Restaurant owned by former LFC star sold three years after taking over

A restaurant that was once owned by a former Liverpool midfielder is under new management.

Steve McMahon and his wife Julie, bought Auberge Brasserie in Southport, after eating at the restaurant in 2020. Now just three years later Auberge is changing hands.

Linda Burnside has worked at Auberge for 30 years as the manager and said taking over the restaurant was her dream. While she wants to make a few changes, she believes Auberge is great the way it is.

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Linda told the ECHO: “I worked with the original owner when Auberge was founded in 1993. I have worked here from day one and was the manageress.

“There were only nine tables when it opened and it has expanded over the years. The opportunity was there and Julie and Steve wanted to go, I thought we would take the plunge and go for it ourselves.”

Julie is undertaking the venture with the former head chef at Auberge, Russell Caines. They took over the restaurant on October 23.

Linda, 61, said: “Russell and I have been running the restaurant for Julie and Steve, we felt confident we could put our mark on it.

“I’m excited but now we are doing it for ourselves we can bring some new ideas and invest more into the restaurant in the new year.”

That restaurant has a long-standing reputation in Southport and that has grown since it opened 30 years ago. However, it has not been easy at times, during covid former owner Steve had to shut Auberge down just weeks after buying it.

Linda is hoping for an easier start to life at the helm, she added: “I have always loved it here and it has always felt like the place I belong. We have seen