Schmooze reopens in Allerton

Allerton’s popular wine bar and restaurant Schmooze has reopened after a £200,000 refurbishment.

The bar, in Penny Lane, which was opened in 2004, has undergone a complete makeover, including the addition of an exclusive new first-floor dining room.

Around 100 guests gathered for the launch party on Thursday night, which also saw a reunion of members of popular 80’s bands, Flock of Seagulls, Deaf School and Big in Japan.

Cult Liverpool band Deaf School were attending the event ahead of their upcoming tour later this year.

Other guests included former Liverpool FC footballer Sammy Lee and former London WASPS winger Michael Roberts.

Schmooze’s owner Paul Holt said: “The launch party was a fantastic night and all the hard work our staff have put in over the past few weeks truly paid off.

“We were working round the clock to get everything ready on time and even though we had a few last minute worries, including a slight panic when the new bar was too big to fit up the stairs, it all came together in the end.�

To coincide with the relaunch, Schmooze – which is housed on the site of a former Jewish bakery - has created a new menu using top quality organic and fair-trade ingredients, all sourced as locally as possible

Well-known Allerton chef Eugene Bellard, who previously co-owned the popular Pod restaurant, has been appointed as the executive chef.

He has worked extensively abroad, including Spain and the US, and trained at the prestigious Ballymaloe Cookery School, in Co Cork, Ireland under the tutorship of Darina Allen.

Schmooze’s new makeover has also included them joining the digital age by creating their own MySpace and Facebook pages to keep their regulars up to date with all the latest offers and celebrity sightings.

City Talk presenter Will Batchelor, Jane Haase (Echo), Ann O’Connor (Granada Reports), Duncan Barkes (City Talk)

Dave Roberts, Ann Roberts, former London Wasps players Michael Roberts