Customers of The Beehive past and present have shared their devastation that it's set to close to be "completely overhauled", while long serving landlady Frances Lloyd will step down.
The "cracking" pub is based on Paradise Street, and is loved for its welcoming atmosphere and traditional appearance, which is in stark contrast to the modern shops and businesses surrounding it.
It's been a mainstay on the hospitality scene, in one capacity or another, for more than a century. The iconic venue has amassed a loyal and devoted clientele, while its staff have been firm fixtures for decades.
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The Greene King pub is set to be completely revamped, with its famed façade getting a new look while the interior is to be entirely rejigged with a new layout and décor. The bar area, lounge and toilets will all be "completely overhauled", and there'll also be new fixtures, fittings and signage.
Images on Greene King's website show the planned changes to the venue, which is due to close down so it can be "renovated before it relaunches following the "substantial investment". According to Greene King's website, the new Beehive "will be aimed at the 18-50 market with a focus on live sport".
A Greene King spokesperson said: "We have plans to renovate The Beehive and give it a new lease of life as a pub the local community can be proud of and which future generations can enjoy for years to come. It's early days and we hope to provide more details in the future."
After the ECHO shared news of the proposed rehaul, customers past and present were keen to share their thoughts. On the Liverpool ECHO Facebook page, Marie Daley said she was "going to miss it".
Terence Marshall said: "Great pub, was there earlier this year, not another sports bar there's enough around already. Keep it [traditional], once it's gone it's gone." Ann Williams commented: "Why is there a need to modernise EVERY PUB?! Leave us a bit of charm and nostalgia!"
Annmarie McGanity said: "We need these old style pups to stay in the city centre, so much character in them." Sally Thomas left a lengthy comment praising the "good old fashioned boozer with history seeping through its walls" and its "friendly welcome and a cracking atmosphere". Sally added: "Another traditional good old part of history makes way for a boring sports bar which are ten a penny, tragic. One day people will be screaming to have these types of pubs back but they will never be recreated. We kill anything of real value in this country. Pubs that bring people and communities together to just have a pint and chat."
Kath Cowan said: "I love this pub I used to have a drink with my mum and dad in here and they have been gone for over 20 years. don't think any new ideas will make this pub any better than it is. we don't all need modern noise and cocktails in a pub." Karl Hughes said: "Should be left as it is. It's always packed with a great atmosphere".
Jenny Hopkins said: "Massive shame, they're going to ruin it and turn it into just another bar full of TV screens with no atmosphere." And Sandra Hendry commented: "Leave it alone we're losing too many of our old traditional pubs".
The ECHO also spoke with landlady Frances Lloyd about the major changes coming to The Beehive. Frances, 65, confessed she's "gutted" to be leaving the pub but was unable to carry on after a series of heartbreaking personal setbacks.
In 2020, her husband died of covid, after working alongside her for years. Then, she suffered a stroke which has had a major effect on her ability to physically work at the bar.
Frances told the ECHO: "If I hadn't been ill or lost my husband, I would never have given up my lease. My husband died of covid - right at the beginning - and doing the pub on my own after all those years together was really hard going.
"Then, dealing with the stress of all that, I think led to the stroke. I would never have left ever, I would have got another lease. I haven't got the strength anymore otherwise I would still be behind that bar.
"I see my staff doing it and I'm not physically able to join in or help them do it anymore which hurts - that's the reason I'm getting out. It's going from me to another couple - it's not going to be a traditional pub as such, they're moving with the times. It's not my pub, it's Greene King's so I don't get a say in it."
Frances' last day will be February 27, though she expects to close The Beehive three weeks prior to this in order to clear everything out and make way for the new owners and the proposed renovation plans. The Beehive is based at 7 Paradise Street, Liverpool, L1 3BL.
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