Duke Street Market launches first bar in the North West to be fully ‘lab operated’

Duke Street Food & Drink Market has unveiled pioneering bar, which aims to cut down on waste by 70%, as well as improving consistency and customer experience.

Waste is a hot topic at the moment with the latest statistics* from WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) stating that one million tonnes of food prepared in the hospitality & food service sector is thrown away each year, totalling a huge £2.9million. Keen to address the situation, Duke Street Food & Drink Market has opened their mezzanine level bar with news that it is to be operated from a centralised ‘lab’.

Thought to be the first of its kind in the North West, the Lab will produce batches of spirits, bitters and liqueurs to ensure quicker service and consistency. In turn, this reduces waste and improves stock control so that perishable ingredients aren’t ordered until necessary.

Co-founder of Duke Street Market, John Ennis, Director of Graffiti Spirits Group, comments: “The Graffiti Spirits Group Lab has been a long time in the making and we’re so pleased that we’re finally ready to launch at Duke Street Market. The main aim of the Lab is to make the drinks more efficient for service, the guest and environment.  With the hospitality industry being one of the worst offenders for wastage, we’ve long been interested in minimising waste across the business and the Lab will reduce it by around 70%, as well as ensuring that the ‘perfect cocktail’ is delivered time and time again.

“The development of the bar menu for Duke Street Market was carried out over the course of six months, but some drinks have been years in the making. The preservation of ingredients and how to make the most out of them has long been part of our heritage in the UK, with jam being a prime example. With the Lab initiative we’ve taken this one step further to ensure we still have the fresh taste rather than a stewed fruit flavour. Other techniques we’re trying out in the Lab include sous vide cooking, carbonation, freeze distilling, filtration and pressurised batching to serve our guests the best possible drink at Duke Street Market.”

So, will guests notice anything different when visiting the Duke Street Market bar?

John continues: “As well as reducing our environmental impact, the main aim of the bar is to serve our guests a really great drink. Our lab will produce batches of ingredients, from citrus (simulated lemon or lime juice) to crystal clear ice. Not only will they be the best cocktails you’ve ever had, the queue times will be reduced too so it’s win win.”

Opened in June 2019, Duke Street Food & Drink Market is already one of the cities’ favourite hangouts, featuring two bars, six traders and the flagship restaurant, Pilgrim. The brains behind the development of the 100-year old warehouse are led by co-founders of Graffiti Spirits Group, Matthew Farrell and John Ennis (the team behind Santa Chupitos, El Bandito, Salt Dog Slims, 81ltd and Santa Maluco) with Alex Bennett, Joshua Marco and Simon Marco, from food and drink operator, Urban Food and Drink, which has origins in construction, property management and development.

Find the bar at 46, Duke Street, Liverpool L1 0NA. For more information, follow @dukestreetmarketon Instagram or visit www.dukestreetmarket.co.uk.