Isle of Man brewer buys top Liverpool restaurant

Okells, the brewer and pub operator based on the Isle of Man, has bought its first mainland restaurant with the purchase of the Courtyard in Liverpool.

The 60-seat Courtyard, which is one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the city's business district, is next door to Rigby's, one of the oldest pubs in Liverpool and one of two Okells' pubs in the city (along with The Fly in the Loaf).

The Courtyard has shared a courtyard with Rigby's for a couple of years and will be run by former Rigby's licensee Fiona Hornsby, who is retaining head chef Gerard Hogan and the restaurant's international menu.

Okells owns 60 pubs and restaurants on the Isle of Man, along with a venue in both Leeds and Chester.

The Courtyard was sold off a guide price of between £200,000 and £250,000.

By Angela Frewin