National Museums Liverpool Blog - maritime dining rooms

Liverpool is a city steeped in  maritime history. But while you might expect to find tales of smuggler’s coves and bravery at sea in Merseyside Maritime Museum,  the city  itself can surprise you with  many stories of its seafaring and merchant links.

I was  recently introduced to Helen Fowler from The Monro pub on Duke Street  and after a quick coffee and  a chat I discovered not only were The Monro hosting an installation for Liverpool Biennial , but it is also a building bursting with historic tales to tell . I found out about the steam ship which it is named after and its former owner Colonel John Bolton . He was the most wealthy Liverpool merchant of his generation  and  no doubt inspired George Holt who lived just across town at Sudley House in Mossley Hill. 

With the tall ships returning to Liverpool this week  and our own exciting Biennial exhibitions soon to arrive at the Walker Art Gallery, we’ve joined  up with The Monro  to create a little trail  around the city and beyond. The trail highlights our merchant and maritime connections and collections  - you can download the trail here.   You may even find yourself a cup of coffee as a reward at the end!

We'll we've told you what things you can see to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, now let us tell you what you might do!

You don't have to travel all the way to London to join the party. At the Walker Art Gallery we have a crown-making workshops 2 June to Tuesday 5 June, between 10 am and 4 pm

The Lady Lever Art Gallery and Museum of Liverpool also enjoy treating their visitors like royalty and will also be hosting crown-making workshops on 4 and 5 June.

For those who prefer to leave crown-wearing to the experts there is a flag-making workshop at the Lady Lever Art Gallery and Sudley House on Saturday 2 June between 1 pm and 4 pm. Visitors to Sudley can also leave a special message of congratulations which we will send to the Queen (by Royal Mail of course!)

Delicious Smoked Anglesey mackerel is on the menu at Merseyside Maritime Museum, which is hosting lunch fit for a Queen in its Maritime Dining Rooms! The full Royal menu, enjoyed by Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh on their recent visit, is available to the public from today until Tuesday 5 June. To book call 0151 478 4056.

There are dozens of free family events across the bank holidays and the rest of half term. Check the website for details.

Ben Sheeran, our head chef, shares this scrumptious recipe for moist low-fat chocolate cloud cake. Hmm! 

Chocolate cloud cake

Ingredients

Equipment

Method

This week the Marketing and Communications team welcomed work expereince volunteer Callum. We asked Callum to visit we the Merseyside Maritime Museum where he gave his review.

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I really enjoyed visiting the Merseyside Maritime Museum it was a very interesting and adventurous experience. It had a lot of things that I really like reading and learning about such as the emigration section which had great information about weaponry and drugs that had been seized in airports or docks that people had tried to smuggle into the country. It also had a very realistic walkthrough which represented an old deck that sailors used to live in on tall ships, in the 17th and 18th century. There were interactive games that I had a go at and the children loved it. There are quite a few other sections you can visit in the museum such as the International Slavery Museum and an Art and the Sea gallery.

On the top floor of the museum it has the Maritime Dining Rooms so I didn’t have to go far for a good snack. The Maritime Museum is nominated for the Large Visitor Attraction award at The Mersey Partnership awards and I think it has a very good chance of winning it. The Maritime is a true adventure into the past and present of our world and I would recommend it for a great day out. 

Our guest blogger Rosie Marr has some suggestions for ways to treat your mum this Mother's Day.

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Sunday 3rd of April 2011 is Mother’s Day. National Museums Liverpool provide a brilliant atmosphere for a relaxing and memorable day out. In fact, we’ve got Mother’s Day all wrapped up- from delicious food, to gorgeous and thoughtful gifts and even cards, so treat your mum to a day she will treasure!

Whatever your mum is interested in; there is something fun to do together in Liverpool. Why not visit the breath-taking Walker Art Gallery and see amazing paintings from Medieval to modern! Kids can even create their own masterpieces for their mums in the Big Art.  

The Lady Lever Art Gallery contains a spectacular collection of paintings, furniture, tapestries and sculpture. Or you could visit Sudley House, an elegant location where you can get psyched up for the Royal Wedding by visiting an exhibition of wedding dresses, or unwind in the beautiful springtime grounds around Sudley House. On the 2nd of April you can even make a bouquet of flowers for your mum. Best of all, everything is free!

Our cafés and dining rooms serve some of the best food in Liverpool- offering a brilliant variety of food and drink for amazing prices.

Whether you decide on posh afternoon tea or a traditional Sunday roast at the Maritime Dining Rooms, taking in the stunning city views with a glass of wine at the World Museum, or a more indulgent meal at the Lady Lever which has a delightful and diverse menu- all our museums and galleries serve a variety of tasty treats!

Our gift shops are a fantastic place to buy a unique Mother’s Day present! Surprise her with a book on her favourite exhibition (you can also buy these on our online shop ) or a poster of an amazing piece of artwork. We also have gorgeous jewellery, ornaments and souvenirs.

And remember to send a card! You can even send an e-card from our website, choosing from a number of Mother’s Day themed paintings (and even one of an Egyptian mummy!)

Thirty two members of the St Michael in the City Church Group attended an event at the Maritime Museum this week to mark the close of six months of fact-finding in partnership with the Museum of Liverpool Global City gallery team.

Attending the event were those who grew up around Pitt Street and Cleveland Square, whole streets that were flattened in the May Blitz of World War Two. This area was once a hub of activity for Seamen from all over the world, their families part of a vibrant community that would form the foundations of Liverpool’s Chinatown as its known today.

Ted Lates, a member of the group at St Michael in the City said: “Chinatown used to be packed… early 50s that I can remember. Just full, like going into town now and seeing everybody out. It used to be like that, knee deep with people."

Those who attended the event included Elsie Kuloi, who in the 1930s starred in one of Edward Chambre Hardman’s most memorable images of Pitt Street. Now in her 80s, Elsie vividly recalls watching from her parent’s first floor flat as an incendiary bomb hit a fatal blow to the original St Michaels Church.

As well as being interviewed, attendees also spent many hours looking over a collection of over 200 photographs in Maritime Archives that dated right back to the 1920s. Unidentified by curators, members of St Michael in the City not only recognised their childhood homes, but their mothers, brothers and sisters.

Following an upbeat talk by demonstrator Dave Brown on the Blue Funnel Shipping Line the group were invited to tea and cake in the Maritime Dining Rooms.

Interviews conducted by the Global City gallery team will feature in the special exhibition China, Shanghai and Liverpool which will open in the Museum of Liverpool next year.
For more information on China, Shanghai and Liverpool please contact assistant exhibition curator francesca.aiken@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Mother's Day is this Sunday and there's nothing nicer than going out for a scrumptious meal in a stunning setting, so why not treat your mum to a delicious lunch at the Maritime Dining Rooms? There’s a special offer of four courses with tea and coffee for just £17.95. Visit our website to see the enticing menu in full.

You can also go for the full afternoon tea for two with a bottle of Astoria Lounge Prosecco for just £25.00. To make a reservation call (0151) 478 4056 or pop up to the Maritime Dining Rooms.

Take a look at our great range of Mother's Day e-cards - send a work of art this Mother's Day, or send our Mummy to yours!

What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day with your beloved than a romantic meal at the Michelin Guide 2010 listed Maritime Dining Rooms?

Enjoy a delicious Valentine's Day Afternoon Tea for two with a bottle of Astoria Lounge Prosecco for only £25. This special offer is only available on Sunday 14 February - see the afternoon tea page for the full menu.

The full Sunday lunch menu and children's menu will still be available alongside the fresh new Spring menu. Booking is advisable: to book or for enquiries please call the Maritime Dining Rooms on 0151 478 4056. 

Located on the fourth floor of the Grade I-listed Merseyside Maritime Museum, the Maritime Dining Rooms offers stunning views over the city. Executive chef Nigel Paul Smith's menu celebrates British and local produce, combining classic flavours with modern presentation.