Friends-turned-business partners Tasha Hough, Eugen Raka and Mark Lavelle have opened Solace, a new restaurant on Smithdown Place in south Liverpool, aiming to stand out in a crowded brunch market with a concept that runs from breakfast to evening cocktails.
The trio, all from south Liverpool, have spent years working together across various venues in the city. Tasha met Eugen while working at Miller & Carter, and later met Mark at Emily's in Formby. As their careers progressed, they found themselves working alongside many of the same people and decided to build something of their own.
A Neighbourhood Alternative to the City Centre
The decision to launch Solace comes at a challenging time for the hospitality sector, with rising costs and pressure on independent restaurants. Eugen, 32, from Toxteth, said the group considered the practical challenges before settling on Smithdown Place. He noted that in the city centre, rents are high, suppliers charge more, and parking can be difficult for guests.
“We sat down together, bounced ideas around and realised that residential areas were the way forward. A lot of people our age don’t necessarily want to go into town anymore,” he said.
From Brunch to Evening Small Plates
Solace, which has taken over the former Beak site, serves breakfast and brunch from 9am until 3pm, with full English breakfasts, healthier options, acai bowls, protein breakfasts and French toast among the choices. From 4pm until midnight, the focus switches to modern European small plates, an extensive cocktail list and wines.
Tasha, 31, from Wavertree, said the business was never about making money. “We opened with the intention of creating a place where we could all be together and be part of the community we love. We’re all from south Liverpool, so we knew we wanted to really embed ourselves in this community,” she told the ECHO.
A Name Rooted in Comfort
The name Solace stems from an experience Tasha had while serving a customer who had received upsetting news. By the end of the meal, the customer hugged her and said she had found comfort on a day she never expected to. “We called it Solace because solace means finding comfort and peace in something. What we wanted to create was a place where, when people walk through the doors, they leave feeling a little bit better,” Tasha said.
For Eugen, opening the restaurant was also driven by a desire to make his family proud following the death of his father, Nexhat, earlier this year. “I lost my father earlier this year, and it really lit a fire in my belly. I wanted to make him proud, as well as my mum and the rest of my family,” he added.
The group’s immediate focus is on establishing Solace in Smithdown, although they are considering expanding into north Liverpool in the future if all goes well, as they believe there is room to explore the brunch market.
