Sefton Council appoint Birchwood Park occupier DV8 Designs to help drive Merseyside economy with new entertainment destination, Salt & Tar

14 March 2023

Northwest Concept Design firm DV8 Designs have again been appointed by Sefton Council as lead designer for a brand new entertainment destination in Bootle, Merseyside.

The development will bring a lively daytime, evening, and nighttime economy to the area through new leisure, food, and drink opportunities with detailed plans in place that include bars, food outlets and canal-side access.

DV8 Designs hold an established reputation within the leisure, commercial and hospitality sectors, with an enviable pedigree in transforming places and enhancing spaces, specialising in designing bars, restaurants, distilleries and food halls, including the EngineRooms at the award-winning Birchwood Park, and the £1.4million successful regeneration of Southport Market with the introduction of a new food hall and event social space.

The new brand was agreed by Sefton Council’s Cabinet and has been developed as part of an updated Strategy & Business Plan, which seeks to cement the area’s role and contribute to the revitalisation of The Strand and wider Bootle town centre economy.

Aptly named “Salt & Tar”, the name refers to the town’s rich industrial heritage, with the Brotherton’s Tar Distillery on Hawthorne Road and the area’s historic link to the salt trade.

A 2023 event calendar is already in place including a music festival with high profile headline acts, a Food and Drink Festival, outdoor cinema screenings, community events and live music, markets, and beer festivals as well as a Christmas event programme.

Lee Birchall, MD of DV8 Designs said: “This is a hugely exciting opportunity for the area, and we are proud to have been appointed once again as trusted concept designers for regeneration projects for councils. Our experience and expertise in this area has proven to be a strong conduit to driving revenue into the local economy.”

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council said: “This new Salt and Tar branding of the site combined with an exciting and developing programme of events for the coming year will help to cement the area’s role and contribute to the revitalisation of The Strand and wider Bootle town centre economy.”

The project is due for completion in Spring 2023.

For more information visit www.dv8-designs.co.uk or email communications@sefton.gov.uk.

Photo: K2 Architects

Current Occupiers