International Slavery Museum Café

The international slavery museum is a great educational journey for anyone with an interest in the origins this harsh trade. It documents the history of the slave trade from it’s very roots up to its present day consequences such as racism and discrimination.
The museum is split into three sections, one that explains imperialism and what was happening in Africa when slavery first began. The next documents the harsh journeys made by the slave ships, the conditions on board and the people involved. The third looks at how slavery has shaped societies prejudices today and how black people throughout the word are still oppressed in certain societies as a result of this sickening trade.
It’s a real eye opener and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in history and society as a whole, as anyone will be able to take away valuable information from this museum!

Is it just me, or does it feel somewhat… inappropriate to really enjoy food near to a museum dedicated to the study of slavery? Well, the museum obviously wishes for you to enjoy some tasty grub, otherwise they wouldn’t be tempting you with such delicious options as the lunch-​focussed Quayside Café, open from 10am until 4.30pm with its baguettes, snacks, free wi-​fi and hot and cold drinks and the Maritime Dining Rooms, which is far more of a restaurant.
This is a dining experience and a half. The food is slightly posh with a down-​to-​earth twist and nothing short of delicious. Light lunches include the fruit cake with Baltic cheese at under a fiver, which I couldn’t resist as it’s one of those excellent sweet and savoury combos, and it’s gorgeous. You can get a Ploughman’s for £6, open tuna sandwiches with Caesar salad or a beef burger with onion rings or Cumberland sausage and caramelised onions on a pikelet… see what I mean about the posh/​rustic twist? It really works. Main meals include duck breast, crisp mackerel fillets, beef ribs, beer battered fish and chips or a superb veggie option which is a wild mushroom and leek pudding. At £1.75 the bread selection is a great option to get you going for your meal, and if you’ve room for afters there’s chocolate fudge pudding with marscapone (heaven), lemon meringue fool, raspberry sorbet, pear tart, it goes on, and all the food is locally sourced where possible. Those are Lancashire raspberries in that there sorbet I’ll have you know.
With a great selection of teas, coffees and refreshing beverages as well as a wine list and some really unusual Cains beers, and views over the River Mersey, I’d say it’s the perfect spot for a bit of light reflection and relaxation.