When the Quarter cafe opened its doors on Falkner Street in 2003 it heralded a new era for what was fast-becoming known as the Georgian Quarter- although back then the area was a very different place.
"There were mattresses in St James' gardens and working girls at the gates of Gambier Terrace" said one long-time customer of the Quarter, musing about years past.
In 2003, the Georgian quarter was better known as a bit of a red light district rather than a creative hub, with the name of nearby Toxteth also still suffering from the seemingly inextricable link to riots that had occurred more than 20 years earlier.
The area had an unpredictable edge in the air - "it was tasty around here, and in some ways, it still is" one customer said.
These days though, while the enigmatic and edgy spirit remains along Falkner Street, it is not unusual to find internationally-renowned premier league footballers grabbing some lunch and film crews who are shooting nearby popping in for a coffee and a bite, mingling in with the eclectic clientele of regulars who make the Quarter a little slice of home from home.
Business people make deals over lunch, while bohemian types chew the cud and students and lecturers alike escape the throngs at the nearby university campus for a relaxed bite to eat, while regulars fill the pavement seating area outside, chatting to locals passing by.
"It reminds me of Shoreditch here" said one customer, "or a Parisian-style cafe" added another as they brave the post-storm chill in the winter sunshine, sipping on a coffee and watching the world go by.
A coach drops off a group of tourists up the road, and they make a hungry beeline for a spare table inside, while an animated discussion between friends is taking place outside, and a man in a suit talks loudly through his bluetooth headset about a make or break money-making scheme the details of which "absolutely must be signed today."
An afternoon spent people-watching, the ebb and flow of customers passing through the doors of the Quarter can throw up fragments of the most curious of conversations.
From general irreverent witticisms about life, the universe and everything to deep and meaningful discussions about post-structuralism, the ins and outs of some engineering conundrum, to work gossip or the delicate dance of two near-strangers navigating a date, the conversation at the Quarter is as eclectic as its clientele.
One regular customer, Peter, eating lunch over his laptop, said: "It's a great atmosphere, great food - it's always consistently nice - and the staff are alright too - they're great really - there's always some banter in here."
While the Quarter is renowned for its fresh food - pizzas, pasta and wide variety of cakes, there's something about the atmosphere that's hard to pin down.
Co-manager Jay Manning, 23, said: "I think its the people and the area - you couldn't have the Quarter anywhere else.
"It's just so diverse, quirky and cool around here - there's a bit of everything.
"It's known as the Toxteth Riviera and in the summer it looks like we could be in Paris.
"Every year it just gets more and more popular."
"It's not just the Georgian quarter though - the whole city thrives off creativity - it's the type of people we have - you can spot a Scouser anywhere."
Many of the Quarter's daytime customers are loyal regulars who have been coming in for years, including one man whose reputation is starting to precede him.
Liverpool's ' most opinionated man' Bernie Carroll has made the Quarter his office, propping up an outside table most days.
Bernie said: "I’ve turned it into my personal office partly because of its location. Even on the coldest day, the sun always reaches me and it’s great for playing hide and seek with the parking wardens.
"The staff are so eclectic and multi-national. I’m not a star-gazer but have noticed the number of suspected celebrities who gravitate to its doors.
"It has a certain left bank ambience."
James, who pops in for a regular tenants meeting, would agree.
He said: "What I love about the Quarter is that it's a place for everyone - if you're coming just for a coffee, or even for a drink - or a full three-course meal, there's room for you - and there's just such a great mix of people in here."
Manager Jay added: "There's definitely not a typical day in here - every day there's something different or mad - there is never a dull day."
Jay, whose dad and uncle Colin and Gary Manning opened the Quarter at the site of the former Number Seven cafe in 2003, has grown up in the place.
It soon expanded to take in more units along the street, taking over the space of a sandwich shop. which Jay maintains "did the best tuna rolls ever - they used tomato ketchup instead of mayonnaise, which I've never seen anywhere else".
The Quarter then extended its offering to a shop selling local produce and breakfast goods - although these days, that part of the Quarter is a salad bar with cosy tables for those grabbing a quick bite.
Of a night, the restaurant is bustling with theatre-goers and customers enjoying the relaxed night time scene of the Hope Street area.
Having grown up with the Quarter, Jay can't imagine his life without it.
He said: "As a kid I'd be running into the kitchen asking for chocolate digestives our chef was making, and when I was 12, I asked my dad for pocket money - so he gave me a Saturday job here.
"I've seen it grow and grown up with it really. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
