Tempest on Tithebarn at 12 Tithebarn Street is a multi-storey independent café, restaurant, event space, and rooftop cocktail bar. Located directly opposite Moorfields station in Liverpool’s Commercial District, the venue was opened in 2021 by independent hospitality operator Ma Pub Group. In late summer 2026, building owner Capital&Centric confirmed that the operator had served three months’ contractual notice to vacate the premises upon the expiry of its lease. The venue remains fully open, trading as normal, and honouring all event bookings throughout its notice period.
What Tempest on Tithebarn does
The building operates across three distinct levels to provide an all-day hospitality destination. On the ground floor, an open, plant-filled café and dining room serves morning commuters and remote workers with espresso, breakfast bagels, and cooked brunches. Downstairs, "Koliba" is a soundproofed subterranean basement bar equipped for late-night music events, DJ takeovers, and private hire parties. At the top of the building, a large open-air timber roof terrace provides elevated views across the city’s commercial rooftops, making it one of Liverpool’s primary open-air summer drinking spots.
The rooftop apiary and honey cocktails
A distinctive feature of Tempest is its environmental sustainability program. The building’s flat roof houses tens of thousands of British honeybees in managed urban beehives. The honey harvested from these rooftop hives is extracted on-site and used directly across the kitchen and cocktail menus:
- The Rooftop Bee's Knees: Premium dry gin shaken with freshly squeezed lemon juice and raw rooftop honey syrup.
- Honey Paloma: Blanco tequila, pink grapefruit juice, lime, and rooftop honey, served with a sea-salt rim.
- Signature Cocktails: Seasonal spritzes, classic espresso martinis, smoked mezcal negronis, and draught craft beers from North West breweries.
The kitchen: All-day brunch and casual dining
The ground-floor kitchen prepares freshly made daytime comfort food:
- Breakfast and Brunch: Sourdough breakfast rolls with thick-cut bacon and fried eggs, Turkish eggs with garlic herb yoghurt, and avocado on toasted sourdough with poached eggs and chilli flakes.
- Burgers and Loaded Fries: Hand-pressed beef smash burgers in brioche buns, buttermilk fried chicken burgers, and seasoned fries loaded with melted cheese, jalapeños, and bacon bits.
- Lunch Bowls and Salads: Superfood grain bowls with roasted vegetables, halloumi, and house-made honey-mustard vinaigrette.
The story behind 12 Tithebarn Street and lease transition
Originally a mid-century office block, 12 Tithebarn Street was redeveloped into "Tempest" by social impact property developer Capital&Centric, introducing creative office studios and hospitality spaces. Ma Pub Group, led by director Iain Hoskins (who also operates historic pub Ma Boyle’s by St Nicholas Church), took on the hospitality lease in 2021, transforming the concrete shell into a welcoming social hub.
Following five years of successful trading, the operator announced in August 2026 that it would not renew its commercial lease, citing changing operational costs and strategic focus on other city-centre sites. Capital&Centric has initiated discussions with prospective independent operators to ensure the building continues to serve the city’s food and drink landscape after the handover.
Prices and visiting tips
Pricing reflects standard commercial district standards (checked September 2026):
- Speciality espresso and filter: £3.00 to £3.80
- Cooked brunch plates: £8.50 to £12.00
- Smash burgers and loaded fries: £10.50 to £13.50
- Rooftop honey cocktails: £9.00 to £11.50
- Pints of draught lager and craft ale: £4.80 to £5.80
The ground-floor café and rooftop terrace welcome walk-in visitors seven days a week. For group reservations or rooftop terrace tables during warm weather, advance booking through their website is recommended while the venue completes its final trading period.
Around Tithebarn Street and the Business District
The venue stands on Tithebarn Street directly across from the Moorfields station entrance, within easy walking distance of Exchange Flags, Castle Street, and Old Hall Street.
For more neighbourhood dining options, explore our City Centre guide and our guide to where to eat in Liverpool by area.
