Lunya and Lunyalita, a Liverpool restaurant and bar group founded by husband-and-wife team Peter and Elaine Kinsella, have been awarded the “Restaurants from Spain” certification by Foods & Wines from Spain (ICEX), the body responsible for promoting Spanish food and drink internationally on behalf of the Spanish government. The certification is valid for two years and subject to renewal, with Foods & Wines from Spain monitoring certified restaurants and shops to ensure standards are maintained.
First outside London
More than 500 restaurants across 50 countries currently hold Restaurants from Spain status, with many UK-based recipients located in London. The group is believed to be the first combined restaurant and deli in England outside London to receive the certification. In the same round of assessments, Lunya's deli and gourmet shop was separately awarded “Colmado from Spain” status, a companion certification for specialist Spanish food and drink retailers — another believed first for a shop outside the capital.
Peter Kinsella, 62, told the ECHO the team "very unglamorously" found out about their recognition via email. He said: "It was brilliant for us to get it for both restaurants, but also for the deli as well, because the deli is utterly unique. There's nothing like it in Britain."
A gamble that paid off
He added: "It was a real gamble 16, 17 years ago to open in Liverpool. But it is a gamble that has paid off because people still love and support us. That's why we are still around. It is so challenging for all restaurants and operators, but we get incredible support from our guests. They come, they drink, they buy from the deli, they buy online all around the UK. It enables us to stay around."
Assessors scored Lunya and Lunyalita 96% overall in the Restaurants from Spain quantitative evaluation. Lunya's deli scored 98/100 in its Colmados from Spain assessment.
Founded in 2010
Founded in 2010 by Peter Kinsella, Lunya is a Spanish and Catalan deli, restaurant and bar group based in Liverpool. Lunya on Hanover Street combines a large restaurant with a gourmet shop stocking more than 100 Spanish products. Lunyalita, located at Liverpool's Royal Albert Dock, is a bar and restaurant. Between them, the venues have been featured in the Good Food Guide, The Guardian and The Times, and Lunya was named Good Food North West Restaurant of the Year in both 2015 and 2016.
Peter said: "You know one of the best things we see every week? When the Spanish visitors come into Liverpool, they don't know the deli is there, they're walking around Liverpool ONE, and they see us. You always see people looking in the window, mouths are wide open, they are recognising things they see in their local town or village they are from, and they get a photograph with the product. It tells us we're doing something right when you see that. It's just lovely to see their passion and enthusiasm."
He added: "The team is on a real high. It's a challenging year and recognition means everything. Our guests really love what we do, and they tell us. They leave lovely reviews. This is an accreditation of being authentic."
