The sat-nav had a cybernetic spasm, but Mike Chapple still arrived on time.

TURN round . . . go left . . . turn round . . . go right . . . go back . . . turn round . . ."

Poor Timmy, Lady Janet of Crocky Park's normally precise satellite navigation unit was getting into something of a cybernetic spasm trying to find our Birkdale destination.

We finally found it - the Vivante brasserie.

Formerly known as the Some Place Else (like, far out, man!) this bright and airy eaterie at the heart of Pleasant Valley Sunday Land was bought by the dad-and-lad partnership of Jim and Brian Corrin just over 18 months ago.

Lovers of good boozers will know that the Corrins also own one of the greatest in Christendom, the peerless Ship and Mitre, in city centre Dale Street, with its dazzling selection of real ales.

With the aim of creating an equally good restaurant an entirely different proposition, however, they brought in one of the bright young guns of the Liverpool cuisine scene to bustle it into shape.

Food and wine expert Mathew Sloane is a 33-year-old former Blue Coat School pupil.

He cut his teeth working at places such as The Metro and the kitchens and cellars of the Rawhide Comedy Club before accepting Brian and Jim's request to become Vivante general manager.

He found that little work was needed in transforming the inside of the restaurant which has a light pleasant Mediterranean feel with a Moorish slant to it, thanks to its terracotta walls, arches and pastel shades.

The only member of staff remaining from its previous ownership is the locally-born chef himself, Trevor Booth.