Press & Awards
Michelin overlook Liverpool again but Spire should be considered
Liverpool restaurants have been again overlooked by the Michelin star restaurant guide as it announced the list of rosettes for 2020 on 7th October 2019. The group who oversee the awarding of the accolade gave out twenty-nine awards to establishments across the UK. Despite Spire being previously praised by the Michelin Guide, the closest Michelin-starred restaurants to Liverpool are in Birkenhead and Ormskirk.
In spite of this, The Liverpool Echo has listed several Liverpool establishments that are worthy of the award – amongst them is Spire Restaurant.
Spire makes the 2017 Waitrose Good Food Guide
Spire Restaurant makes a return in this year’s guide, which describes it as “warmly welcoming” and “a top Merseyside performer”, awarding it a food score of four.
Co-owner Adam Locke said: “My brother Matt and I are extremely proud to have been given the highest food score in Liverpool again. I think consistency is very important in the restaurant industry and we have always worked very hard at trying to produce the best food and give a very good level of service. What we have to do now is keep up the standards and move forward trying to keep things locally sourced and standards high.
“It speaks volumes for us and our team here at Spire. We have a very loyal following of regular customers and when awarded like this it makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
Spire win The Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year Award 2011 – North West region
Spire has been crowned The Good Food Guide North West Restaurant of the Year.
The official announcement was made just before 11am today on The Good Food Guide website to the elation of Spire owners, Adam And Matt. Manager, Adam comments:
“We’re just delighted. It’s hard to put into words how great this feels: a mixture of pride in our achievement, and gratitude to our customers who voted for us.”
Chef Matt adds
“The power of receiving such recognition is tremendous, a brilliant reward for many years’ hard work. We’d like to thank all our customers for their loyal support.”
The Good Food Guide runs the Restaurant of the Year Award each year. To qualify, restaurants must be independently run and offer consistently good food and service plus seasonal and local/regional produce on the menu where possible. Spire fought off stiff competition from some of the region’s top dining establishments to win the North West award.
Elizabeth Carter, Consultant Editor of The Good Food Guide said:
“With warm vibes, competitive prices and cooking that is sheer unfussy, up-to-date class, it is no wonder that Spire is currently a top performer among The Good Food Guide readers in the North-West.”
As one of ten regional winners, Spire will appear in The Good Food Guide 2012, published on 8th September 2011. Spire also goes forward as a contender for the overall Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year 2011 award. The winner will be announced on 23rd June 2011 at an award ceremony at King’s Place, London.
Spire at the Liverpool Food and Drink Festival 2009
Spire is once again participating in the Liverpool Food and Drink Festival. This year’s festival launches on Sunday 13th September at Sefton Park. Adam and Matt of Spire will be in the main tent, serving up crispy confit of duck with Moroccan dressing, pan-fried sea bass with Asian dressing and goat’s cheese tartlets. Snap up a bottle of Spire’s renowned homemade basil oil which will be on sale at the stall while stocks last.
Liverpool food and drink festival
Spire crowned Liverpool Restaurant of the Year 2008-9
Spire was recently awarded the title of Liverpool Restaurant of the Year at the prestigious Cheshire Life, Lancashire Life and Lake District Life Food and Wine Awards 2008-9. The awards celebrate the best food and wine in the North West with restaurants judged on initial meeting, ambience, menu choice, standard of food, wine lists and service.
The Guardian
In a recent Guardian pull-out guide to Liverpool, Spire was cited as the best place to eat:
“But we save the best until last. Spire may not be an obvious choice for smart dining in Liverpool, being a 20-minute cab ride from the centre, but brothers Adam and Matt Locke have created a delightful gem of a neighbourhood restaurant. Matt cooks while Adam serves – homemade black pudding with apple and pancetta, sauteed spinach, welsh rarebit and red wine sauce; pressed braised pork belly with a confit pork and vegetable cassoulet, savoy cabbage and pork jus.”
From an article in The Beat Goes On, a pull-out guide to Liverpool: European Capital of Culture in The Guardian’s weekend Guide 27th September 2008
The Good Food Guide
Spire enters The Good Food Guide
“This busy restaurant located in South Liverpool offers superb, well-cooked food in a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. Service is efficient and friendly, with staff keen to explain dishes. Everything is made on the premises and the inspiring menu uses regional British produce in several dishes…. Chef Matt Locke’s cooking is first-class”
The Good Food Guide 2008