The Poste House is one of Liverpool's most historic pubs and one of the many backstreet boozers dotted throughout the city.
The intimate venue is set over two floors on Cumberland Street and is completed with a charming interior, pubby décor and furnishings including stained glass windows. It is said to be one of the oldest LGBTQ+ friendly establishments the city has to offer with it being built in 1820.
For more than 200 years, a range of questionable clientele have found themselves within its nook and crannies tucked away down the discreet alley connecting Dale Street and Victoria Street. The pub, more affectionately known as The Postie, supposedly served the likes of Jack The Ripper suspect James Maybrick, singer Bob Dylan, lead vocalist of Blondie Debbie Harry and Noel Gallagher. Another hearsay about the venue is that it's haunted.
READ MORE: How Liverpool became the first UK city to recognise its 'gay quarter'
The venue's target audience has changed over the years from local scouse traditionalists to a younger more flamboyant crowd. That’s not to say a more mature tribe can’t be found downstairs enjoying a gin and tonic, however, upstairs is a popular choice amongst the LGBTQ+ community, no doubt for its ‘cheap-as-chips’ drinks and contagious atmosphere.
Back in 2001, it looked as if the Georgian ale house was to be no more after big name property developers wished to turn Cumberland Street into flats and apartments. According to the developers, the pub wouldn't fit into their plans and therefore had to go. After careful consideration, an application to demolish the century old pub was recommended for approval by Liverpool City Council’s planning officers and fans of the venue began to fear for the worse.
At the time ECHO journalist, Paddy Shennan, wrote: “The Poste House MUST be saved! Please don't expect your friendly ECHO pub columnists to ever sit on the fence. If you sit on the fence, you get splinters in your bottom - and that's no way to enjoy a pint of best bitter.
“As all good drinkers and ECHO readers will know, the Poste House is in danger of facing the very worst last orders you can ever face. Last orders for the very last time. But if licensees Brenda and Mike Lancaster, together with an army of indignant regulars, have their way, the bulldozers will be barred from the Cumberland Street boozer. Forever.
“Iliad and David McLean Contractors Ltd, who bought Liverpool city council's former Municipal Annexe on Dale Street and education offices in Sir Thomas Street for £2m last year, are planning a major development for this and the surrounding area which would include apartments, restaurants, café bars and public squares. The entire proposal is due to be considered at a planning committee meeting at the end of this month. But whatever the merits of such a scheme, I can't see any merit in calling time on one of Liverpool's most famous pubs.”
Mike Carr, who was the press officer for the Merseyside branch of the campaign for real ale, alongside the pub’s regulars put up a fight to keep the place open. A petition opposing the plans was signed by more than 700 people and 50 individual letters of objection were also presented to the council from people wanting the pub, which was then locally known as The Muck Midden, to stay.
Alongside this, was a successful co-ordinated media campaign, which reportedly culminated in a delegation marching behind a coach and horses to the planning committee hearing at Liverpool Town Hall. In 2001, Mike told the ECHO: “If a pub is in a prime site it will get plenty of passing trade, but the Poste House is a pub for regulars - and those in the know. It really is like walking into the perfect living room: a friendly place where non-regulars are made to feel very welcome."
According to Paddy, Mike even “threatened to chain himself to the fixtures and fittings should the go-ahead be given to the controversial plans.” Mike’s grand gesture didn’t need to take place as much to everyone’s delight, councillors disregarded the advice of their officers and threw out the demolition plans.
If you’re visiting Liverpool’s Pride Quarter, be sure to add The Poste House to your itinerary for its history alone.
