is a great opportunity for independent record stores in Liverpool to take part and promote their businesses in the community as stores continue to be closed down due to the new age of digital downloads.

Hidden amongst the giant high street stores such as HMV, independent record stores in Liverpool are facing a tough battle to keep their shops open as online sales and digital downloads continue to dominate the UK market.

However even the main high street retailers are struggling to compete with the online competition and in January of last year HMV went into administration but have since been bought out by  restructuring firm Hilco who bought 141 of HMV’s 222 stores.

Probe Records will be taking part in Record Store Day 2014

Originally designed to celebrate the music industry as a whole, Record Store Day has now become an integral part of a music lovers calendar and gives the opportunity for both musicians and fans to get together through a series of events and limited releases to help support and maintain the healthiness of the independent music industry.

Over 200 stores across the UK will be taking part in the international campaign to save independent record stores and many will be hosting events which will see live performances and special events.

This year, three independent record stores across Liverpool will be taking part in Record Store Day which takes place on April 19th, with special edition releases by Jake Bugg, Green Day and Oasis.

Probe Records situated at The Bluecoat, School Lane, 3B Records of Slater Street and Dig Vinyl on Bold Street will all open their doors to excited music fans in the morning of the 19th April, so that they can get their hands on the limited and special edition records, before Dig Vinyl host an ‘after party’ at Motel Bar from 9pm, which will include DJ’s and special giveaways.

Record Store Day is a great time for you to go and support your local music scene and maybe even an opportunity to grab yourself a cheap bargain or a limited edition album from your favourite artist, so why not head over to your nearest participating store and let us know of your experience.

It would be great for the record stores of Liverpool if you could attend so that they can continue to provide great music and can bring diversity and uniqueness to the cities music industry.

Have you been to Record Store Day before? Will you be attending this year? Get in touch by leaving us a comment, we would love to hear from you.

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The Heartbeat of Liverpool’s Independent Scene

In cities and towns up and down the country, we are continuing to witness the steady decline of the sorts of high streets which gave those cities their names. High Streets were once a wash with independent stores and people would come from near and far to shop for the variety of goods on offer. As with the way most things are heading these days, the bigger corporations moved in and the writing was on the wall for small business owners. High streets across Britain now look like carbon copies of each other and you can guarantee there’ll be a Topshop and Starbucks amongst others. Add to this the American style out-of-town shopping centres sprouting up, such as the Meadowhall Centre in Sheffield and the Metro Centre in Gateshead. With culture slowly but surely being squeezed out of Britain, what chance does this leave for independent shop owners?

Liverpool’s Bold Street is a shining example to the rest of the UK that conformity is certainly not always the answer; and after all it has been said that if there is to be a revolution in Britain, it will be led by the Scousers. Bold Street is famed for its independent scene but this was put in serious jeopardy with the building of the extremely corporate Liverpool One and the movement of what was considered the centre of the town to this part of the city. Yet Bold Street held strong and through the endeavour of its small business owners, it remains a key element in the culture of the city of Liverpool.

The nature of the street being long and narrow lends to the fact that it was formally used to manufacture rope for sailing ships. Bold Street then became a residential street, mainly inhabited by merchants, traders and bankers before the wealthy gradually began to move out to the suburbs. Shops then took over where people could buy the finest goods on offer. Fashion-conscious ladies flocked to Liverpool in Mid-Victorian times with renowned dressmakers, such as Woolright’s and Madame Jane Clarke, positioning their trade on Bold Street.

To this day, people continue to travel to Bold Street in search of high quality items to add to their fashion collections and it shows little signs of slowing down. Independent restaurants and cafes also make up the other parts of the former ‘ropewalk’ adding to what is the most vibrant street on Merseyside.

Have you got any past stories about Bold Street? Perhaps a former family member who owned a shop on the street? Any photos past or present of Bold Street? Leave a comment below. We Would love to hear from you!

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Rococo Coffee House

“Saving Liverpool from corporate coffee!”

This hidden coffee house rates very highly in terms of value for money and quality. With an array of coffees to choose from, as well as home made cakes and deli type food, Rococo is situated just a few yards away from the hugely competitive coffee giant, Costa.

So how does a small independent coffee house compete? It’s quite an easy answer really, with their generous sized coffee’s and tastefully decorated rooms, the usually quiet coffee house offers so much more than corporate coffee places can. There’s a sense of caring for the customer, ensuring the customer experience is the best it can be, and knowing how to make a good tasting coffee!

Positioned on Lord Street, just above T Mobile, Rococo is perfectly located to receive constant custom, as it is a short two-minute walk away from Liverpool One shopping center. So why put yourself through the hustle of people, and stress of queuing up in a generic branded coffee house again, when you can go to Rococo for any occasion and I guarantee have a better experience?

To enter you are lead through a narrow doorway that takes you up a straight stretch of steep stairs, before leading you to a door and in to the elegant decor of Rococo’s lounge and till area. A relaxed atmosphere instantly greets you and makes you feel comfortable; it’s the type of place you wouldn’t mind leaving your coat hanging out of your eyes gaze, and know it will still be there when you’re ready to leave. Pleasant and helpful staff welcome you, and they are more than happy to answer any questions or queries you have regarding the food or drink menu.

In terms of cost, this little gem completely beats competing chains such as Starbucks and Costa. Large coffee’s peak at £4.40 (but that is for Irish/ Bailey’s coffee’s, that take extra time and use other ingredients) otherwise all coffee’s are in the £2.00 bracket. Freshly made Panini’s are all £3.75, a far cry away from the over £4.00 selection in other places, and for those with a sweet tooth or those who just fancy a little treat with their hot drink, cookies and cakes range from £1-£2.70.

There are additionally home made soups and salads available; something corporate chains fail to offer! So if you haven’t already, head over to Rococo Coffee House, and let us know of your experience.Do you too rate it highly, or do you know of a better independent coffee house in the city?

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Global Scouse Day warms the hearts of Liverpool

Last Friday was a special day amongst the people of Liverpool and tourists alike, as Global Scouse Day gripped the city.

Scouse is traditional beef or lamb stew that has been enjoyed by many generations and is of course why people from Merseyside are known as ‘scousers’.  The word ‘scouse’ originated from the word Lobscouse, which was a stew often enjoyed by sailors in Northern Europe and was brought to Liverpool through our famous ports.

To celebrate this delicious local dish, many bars, cafes and restaurants added scouse to their menu, allowing locals and first-timers to enjoy the delicacy that has bought comfort and happiness to families across the region for many years. Resataurants serving up scouse for the day included the London Carriage Works, Liverpool Yacht Club, Lauras Little Bakery, Ego restaurant, Lunya, and the Side door bistro.

Liberated Liverpool headed down to Maggie May’s on Bold Street, where they were hosting a competition to find the best scouse in Liverpool – entitled The Great Liverpudlian Scouse-off!

Maggie May’s opened in 1996 and remains a family run business with local meals being the pride of the restaurant so their warm and friendly environment was the perfect location for the competition. Homemade scouse is a permanent part of the menu at Maggie May’s and is even available in a microwavable pouch to take away and cook at home, following the success of their ‘scouse in a can’. The Bold Street café has also featured on Micheal Portillo’s Great Railway Journeys and The Paul O Grady Show.

Entrants from across the city took it in turns to reheat their dish in hope of winning the top prize. Judges for the event included Lord Mayor Cllr Gary Millar and local historian Frank Carlyle.

After four gruelling heats,  four people were battling it out in the final to see if they could earn the crown for the best scouse in Liverpool.

The competition results are posted below:

1) Pauline Corvers

2) Nancy Mooney

3) Giles Furman

Pauline Corvers, winner of the competition was over the moon and told Liberated Liverpool the two secrets to a good scouse. Good quality meat and patience.

Andy, from Maggie May’s was also kind enough to let us try their home made recipe which was a perfect way to warm up after a long day. Personally, we preferred our scouse with just a fresh loaf of crusty bread and butter, rather than the traditional side of beetroot or cabbage. Head on down to Maggie May’s and try it for yourself or visit their website.

http://www.maggiemaysoriginalscouse.co.uk/

Do you think you know somebody who could give cometition winner Pauline a run for her money? Have you been blown away by a local dish at a restaurant in town? Get in touch with us by leaving a comment! We would love to hear from you!

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Liberated Liverpool

This page will give you the low down on what the independent shops in the city are about, who owns them and why they want you to visit them – so come and check us out!

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