Metrocola!

There is a phenomenon that I have commented on before - possibly even in relation to the central character of this blip - but I am going to mention it again, anyway.

It concerns seeing one's friends - people that one would not choose for their professional skills* - doing what they do for a living and realising just how good they are at it.

And so to my friend, Bob, whom I first met around this time in 1985 when we'd started at Liverpool University. Despite the fact that he read history,  when we had completed our degrees, and the rest of us had gone off to start jobs, he started a property development business in Liverpool.

And a few years after that, he started opening bars and restaurants, including such legendary venues as Korova and Alms de Cuba. Having lived in a tourist town for thirty years and, consequently, seen many restaurants come and go, I have some small appreciation of how difficult it is to be successful in this sector.

In recent years, Bob has established what might reasonably described as a small empire on Lark Lane whilst maintaining a footprint in the city with the wonderful Papillon on Hope Street. And this week he has opened a new bar called Metrocola, which overlooks the bombed out church on Bold Street.

This evening, the Minx and I went over for a visit. As I have seen him manage to do in the past, Bob has created something that is in keeping with his other places whilst having its own, fresh character. We spent a happy evening there with him and our good friend, Richard, and both were a delight, as were the food and drink. WOULD RECOMMEND!

*Well, you might, but that seems a bit weird to me.