It opened its doors back in the 1980s.
Occupying a central place on Liverpool’s waterfront, The Albert Dock today boasts an internationally renowned gallery, as well as restaurants, bars, shops, and, of course, the dock itself. But decades ago, life there couldn’t have looked more different.
In the 1980s – following huge local efforts and extensive regeneration – the government allocated money to help renovate parts of the dock, as well as seeking out private investment. This included renovating a number of buildings, as well as removal of silt from the dock itself, seeing it become a major tourist attraction welcoming thousands week on week.
In the early days, many will remember the food and drink offering at The Albert Dock only being Hartley’s Wine Bar, What’s Cooking? and Giovanni’s Italian Trattoria. But later that decade, a new restaurant called The Wharf also opened in the Britannia Pavilion.
READ MORE: European city ranked top destination for a bargain Christmas markets tripREAD MORE: Inside lost Liverpool four star hotel that stored booze in vaults
Back in 1987, the Liverpool ECHO reported how the largest single unit to date has been acquired by Roundabout Limited, in a joint venture between Michael Hoban and Courage Breweries. Located in Unit 22 of the Britannia, the ground floor had a large bar, while up a half spiral staircase customers could find the main restaurant which seated 100 and had views over the dock.
Upstairs also boasted a secluded area that doubled as private dining or a function room. In July 1987, managing director Mike Hoban told the ECHO: “It has all come about as the result of expenditure of many thousands of pounds.
“This was a vacant section and the actual work of fitting out has taken 16 weeks, since we started from brick, stone and dust. But our involvement in the scheme and negotiations have been spread over something in the region of 12 months.”
Brilliant images, courtesy of our archives, Mirrorpix, offer a glimpse inside the venue in its early years. Unseen for years, you can see wider shots of the restaurant, what the décor was like at the time and also one member of staff.
READ MORE: 10 Liverpool pubs and bars we’ve loved and lost in the last decadeREAD MORE: Sweet factory like ‘Willy Wonka’s’ loved by Liverpool school kids
An ECHO advertisement, printed the same year the venue opened, said for “somewhere stylish and traditional, or chic and continental, somewhere cool and conversational – come to The Wharf.” Within a year of being in business, The Wharf had gone from an “empty shell” to being “acclaimed as the top restaurant on The Albert Dock.”
In May 1988, King Charles, then Prince Charles, dined there when he visited Liverpool to open the Tate Gallery. At the time, he was “treated to the same lavish menu that was prepared for Prince Albert, when the consort of Queen Victoria opened The Albert Dock” in July 1849.
In 1989, the “famous” restaurant was under new management. In September that year, it was taken over by John Smiths Brewery.
Through the years, many customers will remember heading to The Wharf for everything from a meal out to a coffee and a croissant in the morning or an afternoon tea. Generations will also remember what The Albert Dock looked like during the regeneration and how hospitality venues like The Wharf breathed new life into the area.
Today, Unit 22 is home to Panam Bar & Restaurant. But many will remember the days when The Wharf called The Albert Dock home.
