The Brookhouse pub on Smithdown Road has been a rite of passage for generations of Liverpool students, from celebrating exam results to watching big matches or enjoying sunny days in its packed beer garden. Now approaching its 150th birthday, the venue remains one of the city's best-known student hubs.
A building steeped in history
The pub dates back to 1878, when it was originally called the Bourne Arms. It replaced an earlier Brookhouse pub down the road, and locals kept using the old name, so it was officially changed back. The building was constructed over a brook that runs deep below, and the end part, known as 'the brewery', once housed stables where horse-drawn carts delivered beer.
General manager Steve Mann, 55, from Norris Green, has worked in the pub industry for nearly 30 years and has led The Brookhouse for almost five years. He attributes its success to a simple philosophy: 'Giving people what they want'.
Ghostly tales and famous visitors
Mr Mann has been sent TikTok videos of a 'very weird and strange-looking lady' believed to be the ghost of the Brookhouse, with doors opening and objects moving. He says he is a believer and would welcome haunting experts to investigate.
Famous visitors have included boxer Tony Bellew and several footballers, while it is said that Paul McCartney's auntie once worked there.
A hub for students and the community
The pub offers two-for-one cocktails popular with students, alongside best-selling beers like Mortetti and Amstel, and Strongbow cider. It has 16 television screens, allowing different matches to be shown in separate areas simultaneously.
Even when students are away, the pub thrives, as seen during the World Cup when it was packed. Mr Mann describes it as a safe, welcoming meeting place where everyone comes together, reflecting Liverpool's communal spirit.
He notes that people from all over the world who studied in Liverpool know the Brookhouse, and reunions from 30 or 40 years ago still take place there. He urges people to support their local pubs, as many are closing down, and emphasises the importance of socialising in keeping communities strong.
