Friends Anthony Miles and Terrance Foster have teamed up to bring their idea to life
Terry Foster, one of the owners of The Experience cocktail bar in Waterloo
Just 20 minutes from what is arguably Liverpool’s favourite holiday destination, Benidorm, you will find L’Albir. After flying into Alicante, some make the journey to the compact coastal resort to enjoy its beach, explore the natural park, visit the lighthouse and dabble in the local markets.
If you are one of those who have done so, you might have come across The Experience Lounge Bar. The venue is the idea of Anthony Miles, who opened it a few years ago.
Fast forward to today and the same brand can be found on South Road in Waterloo. Located at number 24, the second location has only been open for a number of weeks, but according to co-owner Terrance Foster it has been a success so far.
Terrance, 33, from West Derby, told the ECHO: “The last two weekends have been busy but we are still working on establishing ourselves and getting our name out there. Anthony and I have been friends for a while now; we met in Dubai. It made sense to use both of our experiences.
The Experience cocktail bar in Waterloo is found at number 24 South Road
“I’ve been in the industry since I was a teenager, about 15. I started as a glass collector and worked my way up to a manager role. Now, to be my own boss is amazing.”
Together, the pair invested £200,000 into making their idea became a reality. Terrance, a former Heaven nightclub DJ who lives in Crosby, explained how they received the keys back in August and a huge overhaul began immediately.
He said: “It was a full refurbishment. We ripped everything out and gave it a completely new design. It’s now classy and elegant, both combined in a sleek finished setting.
Terry Foster with one of the bar’s signature cocktails
“It was a vision for a few months, but to see it in the end, and all our ideas come to life, is amazing. It is my baby, really. I started at the bottom and now I’m here.”
Terrance recognises it is a highly competitive industry but he hopes that his late twist on a happy hour, will keep customers coming back to the 90-capacity venue.
From 11pm to 12am The Experience has its “Golden Hour” were cocktails are £6.50, bottled beer is £2.75 and a glass of prosecco is £5. To localise the original-Spanish brand, Terrance has created some signature drinks including The Scouse Bird, Our Kid and Let it Be.
The Experience cocktail bar in Waterloo
This kitchen is due to open in December, and with weekends filled with live Terrance believes the brand to thrive in Waterloo.
The Experience, opened to 3am every weekend, is found at 24 South Road, Waterloo, L22 5PQ.