The Empire pub in Liverpool city centre will reopen under new ownership on Thursday, November 19 at 11am, with renovation work uncovering original early 20th-century features.
The pub, at 70 Hanover Street on the corner of Wood Street, will be run by Rob Gutmann's The 1936 Pub Company, which already owns several Liverpool venues including The Vines, Red Lion, Monro, St Peter's Tavern and Pilgrim.
Renovation reveals original features
Rob and his team took over the Edwardian building opposite the Epstein Theatre around a month ago. He said he was "relishing" the challenge of breathing new life into what he described as a faded pub legend.
Renovation work has uncovered decorative tiling, original timber flooring and historic wallpaper dating back to the early 20th century. The team is also removing the modern frontage to reveal the building's original pre-war exterior and preserved signage.
History dating back to before 1914
The pub's history dates back to before 1914, when the premises were known as the Dewdrop Inn. A police report from 1892 criticised its management and claimed officers regularly found large numbers of prostitutes inside, although magistrates still renewed its licence.
Around 1914, the building was completely reconstructed and renamed The Empire, becoming a popular traditional city-centre pub. During the late 1980s, it also shared management links with Coopers on Cases Street, with landlord John Hodges introducing live music to attract customers during nearby redevelopment work.
The venue, a short walk from Liverpool Central Station and Liverpool ONE, was known for its traditional surroundings, real ale, live music and popular karaoke nights.
