Permit Room opened on 5 March 2026 at Exchange Court, taking over a landmark Grade II listed banking hall at the junction of Dale Street and Castle Street, directly opposite Liverpool Town Hall. Created by Dishoom as their all-day bar-café sibling concept, the venue takes inspiration from the bohemian "permit rooms" of 1970s Bombay, where citizens gathered to drink and eat during Maharashtra's state prohibition era.
What Permit Room does
The space blends an all-day restaurant with a spirited neighborhood drinking tavern. The interior preserves the grand Victorian architecture of Exchange Court, featuring soaring ceilings, dark timber panelling, retro green banquettes, vintage Indian film posters and low brass lighting. Operating from breakfast through late evening, guests drop in for morning coffee and breakfast rolls, mid-afternoon laptop sessions with bottomless chai, or lively evening dinners of curries, street food plates and cocktails.
Breakfast and morning service
Morning service runs until 11:45am, anchored by Dishoom’s acclaimed freshly baked naan rolls. Dough is hand-slapped and baked against the inside walls of high-heat tandoor ovens, emerging blistered and soft before being brushed with cream cheese, a dollop of sweet-spicy tomato chilli jam, fresh coriander and fillings:
- Bacon Naan Roll: Smoked streaky bacon cured with maple syrup.
- Sausage Naan Roll: Herbed Cumberland pork sausage patties.
- The Double Egg & Cheese Naan: Two soft fried eggs with melted cheddar.
- Vegan Sausage Naan: Spiced plant-based sausage with vegan cream cheese.
- House Black Chai: Sweet, aromatic spiced tea brewed with ginger, cinnamon and cardamom, served with unlimited refills.
All-day Bombay street food and curries
From lunchtime onward, the kitchen shifts into sharing plates and homestyle curries:
- House Black Daal: Slow-cooked for twenty-four hours to produce a rich, creamy lentil stew.
- Chicken Ruby: Tender chicken pieces simmered in a spiced, silky makhani gravy.
- Crispy Snacks: Crispy spiced okra fries dusted with mango powder, vegetable samosas, and savoury samosa chaat.
- Grilled Skewers and Chops: Spicy charred lamb chops marinated in yoghurt, raw papaya and garam masala.
The story behind Exchange Court
The building at 1 Dale Street was designed in the mid-19th century as a prestigious financial institution, reflecting Castle Street’s historical role as the commercial and civic centre of the British Empire's busiest port. For decades the building operated as a commercial bank before standing vacant.
Dishoom undertook an extensive conservation-led restoration in late 2025, stripping back modern partition walls to reveal original mosaic tiling, marble pilasters and high cornicing. Rather than creating a formal dining room, they introduced their Permit Room format to provide Castle Street with an accessible, drop-in social space.
Prices and booking policy
Pricing reflects high-quality casual dining in the business district (checked September 2026):
- Breakfast naan rolls: £8.50 to £11.50
- Bottomless house spiced chai: £3.90
- House black daal: £7.50
- Chicken ruby and signature curries: £13.50 to £15.50
- Street food snacks and chaat: £5.50 to £8.50
- Cocktails and signature highballs: £9.50 to £12.50
While reservations can be booked online via their website for dining tables, a substantial section of the room and the entire central bar counter are permanently reserved for walk-in guests at all times of day.
Around Castle Street and the Commercial Quarter
Permit Room sits at the northern end of Castle Street, Liverpool’s premier hospitality strip. Neighbours include independent pubs, wine bars and town hall square. The venue is just around the corner from Dale Street craft beer destination The Dead Crafty Beer Company.
For more neighbourhood guides, read our City Centre guide and our guide to where to eat in Liverpool by area.
