With pubs facing a tough winter due to soaring energy costs a group of Liverpool publicans are creating a new ‘Beer Quarter’ and will hold a celebration weekend this month. Tony McDonough reports
A group of Liverpool publicans are coming together to form a new ‘Beer Quarter’ in the city centre to promote the city’s pub trade amid a tough economic climate in the sector.
Pubs and other hospitality outlets are facing a tough winter. Despite Government support announced last week to help with homes and businesses with rising fuel bills, the sector is still facing a difficult winter.
They are facing rising costs across the board with the age-old dilemma of how much they pass on to customers. And with those same customers also looking to cut back amid the cost-of-living crisis, difficult days lie ahead.
However, on the weekend of September 23 to 25, a number of independent pubs in and around Dale Street in the city centre will celebrate the launch of their new Beer Quarter. There will be a weekend of live music, comedy, karaoke, pub games, beer tastings, ‘meet the brewer’ and special food offerings.
Pubs taking part include The Ship and Mitre, The Excelsior, Dead Crafty Beer Company, The Angus Tap & Grind, The Vernon Arms, The Saddle, The Denbigh Castle, The Lion Tavern, The Cross Keys and Shenanigans.
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It was a part of town that was first recognised by King Edward III back in 1328. Originally mainly residential, it morphed into Liverpool’s commercial district over the centuries.
Fiona Hornsby, landlady of The Denbigh Castle, said: “They were lined with numerous coaching houses and inns for the many travelers coming in and out of Liverpool on business.”
The district teems with history:
- The Teagle crane on Hackin’s Hey was once used to lower goods into basements of warehouses.
- Quakers Alley was home of the old meeting house of the Quakers in the 1700s.
- Hockenhall Alley was the location of the last remaining Workers House, built around 1760.
- Hatton Garden – look up and see the old police and fire station and nearby Cheapside for the Old Bridewell prison.
- Dale Street houses – 15 listed buildings, with sublime architecture to admire and inspire.
Now Dale Street and its back streets thrive with independent pubs and, in these challenging times, they want to celebrate their resilience. Fiona added: “We’re acutely aware of the dismal headlines about 70% of pubs potentially falling this winter.
“Our ambition and focus is to retain all of our pubs in this great city of ours and especially in this area. Because what would Liverpool be like without them? It’s almost unimaginable looking back over our three decades of experience in the industry.
“We thought that collaborating together and establishing a Beer Quarter* would reaffirm the area’s canny ability to provide the kind of quality entertainment that is unique to the great British pub, albeit with a Scouse twist.”