The Empire pub, a much-loved Liverpool city centre venue on the corner of Hanover Street and Wood Street, has closed its doors after more than a century of history. The pub 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. But its long run has now come to an end, leaving another historic city centre drinking hole behind it.
Construction underway and planned reopening
When the ECHO visited the pub on Thursday, October 1, construction work was underway and painting was being finished off. According to those working on the premises, the venue will reopen in November under new ownership.
The pub's story stretches back well before it became known as The Empire. Before its reconstruction around 1914, the premises were known as the Dewdrop Inn.
A colourful past and a new name
A police report from 1892 painted a colourful picture of life inside the pub, stating: "This house has been most unsatisfactorily conducted during the past year." The report went on to claim that police visiting the premises "continually find large numbers of prostitutes on the premises."
Despite the police objection, magistrates granted the renewal of the pub's licence. More than a century later, the premises were still welcoming customers. Around 1914, the building was completely reconstructed and took on the name The Empire, the identity it would carry for generations of Liverpool drinkers.
Inside the pub and its links to another venue
Inside, The Empire became known for its open-plan traditional pub atmosphere. Its walls were decorated with vintage posters, photographs connected to Liverpool's historic Empire Theatre and images of famous actors and singers from the city's past. The pub became known as a traditional city-centre "boozer", attracting a mixture of regulars, workers, visitors and those heading into town for a night out.
The Empire also has links to another well-known Liverpool pub. During the late 1980s, when major redevelopment was taking place around Clayton Square, The Empire shared management and tenant history with Coopers on Cases Street. Landlord John Hodges famously ran both establishments and introduced live music as a way of keeping customers coming through the doors while construction disrupted the surrounding area.
Now, after decades of serving Liverpool drinkers, and more than 100 years under the name The Empire, the doors have closed.
