Owners Phil Starling and Keith Perryman said they are glad they took the opportunity when they did
17:30, 07 Aug 2025Updated 17:57, 07 Aug 2025
The Watering Can owners Phil Starling and Keith Perryman(Image: Andrew Teebay)
A Liverpool venue hidden away in a park south of the city is celebrating a milestone. Greenbank Park is a beautiful, tranquil park with an elegant, placid lake. It boasts mature trees, a conservation area, a stone bridge at the northern end and football pitches. Also found at the L18 green space is a cafe that needs no introduction.
The Watering Can has been part of the Mossley Hill area since 2019. The award-winning bistro opened in April of that year, but as owners Phil Starling and Keith Perryman explained it had been in the pipework’s for some time before this – ten years to be exact.
Phil, a 42-year-old from Aigburth, told the ECHO: “It’s been a real journey for us. Over the last few years, we’ve had some highs and some really low lows, but the business has been successful so it has been all worthwhile.
“We have weathered the storm and came out the other side of it. We are really proud to be the owners of it. It’s such a recognisable brand now and that’s what we love.”
Watering can’s Amy Beatie and Sam Gomez at the South Liverpool venue
Keith started his hospitality career in the 1970s, working in Otterspool and Sefton Park cafe. The now 62-year-old then went on to set up Otterspool Adventure Centre but left it as the site, the Watering Can now calls home, became available.
Financial server Phil said: “He just saw the opportunity and went for it. We are very lucky we did do it. People love the Watering Can’s food and drink and we’ve got loyal customers now. We wouldn’t be here today without them.
Keith said what started as a project passion for him has now “far surpassed everything we ever could have imagined.” The managing director added that during the years the venue has been open, it has faced a “selection of operational problems” including a pandemic, floods, a cost-of-living crisis and more recently a threat to have the venue burnt down.
The Watering Can owners Phil Starling and Keith Perryman with staff Sam Gomez, Sam Calleyblack and Amy Beatie.
Lockdown was enforced when the Watering Can had only been open for a year and “hadn’t found its feet yet”. This left the team with no choice but to adapt and change their initial offerings.
He said: “We were in unknown territory. Suddenly, we had to navigate furlough, eat out to help out, and restrictions on people mixing. Overnight, we went from being a dine-in venue to a takeaway venue. It put us on the map. People would come and spend their hour in the park, and then get a takeaway.”
Still to this day, Phil said customers would pop in after a morning spent in the park. He believes the Watering Can’s location is one of the reasons it has a “destination venue”, even for familiar faces, including Jodie Comer, Jamie Carragher and Martin Freeman.
The Watering Can is celebrating six years in business
A core mission of the Watering Can, which was set up by Phil and Keith, was to be an LGBTQ+ safe space. This still rings true as the brand celebrates its sixth birthday this month.
To celebrate, customers can participate in the Dine and Dice initiative throughout August. Essentially, those lucky enough to roll a six will get 60% off their total bill.
Beyond the birthday celebrations, Phil added: “We are currently looking for other venues. We are always looking for new sites and ventures, but it is a tough time for hospitality.”