Official opening day for Elif on Castle Street announced

Elif Turkish Bar & Grill will open on Castle Street, in Liverpool City Centre this week.

Owners say the new venue, which will transform the iconic Grade II-listed NatWest Bank building, will see an elegant reinvention of the already popular and respected city restaurant brand.

Owner Alan May said:

“We are delighted to have brought new life to this incredible city centre building, and to have taken Elif to a whole new level of luxury,”

“The new restaurant is stunning. It has a sophisticated feel, and we know that guests are going to go ‘wow’ from the moment they step inside.”

“We are confident Elif will become a destination dining experience for people from Liverpool, and from outside the city; and that we can compete with The Ivy when it opens its doors on Castle Street, as well as other upmarket restaurants nearby.”

Elif will launch to invited guests on Thursday, July 25, before an official opening on Monday, July 29.

Located at 22 Castle Street, the building was once home to Parr’s Bank before changing to NatWest until 2017 when it closed.

It had remained empty before being bought by JSM Company Group, which has an expanding portfolio of leisure developments and venues across Liverpool and the UK. Elif will be based on the ground floor level, with planning permission granted to turn the upper storeys into a hotel.

The new restaurant is part of the Elif family which has sites in Bold Street, Lark Lane, and Childwall.

It’s well-known for its authentic Turkish cuisine with hot and cold mezzes and starters; grilled meat, fish and seafood dishes, and traditional menu favourites. Specialities include Guvec, with pieces of chicken, lamb or prawns cooked in an earthenware pot with tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, aubergine, peppers and garlic; Iskender, a Turkish feast of grilled lamb or chicken with bread, yoghurt and tomato butter sauce, and Izgara Kofte, BBQ chargrilled meatballs served with a rich tomato, pepper and garlic sauce.

“The food is going to be just as delicious, and of the most exceptional quality,” But a new high-class concept and massive investment will set it apart from the rest.

The interior of the new city centre Elif Turkish Bar & Grill has been lavishly created, with velvet chairs seated around opulent marble tables. A towering botanical feature sits at the centre of the former banking hall, which also houses an ornate fountain and boasts a striking modern chandelier beneath a stained-glass dome.

“It looks amazing. The place and the design matches with our ethos which was to establish a different Elif in what was, and is more than ever, such a beautiful and prestigious building. It will be a place where people can come and enjoy their food in a relaxed environment and superb surroundings.

“We’ve also created a private dining room for around 14-16 people which will offer an exclusive area for families who want to sit away from the main body of the restaurant, or those wanting to celebrate a special occasion like a birthday or an anniversary or have a select business party.”

Elif in Castle Street will also provide a huge boost to the city and its hospitality industry. He adds: “It will provide jobs, it will add to the economy, and it will bring people into the city. We are very excited for the opening.”