The team behind a Liverpool restaurant have responded after it received the lowest hygiene rating possible. Picante, a Mexican-inspired cantina in the Baltic Triangle, returned to Liverpool in March after closing in September.
However, on Friday, May 15, inspectors were disappointed with what they found. The inspectors said the venue needed “urgent improvement” across all three categories: cleanliness and condition of facilities and building, management of food safety, and hygienic food handling.
Set across two floors in the former Dockleaf site in Cains Brewery Village, Picante “conjured the essence of Guadalajara and its bustling cantina scene”. Joe Wild, once owner of Taco or Don't, adapted his Mexican food business into Picante with the help of Kate, a managing partner of Gin Journey. The team was completed by Sally Jo Whitlow and Danny Murphy of Jenn's Bar and Berry & Rye, respectively.
A spokesperson on behalf of the team told the ECHO: “We recently had an inspection from the Food Standards Agency, which identified some operational issues in our pop-up site in Cains Brewery Village, which needed remedial work. We commissioned several external companies to ensure the issues identified were resolved, including guidance from compliance experts, Mercury Support. We are very confident in these measures we have undertaken and look forward to improving our score at the earliest possible opportunity. The safety and well-being of our amazing customers and staff are always our highest priority, and we are fully committed to delivering the highest standards.” The venue closed for a week to allow the work to be carried out.
Picante is a temporary venture and closes after the summer months. Last year, the final operations fell on September 27. The ECHO previously reported how the team confirmed Picante would return for a second season, beginning on Friday, March 13, 2026.
At the time, Danny Murphy said: “Our debut season with Picante exceeded all of our expectations – we absolutely loved introducing our Mexican cantina concept to the city in 2025, and genuinely, we were blown away by how much people loved it. The feedback has been truly wonderful since day one, and we can’t thank everyone enough for their support for Picante. And now for 2026, we’re coming back bigger and better, with new dishes and cocktails to try, monthly Tequila Tasting Fridays sessions, Kate’s back with her Margarita masterclasses and we will have day parties up on the Más terrace. We’re bringing back the high energy, fiery fun and warmly welcoming Picante vibes, perfect for the forthcoming spring and summer seasons - and hopefully we get lots of sunshine, too. Don’t forget Picante means spicy in Spanish, and that’s exactly what we’re all about, bringing the heat to Liverpool.”
Liverpool City Council’s environmental health service conducts food hygiene inspections to ensure food served to the public is safe to eat. Officers can turn up unannounced and can take food samples and photographs to support any investigation. Unless there is an immediate risk to health, businesses that receive bad ratings are given time to make changes so that things improve. They can also ask to be re-inspected or appeal the verdict handed down by officials.
