The Empire pub, a much-loved Liverpool city centre venue, will reopen in November under new ownership as part of Rob Gutmann's The 1936 Pub Company. The pub, which closed last month after more than a century of history at the corner of Hanover Street and Wood Street, is being renovated and will feature cask ales and an "elite" whisky selection.
Renovation reveals hidden features
Rob and his team took the keys to the Edwardian building opposite the Epstein Theatre a month ago. 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."
"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."
History of the Empire pub
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 police report from 1892 stated: "This house has been most unsatisfactorily conducted during the past year." The report claimed 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. 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 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 attracted a mixture of regulars, workers, visitors and those heading into town for a night out.
Links to another Liverpool pub
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.
