Era at legendary Liverpool pub that will 'never happen again"

In its heyday, a legendary Liverpool pub was a landmark in the city centre and a regular haunt for locals, actors and theatre-goers.

Located on the corner of Lime Street and London Road, The Legs of Man was next to the Empire Theatre and saw generations pass through its doors. Despite fierce opposition, the pub was demolished in 1999 - but it boasted a long, fascinating history and incredible moments from an era that "will never happen again."

For decades, the late Sadie Coventry was in charge at the loved pub. Mrs Coventry was born in Liverpool and moved to Wirral as a young woman when her publican father took over the Farmer’s Arms in New Ferry, the ECHO previously reported.

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She lived and worked at the pub, where her father was licensee before her, from 1948. After helping out behind the bar while also working at Woolworths, it eventually became her full-time job.

Along with her husband, Charles, the couple moved into the pub in 1948 and Mrs Coventry took over the pub in 1962 after her dad's death. Through the years, Mrs Coventry oversaw the running of three bars and a cocktail lounge at the pub and managed 26 staff.

In its heyday, the pub was a regular haunt of Empire actors and lawyers working at Liverpool’s main courts at St George’s Hall. It also had its fair share of celebrities walking through its doors.

Famously, the pub was the birthplace of Paul O'Grady's Lily Savage character. Lily Savage first came to life in the late 1970s when her creator Paul O’Grady was working for social services.

Do you remember The Legs of Man pub? Let us know in the comments section below.

Years ago, Savage's website maintained she was "conceived in Butlins, Pwllheli and was born outside The Legs Of Man public house, Lime Street." Savage is said to have made her debut miming to a Barbra Streisand number at a pub in 1978.

Through the years, the pub also welcomed the likes of Bruce Forsyth, Carry On star Charles Hawtrey and comics such as Les Dawson and Norman Wisdom.

Mrs Coventry ran the pub from 1962 until her retirement in 1981. But before the millennium, it was announced that the final chapter of the pub was imminent.

Despite fierce opposition, The Legs of Man was demolished in 1999 to make way for an extension to the theatre. In June that year, the Liverpool Daily Post reported: "The final curtain is due to fall on a long-established Liverpool pub to make way for a theatre extension.

"The Legs of Man has lost its fight against demolition and is to be levelled to make way for a multi-million pound expansion by the Empire Theatre. Liverpool city council has been granted a compulsory purchase order necessary to take over the city centre pub.

"Landlady Marion Grocott and her son Anthony Kong say they are devastated and face losing their home and livelihood." It's now been nearly 25 years since Liverpool said goodbye to The Legs of Man.

But many still have fond memories of the pub which live on. Back in 2013, it was announced that long-serving landlady Mrs Coventry had died at the age of 86.

Paying tribute, her only son, Michael, looked back on the success of the pub and his mum's legacy. Mrs Coventry was a hit with regulars and in 1969 they voted the then 42-year-old winner of the ECHO’s Mine Host competition.

At the time, Michael said: "She really loved the pub and she put her heart and soul into it. She was fair and it was a good house, not a troubled one.

"She was very glamorous and she had lots of charisma. The place was packed the night she was presented with her prize by Doris Speed and Arthur Leslie, who played Annie and Jack Walker in Coronation Street.

"Doris and Arthur came to the pub early and my dad cooked them a scampi supper. She loved a fuss and she was thrilled to win.

"I can remember going on holiday with mum to Majorca and people would recognise her. The pub was very successful and at the time my mum had it, the city was absolutely bouncing.

"Liverpool was the musical capital of the world and they had a wall full of photos of stars like Ken Dodd, all signed to my mum. When the pub was demolished she was sad – but she said she was there in an era that would never happen again."

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