A demolished hotel where generations tied the knot and downed their first pint also boasted its own nightclub.
Located on Cherryfield Drive in Kirkby, The Golden Eagle Hotel also had a bar, restaurant and acted as a party venue for private functions. Opening on July 15, 1965, the £180,000 three star Golden Eagle was the area's first residential hotel.
Meeting demand for residents and visiting business people from the rapidly growing Kirkby Industrial Estate, it became a landmark in the town with many special memories being made there. To celebrate its official opening, the Liverpool ECHO reported how a dinner was hosted for 100 guests.
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In its early days, the hotel boasted a reception area, three bars, an off licence shop, kitchen and service and storage rooms with a restaurant and ballroom. Its original décor also saw the foyer covered in Japanese red silk.
The hotel's cocktail bar was first known as the Eagle's Nest and the Melling Bar, named after the nearby village, was located on the ground floor. At the time, nobody was allowed in the hotel bars wearing an open necked shirt.
Through the decades, The Golden Eagle was the location for milestone events, such as weddings, hen dos and birthdays. Many Kirkby residents will have had loved ones who worked as cleaners, receptionists, chefs, bar staff and DJs in the building.
A place where many got their first pint, generations of fond memories were made in the nightclub attached to the building, known as The Palms. The ECHO previously reported how many shared their memories of a much-loved local hotel.
One resident remembered: "Most weddings in Kirkby were held at Golden Eagle back in the day." Another said: "It was lovely. It was very posh then, the men weren't allowed in the bar unless they were wearing a tie.
"Before my wedding we dropped off my wedding cake and then went into the bar for a drink and the bartender produced a tie from behind the bar and asked my future father in-law to put it on." Another commented: "Had many a good night out at the Palms."
One posted: "Met my wife there in 1987 at the Palms and still going strong." And another resident said: "We used to go to the Palms club every week when we were teens!! Loved that place."
What are your memories of The Golden Eagle in Kirkby? Let us know in the comments section below.
According to the ECHO's archives, in December 1966, Prime Minister and Huyton MP Harold Wilson addressed more than 100 members and guests at the third annual dinner and prize presentation of Kirkby Cycling Club at The Golden Eagle in Kirkby. In 1969, he also attended the Kirkby Civic Ball, opening an additional wing at the hotel.
In its time, the hotel had a number of refurbishments. In November 1986, The Golden Eagle was completely transformed and saw its 40 bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms, equipped with telephone, colour TV and tea making facilities, as well as a new restaurant and new bars.
At the time, the ECHO reported how the Bird Bar was created by knocking two of the former bars into one and the restaurant was now called Tree Tops. In September 1992, "not one part of the building had not been refurbished or improved" as part of a 750,000 scheme.
By then, the hotel's Roosters Bar had the atmosphere of a traditional British pub and the Poacher's Kitchen restaurant had a menu including the chefs choice soup for £1, barbeque ribs for £2.20, fillet of plaice costing £3.60, golden crisp haddock for £2.90 and sirloin steak costing £5.90.
In March 2012 , the nursing home, Golden Eagle Hotel and petrol station on Cherryfield Drive were demolished to make way for the new Tesco scheme. For some time, all that was left of the hotel was mounds of debris on the former site.
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Last year, the ECHO reported how Knowsley Council had revealed plans are underway to transform the site of the former Golden Eagle hotel after construction staff were spotted there. The site has remained vacant since its demolition in 2012.
After a photo of construction staff was seen from January 24, a spokesperson from the council confirmed to the ECHO it was part of site investigation works which form part of Knowsley's Housing Land Disposal Programme.
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