The County pub on County Road in Walton has been closed for nearly ten years, a silent testament to a growing trend in which distant property companies acquire local landmarks and leave them vacant. Once a bustling match-day pub near Goodison Park, it shut between 2015 and 2016. In September 2016, the freehold was bought for £125,000 by Trivelles Landmark Ltd, a property firm based in Essex.
Ownership changes, but no progress
In 2021, control of Trivelles passed to Rashed Chaudhry, now operating as Landmark Hotels Ltd (LHL), according to the Liverpool ECHO. Despite the change in ownership, the building remains boarded-up and unused, a familiar sight for locals.
Stalled redevelopment plans
In 2022, LHL submitted a planning application to convert the pub into a ground-floor hotel with 11 flats above. However, the project never materialised, and Liverpool City Council disposed of the plans under Article 40, an administrative step for inactive applications. No approved plans exist for the site, and there is no word on when work might begin.
Broader impact on communities
Empty buildings like The County pub can attract vandalism, deter investment, and leave gaps in high streets. The loss is not just economic but social, as pubs often serve as community hubs. The ECHO attempted to contact Landmark Hotels Ltd for comment but received no response.
