I went looking for a dark kitchen and now I'm opening a restaurant in one of Liverpool's most iconic buildings
The Grade II listed building opened in 1905 as a church, before being transformed into a cinema and later housing the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
The owner of a new all-you-can-eat buffet in Liverpool city centre has revealed how her original plans for a dark kitchen changed after she fell in love with the venue’s beautiful staircases.
Originally based in a shipping container on Lodge Lane, Fozia’s offers authentic, homemade Pakistani and Kashmiri dishes. The business moved to Picton Road in Wavertree in 2022, moving away from their takeaway-only setup and providing the option to dine in.
The Wavertree restaurant closed last month with Fozia’s now taking over the former home of Quiggins - Grand Central Hall.
The Grade II listed building opened in 1905 as a church, before being transformed into a cinema and later housing the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
The grand venue later welcomed bars and then became known for housing independent traders from Quiggins when its original School Lane site closed in 2006. Quiggins sadly ceased trading at the venue in 2018, and Grand Central Hall is now home to The Dome.
Business owner Fozia Choudry described the building as ‘beautiful’, ‘iconic’ and ‘perfect’ for the future of her restaurant, which will now offer an all-you-can-eat buffet on the basement floor.
Speaking about why she chose to make the move, Fozia told LiverpoolWorld: “I stumbled across Grand Central when I went looking for a dark kitchen. It was a food hub, pre-Covid, so had the kitchen units in it.
“When I went to view it, I absolutely loved the staircases which lend themselves perfectly for an Asian wedding.
“A few months later we have evolved our plans to make it an all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant with a view to hire for events and weddings.”
The business will continue to specialise in the Halal Pakistani and Kashmiri cuisine its customers love, with a wide variety of dishes including curries and kebabs, as well as vegetarian options and a children’s menu. The venue will be alcohol free, however, the menu offers an impressive selection of mocktails and lassi.
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Fozia’s hopes to help customers “celebrate life's special moments in Liverpool's historic Grand Central Building” with the venue also set to offer an events and wedding space for private hire.
The buffet’s grand opening will take place on Wednesday, January 21, with the venue then operating between 4.00pm and 11.00pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 1.00pm to 11.00pm on Saturday and Sunday.