Gary Usher’s Wreck Bistro Acquired by Open Restaurant Group Ahead of Liverpool Relaunch
Liverpool’s Wreck Bistro is set to enter a new chapter after being acquired by Open Restaurant Group, with the much-loved Ropewalks restaurant preparing to serve its final service under its current name next month.
The restaurant, which forms part of chef Gary Usher’s Elite Bistros group, has been acquired by Sam Morgan and chef Andrew Sheridan’s Open Restaurant Group.
Wreck will continue trading as normal until its final service on Sunday 4 October, before temporarily closing while its new owners prepare to introduce a fresh restaurant concept to the site.
Importantly, the entire existing Wreck team will be retained as part of the takeover, meaning there will be no job losses as the restaurant changes hands.
The deal marks Open Restaurant Group’s second acquisition from Gary Usher’s restaurant stable, following its takeover of Hispi in Didsbury, Greater Manchester.
A New Chapter For Wreck Bistro
Wreck has been part of Liverpool’s independent food scene since 2017, originally opening as Wreckfish following a successful crowdfunding campaign.
The project transformed a derelict building in the Ropewalks into a 90-cover bistro before the restaurant was renamed Wreck in September 2023.
While Wreck itself will close following its final service, Open Restaurant Group plans to build on the reputation and hospitality established at the site while bringing a new offering to Liverpool.
Gary Usher said: “Wreck has been such an important part of our journey over the years, so choosing the right people to take it forward was really important to us.
“Following the success of the Hispi acquisition, we know Andy and the Open Restaurant Group team will give Wreck the same care and attention, and importantly, they’ve shown that they understand how important the people behind a restaurant are by retaining the existing team.
“I’m really excited to see what they do with the site and know it’s going to be in good hands.”
Open Restaurant Group Expands Its Liverpool Presence
The acquisition also represents something of a homecoming for Open Restaurant Group co-founder Andrew Sheridan, who is from Liverpool.
The group already operates Sheridan’s flagship restaurant 8 in the city, which holds three AA Rosettes and is listed in the Michelin Guide. Its portfolio also includes Daise in Oxton, Wirral.
Sam Morgan, Chief Executive of Open Restaurant Group, said: “We’d like to pay tribute to Gary and his team for everything they’ve created with Wreck. It’s become a much-loved part of Liverpool’s independent restaurant scene and we’re very conscious of the responsibility that comes with taking on a restaurant with that history.
“This is another really exciting step for Open Restaurant Group. Liverpool is an important part of our story and we’re looking forward to bringing a new chapter to this brilliant site.”
Andrew Sheridan added: “Wreck is a brilliant site in one of the best parts of Liverpool, and there’s a huge amount to work with.
“Gary and the team have built something that people really care about, so we want to respect that while giving the space a new direction. It’s an exciting challenge for us and we’re looking forward to showing people what we’ve got planned.”
What Will Replace Wreck Bistro?
For now, Open Restaurant Group has not revealed exactly what it plans to open at the Ropewalks site. The acquisition takes the independent operator’s portfolio to nine sites across Liverpool, Manchester, Cheshire, Worcestershire and North Wales.
Its recent expansion has included the launch of Arcadian in Didsbury in September, following Noted in Chester in 2025 and Dishes in Prestatyn in 2024. The group is also preparing to open Counter in Manchester in October.
Wreck currently sits within Usher’s Elite Bistros stable alongside Sticky Walnut, The White Horse and Usher’s Bakehouse.
The restaurant’s final service will take place on Sunday 4 October 2026, after which the site will temporarily close for the changeover.
Guests wanting to visit Wreck one final time can book ahead of its closure through the restaurant’s website.
