Forgotten moments inside one of Liverpool's 'best looking' pubs

Forgotten moments inside a historic Liverpool pub show how life used to be there before its stunning refurbishment - which has now been recognised in a prestigious award.

Earlier today, the ECHO reported how CAMRA has unveiled the winners of its Pub Design Awards, which recognises the highest standards of architecture in the refurbishment and historic conservation of pubs across the UK. The awards are judged by a panel of experts in design and conservation, with categories ranging from refurbishment to new build, and one Liverpool pub has been crowned the winner of the Historic England conservation category.

Affectionately known as "The Big House", The Vines pub has stood on the corner of Lime Street and Copperas Hill since 1867, the ECHO previously reported. CAMRA said a full conservation and refurbishment of the interior of the Grade II* listed Edwardian pub had "undone years of poor care under the previous management."

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The conservation work to the historic gin palace included the restoration of the original 1907 tiling, the stunning stained glass ceiling dome and the intricate theatrical plasterwork. The CAMRA judges said they were "incredibly impressed with the high quality of the restoration," which brought the building "back to life."

Following the announcement, we've revisited our archives and taken another look back at the history of the pub. Fascinating images show how it used to look in years gone by. These images, courtesy of our archives, Mirrorpix, are bound to stir some memories.

By the 20th century, The Vines was taken over by the Walkers, owners of the Warrington brewing family and founders of the Walker Art Gallery, who commissioned it to be rebuilt in its current ornate style in 1907. Architect Walter Thomas, who designed the Philharmonic Dining Rooms, rebuilt the venue, keeping much of its classic late Victorian interior.

Through the decades, The Vines became known for its cask ales, billiard room and its grand Edwardian hall. Thought to be one of the finest surviving examples of Edwardian pub architecture, the pub is a Grade II* listed building, which means it is of special interest and therefore efforts must be made to preserve it.

What are your memories of The Vines pub through the years? Let us know in the comments section below.

Last year, The Vines reopened after a stunning revamp. But these brilliant photos offer a glimpse into what life was like inside the historic venue back in the 1980s.

Many will remember what life was like in the pub as it has been captured in these photographs that went unseen for years. Images show customers inside The Vines at the time enjoying a drink or a bar snack.

You can also see what the bar looked like at the time and people smoking indoors. One photograph, taken in 1989, shows landlord Frank Randles in the heritage suite of The Vines.

Through the years, many generations of customers have continued to visit The Vines. In 2022, the ECHO reported how the iconic Lime Street-based pub closed its doors in mid-February to undergo a revamp.

The pub was bought by The 1936 Pub Company, which owns a number of venues across the city including Lark Lane's the Green Man and The Red Lion on Slater Street. New owner Rob Gutmann was in communication with the Walker Art Gallery to keep them up to date with the plans for the iconic pub.

Speaking previously to the ECHO, Mr Gutmann said they would be "bringing back a big selection of cask ales to the pub, specialising in high end and rare whiskeys and stocking a quality wine cellar".

He said: "The former billiards room, an awe inspiring grand Edwardian hall, will be brought back into play seven days a week and will feature an elegant authentic ‘gin palace’ style cocktail bar.

"It feels like the honour of a lifetime in hospitality to have the opportunity to take on this wonderful Liverpool pub and to have the chance to re-present it to the public again as intended at its Edwardian inception.

"The city once was home to the finest gin palaces and public houses in the world, and still has a number of noteworthy and historic pubs, but it is our aim to play a role in restocking the city with great examples of vintage British public houses and reverse a tide that has seen multiple pub closures down the decades."

In April last year, the pub reopened and people were in "awe" on the stunning revamp. Large fan-leaved plants and intricate lamps give the space a Great Gatsby-esque feel.

The seating in the booths has been stripped of their faded fabric and replaced by plush leather seats, while the fires are stocked with wood so people can enjoy a cosy pint while we wait for the weather to warm up.

On its opening, a spokesperson for the pub told the ECHO said: “We’ve put a lot of love and care into rejuvenating it as authentically as possible. Feedback from the first few dozen customers was really heartening. People were in awe of the Edwardian décor after it being hidden for decades.

"The cask ales are absolutely flying out as expected, and the cocktails will probably take precedence later in the evening. People were walking around as if it were a National Trust site taking photographs."

On the ECHO website people celebrated the pub's re-opening and recalled fond memories of previous visits there. Ellie Mac said: "Outstanding refurb. So beautiful I remember The Vines/The Big House to be the start of our nights in Town. A regular meeting place. Always crowded but I loved the atmosphere."

Others, including Julie Redican were happy that the pub's character had been kept during the refurbishment. She wrote on the ECHO Facebook page: "Gorgeous. Made up they kept the original features & worked with them instead of gutting the place. It looks brill!"

Chair of the Pub Design Awards judging panel, Andrew Davison, said: "Once again, the Pub Design Awards’ judges have had a hard job in selecting the winners from the entries submitted. Despite the pressures the hospitality industry is under, we are pleased to report that people are still prepared to invest time, money, and resources into conserving their buildings, and upgrading them to meet the latest challenges.

"Our Pub Design Awards recognise the high standards of flair and imagination which have gone into these projects, and the ambitious craftsmanship involved in the repair and conservation work. Despite everything thrown at it, we believe that the pub has a key role to play in our communities, and that it will continue to flourish as an institution. The high quality of the entries for these Awards provides evidence to support that belief.”

CAMRA’s Awards Director Laura Emson added: "It is only right that the blood, sweat and tears poured into these pubs is celebrated. I would like to raise a glass to all these award-worthy pubs!

"We hope beer-lovers across the country will seek out these breathtaking examples of how beautiful UK pubs can be, if given the appropriate love and care these much-loved establishments truly deserve."

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