City restaurant closes to make way for new arrival

A STAPLE OF THE CITY CENTRE SINCE 2010 HAS CLOSED 15:43, 06 Jan 2025 A city centre restaurant has closed - with another venue already prepared to occupy the space in the coming months.

Castle Street's Brazilian steakhouse, Viva Brazil, informed customers of its closure at the beginning of the new year. Viva Brazil first opened in 2010 boasting two floors, a bar space,

an outdoor seating area and the capacity for 200 guests. A statement shared online read: "2025 will be the start of something new for Castle Street. We can confirm that Viva Brazil

Liverpool is now closed Watch this space for the next big restaurant announcement for Liverpool." The "next big restaurant" is now confirmed to be tapas venue El Gato Negro

which will relocate from its longstanding home on Exchange Flags. The shift is scheduled for March with the restaurant trading as usual until then. Simon Shaw, chef patron and creative

director at MHDL, the multi-site restaurant operator, said: "We’re delighted to be moving El Gato Negro to its new home on Castle Street and making way for something exciting to come in

its place at Exchange Flags. "This relocation allows us to bring El Gato Negro to one of Liverpool’s most iconic streets, while also paving the way for a dynamic new venue later in the

year. We’re also pleased to confirm that all current Viva Brazil staff will be retained as part of this transition. Article continues below The move ensures continuity and job security for

employees and a complete transformation of the building in El Gato Negro style. The site at Exchange Flags will be converted into another new venue later in the year, with further details to

be revealed soon.