Salón Madre, a tequila-led Mexican pool hall, taqueria and bar on Hanover Street in Liverpool city centre, has permanently closed its doors less than a year after opening. The announcement was confirmed on Monday, October 26.
The venue opened in November 2025 as a "younger, wilder" sister concept to the Royal Albert Dock restaurant Madre, which closed after six years of operation in March. Salón Madre promised "late nights powered by tequila, pool tables buzzing with action, Lucha Libre screenings, and live sports on the big screens".
The bar and food menu offered a range of frozen, classic and flavoured Margaritas and Palomas, alongside Mexican street eats like al pastor tacos, gringas, and burritos.
Closure Confirmed After Weeks of Uncertainty
Mystery had surrounded the future of the venue, with the bar appearing shut and in darkness during its normal opening hours over the last couple of weeks. It has now been confirmed that Salón Madre has permanently closed.
In a statement, Madre told the ECHO: "Closing Madre on the Albert Dock and Salón Madre on Hanover Street was the hardest decision we've ever had to make. Liverpool is where a lot of this started for us. We put everything into both sites and so did our teams. We're gutted for every one of them."
The statement continued: "The truth is the numbers stopped adding up. Footfall in the area dropped right off and costs across hospitality have gone through the roof. We're far from the only ones. We worked with our landlords and tried everything we could to keep the doors open. In the end there was no way through."
Second Hanover Street Closure This Month
Both businesses are now in liquidation and that process is being followed properly. The statement added: "To everyone who worked with us and everyone who came through the doors, thank you."
The announcement marks the second venue closure on Hanover Street this month. The ECHO previously reported on the closure of much-loved pub The Empire, which brought an end to more than a century of history at the corner of Hanover Street and Wood Street.
The Empire, found at 70 Hanover Street, was a familiar sight to generations of drinkers, sitting just a short walk from Liverpool Central Station and Liverpool ONE. Known for its traditional surroundings, real ale, live music and karaoke nights, the small corner boozer had built up a loyal following over the years.
However, the site is set for a new chapter after it was confirmed that the pub will reopen as part of Rob Gutmann's The 1936 Pub Company. The company is also behind The Vines, Red Lion, Monro, St Peter's Tavern and Pilgrim.
New Chapter for The Empire
Rob and his team took the keys to the Edwardian building opposite the Epstein Theatre a month ago. Since then, Rob told the ECHO he has been "relishing" taking on the challenge of "breathing new life into a faded pub legend".
He said: "The Empire building itself is an Edwardian classic, but its period interior has long been lost. Our early excavations, though, have revealed some beautiful early 20th-century tiling, original timber flooring and some incredible wallpapers from down the decades."
He added: "Externally, we are removing the modern faux Victorian frontage and are discovering, again, some amazing tile work, and a pre-war pub exterior with original signage graphics still preserved."
