The owners of an iconic independent pub said "the core of the city is being ripped out" after its lease hasn't been renewed.
The Liverpool, on James Street in the city centre, will close in April this year when their current lease comes to an end and is not renewed by the Stonegate Group - a company that owns and runs hundreds of pubs across the country. The pub has been operated by the same family for 30 years since former owner Val Smith took over with her late husband Peter in the early 1990s.
The pub has been operated by Val's daughters Paula Billingsley and Yvonne Taylor since their mum retired in 2019. The family spoke to the ECHO in February 2020 after the pub had undergone a £25,000 makeover - but weeks later they were forced to close its doors when the country was plunged into the first covid lockdown.
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Paula said the pub was given its notice seven months ago despite battling through covid. And the 58-year-old owner added Liverpool, like all other town and city centres, is at risk of losing its personality as more and more independents are forced to close. The Liverpool will be the second pub to shut in the city centre in recent weeks after The Beehive announced it would close its doors and look to reinvent itself for a different clientele.
Paula told the ECHO: "We never believed it was going to happen to us. As far as we're concerned, our lease hasn't been renewed so we're going on April 18. When I go into the city centre now I don't know where to go sometimes because all the independents are going.
"The core of our city is being ripped out. Everything will soon be exactly the same. You want local people running local pubs - not big businesses. We didn't want to just leave without getting our story across."
Pubs are in the family's blood. Val and Peter moved down to London in the 80s and took over The Ferry Boat Inn in Walthamstow. But the pair missed Liverpool and wanted to come back. They were asked if they could take over The Liverpool which at the time was a failing pub.
Since they took over the running of the pub it has stayed in the family. Val's other children Stephen and Debbie have helped in the pub at some point in its history - and all their children have grown up around the pub. Paula described the pub "just like our home" - and the family "wants our customers to feel at home as well".
Paula told the ECHO: "For 30 years the pub has been a big part of our lives. We've never treated it like a job. That's why it will be so hard to go. You can tell the love, care and attention in a family business, but nothing lasts forever.
"Our staff are devastated. Some of them have been with us for over 25 years - they've been an integral part of the business as they know what the customers want."
The pub will have one last hurrah on the night of April 16 after a weekend of Aintree Grand National celebrations. The family don't know what will happen with the pub, but hope it keeps its historic name.
Paula added: "I don't want to go out without a bit of noise. When we give the keys over that will be the time when it hits us. We are heartbroken to see the old girl go from our hands. We hope whoever gets her looks after her."
A spokesperson for Stonegate told the ECHO: "We are looking forward to welcoming a new tenant to the pub in April. The new tenant is an experienced publican from the local area and will bring much energy and expertise to the pub.
"The existing publicans will continue to work at The Liverpool on a part-time basis, continuing their work with the pub’s community and offering continuity and support for the new tenants."
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