Long history of famous pubs generations have enjoyed a pint in

For generations, many have headed to one British pub chain to enjoy a pint after work or drinks with friends over the weekend.

And while the brand has changed a lot through the years, many in Liverpool and beyond will have memories of its venues past and present. Yates's Wine Lodge was established in Oldham back in 1884 by brothers Simon and Peter Yates, along with their sister, Susannah.

Britain's oldest pub chain, the idea behind the wine lodge came from Peter's belief that working class people should be able to enjoy wine in moderation and at low prices, The MEN previously reported. Within two decades, there were said to be nearly 20 lodges around Lancashire, before more opened in the likes of Merseyside in later years.

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During World War II, the company became the first company in Britain to import Australian wine, colloquially becoming known as 'Blob Shops' for selling the hot 'blob' drink. In the 90s, this saw many of the branches rebranded as 'Blob Shops.'

The ECHO recently rediscovered one image from a lost Yates's Wine Lodge in Liverpool city centre, which prompted us to look back at the famous pub chains history in our city. The photograph, courtesy of our archive Mirrorpix, was taken 40 years ago.

Dated October 30, 1984, it offers a glimpse inside Yates's Wine Lodge in Great Charlotte Street. You can see manager Ed Bedford with staff, Pat Arnold, Phil Foster and Josie McGorian celebrating the company's 100th anniversary at a special gala night.

Many will have memories of visiting this specific branch for a pint, as well as others in the city centre. A popular Yates's Wine Lodge which attracted many heading for a night out in town or finishing up work for the day was also located near Moorfields train station.

Back in the 80s, a Liverpool Yates's Wine Lodge also featured in an episode of The Tube. For five series, The Tube gave TV and music lovers something they'd never seen before, making household names of presenters Jools Holland and the late Paula Yates and also helping launch the careers of bands like Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

While on air, The Tube visited Liverpool a number of times to film live performances and interview musicians and artists at the heart of the city. In 1985, an episode also sees Jools Holland visit Liverpool for an event organised by Echo and the Bunnymen called Crystal Day.

In Yates's Wine Lodge, Jools ate sardines and chatted to a smoking Ian McCulloch. Jools asked: "Do you think that there is a movement amongst young people to go into places which are more traditional like this pub, than go away from the trendy - let's say - wine bar?" And Ian replies: "I hope so yeah cause this is better than a wine bar, well it is a wine lodge. But it's better than all those pastel coloured trouser bars that you get."

But after years, the famous brand name saw a major change after 120 years. Breaking with tradition, it dropped the words "Wine Lodge" from its name to promote a new, more modern image, The MEN previously reported.

At the time, chief executive Mark Jones said: "It'll take time, but we want Yates's - just Yates's - to come to mean all that is best about high street bars." Ian Webb, group marketing director at Yates's, also said the decision had not been taken lightly but that it was necessary as part of the company's "21st century investment programme."

He said: "It was a big decision for us but one we felt we had to take. The 21st century Yates's format is completely different from where we were previously." We don't think it will be a risk dropping the Wine Lodge sign because the vast majority of our customers refer to us as Yates's anyway."

Do these awaken any memories for you? Let us know in the comments section below.

In 2011, Stonegate purchased the Town & City Pub company, acquiring Yates and Slug & Lettuce brands. There are many Yates pubs or bars still in the UK, including one in Queen Square in Liverpool city centre.

Links to the history of Yates's Wine Lodge can still be found in the city. Today, countless commuters still walk past the former Yates's pub on Moorfields every day and spot the artwork that was installed back in 2007.

'Turning the Place Over', created by Richard Wilson, saw an eight meter diameter ovoid cut out of the building fixed on a giant pivot. When the ovoid, which weighed 26-tonnes, rotated and offered a glimpse into three floors of the building.

The artwork was only supposed to be on display for one year, but kept turning until 2011 due to the phenomenal response. At the time Richard Wilson said he hoped it could be switched back on or find a permanent home elsewhere.

Earlier this year, the ECHO also reported how a wine previously from the brand that was discontinued and "impossible to buy" was returning to shops. Yates's Aussie Whites, a white wine which includes grape brandy giving it a strong and fruity taste, is a drink Scousers have enjoyed for decades.

However the ECHO found the drink was quietly discontinued by Halewood Artisanal Spirits, who bought the brand from Yates's in 2003, after people said they couldn't find the drink anywhere. The news was greeted with sadness in Liverpool, as Scousers said they had enjoyed 'many a night not remembered' thanks to the drink.

But in January, the drink returned to shops in the city after being bought by wholesaler, Parfetts, who stepped in to "meet the demand". Gurms Athwal, trading director of the wholesaler, said the grape brandy wine has had "huge interest" so far.

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