A busy street takes on a sea of Grand National visitors chasing a bite to eat
A busy street takes on a sea of Grand National visitors chasing a bite to eat
The Grand National festival is in full swing with thousands of visitors enjoying the start of the festivities at Aintree Racecourse. The Grand National is more than a race – it’s a chance for people across the region and country to come together, show up and show their best looks, and enjoy a gorgeous day out.
The races are an exceptional time to socialise with a glass of fizz but once the event wraps and the champagne is empty, a quick bite to eat is on everyone’s mind.
Walton Vale is just a stone’s throw from the racecourse and littered with watering holes to spend the rest of your evening in. However, the street is just as packed with restaurants and takeaways giving visitors an opportunity to chow down and line their stomachs.
The latest arrival to the scene is Eighty Bar & Grill which has completely overhauled the former Halifax bank building. Cousins Paul Hill and Kyle Hayes launched the restaurant and bar only yesterday but just in time for the Grand National.
Paul told the ECHO: “We’re really excited to get this going. A nice place to wine and dine. Something you go into town for brought to Walton Vale. We want this to be a really nice place for everyone to come visit and enjoy.”
Kyle said: “There’s nothing really like this around. We wanted to bring something new to the area and I think we’ve done that. We wanted to invest in a vision we’ve had for a long time and it’s finally come to fruition after a long process.”
The pair made the decision to launch ahead of the festival in order to get the business into full swing immediately. Kyle added: “We’re really excited. We can’t wait to finally get people through the door and welcome everyone across the weekend.
“We’re expecting a large footfall. The Grand National is always great on the Vale. It’s like a festival on your own doorstep. There’s always a sea of people and everyone is in high spirits. We love it and it’s a really great event for us to have and now be a part of.”
Across the street is vibrant Vale Bar, owned by couple Ed Kelly and Keith Prothero. Picture a rock and roll dive bar, the sort filled with colourful string lights, various framed photos, trinkets adorning the walls, and mismatched furniture.
The tiny venue packs a mighty punch when it comes to aesthetic and has become a staple of the area. Following on from the bar’s success, the team was able to launch a beer garden to the rear and restaurant Mo’s Bistro, which is named after Keith’s late mum Maureen, on the floor above.
About setting up the venue, Ed previously told the ECHO: “Neither of us had done bar work. We had a drunken idea on holiday to open a bar. We got this, we bought the building after six months, built it up, and opened a bistro upstairs as well.
“It’s done really well. We never expected to be going for seven years but even in lockdown we didn’t suffer that badly. We owned the building and we didn’t have any big bills – all the staff got paid the whole way through.”
The restaurant hosts private parties, such as baby showers, and bottomless brunches, while keeping the menu simple. On Sunday, the venue is packed with customers chowing down on a good-old fashioned roast.
Mo’s is just one choice for diners on the Vale; it boasts the family-run Italian restaurant Kurdina, Mediterranean haven O’Live Greek & Grill, chicken shop Ranchers, and The Little Chef fulfilling everyone’s need for a Chinese takeaway.
A few minutes away from the Vale but almost attached to the racecourse is Indian restaurant Bibyana. The venue’s humble exterior is worlds apart from the elegant aesthetic you’ll find inside.
The restaurant is expansive, with plenty of intricate decorations to admire while you flick through the lengthy menu. There’s everything you could possibly ask for, from extra hot Naga specials to more manageable tikka dishes. I was surprised to find there’s also a curry selection highlighting fish – something I don’t think I’ve ever seen on a menu before Bibiyana.
Eden, a popular Waterloo bistro, opened its second venue on Warbreck Moor last year. Acting as a midway point for the Grand National and Walton Vale, the business offers a stacked menu of lunch classics including pancakes, sandwiches, baked goods, sweet treats and fry-ups.
Finishing things off with something sweet is Safi’s Desserts offering an indulgent range of cookie doughs, waffles and milkshakes. Saffi’s launched at the hand of brothers Keith and Abd al Rahman Safi who were inspired by Amsterdam’s iconic stroopwafel following a trip.
