Woman transformed pub 'waiting to be loved' into a 'go-to place'

A pub, just a stone's throw away from Crosby beach, has been transformed under new management.

The Marine Bar and Kitchen has reopened with a new landlady who vowed to give the venue a new lease of life after spotting its "potential". Management partner Aoife Finnegan now plans to make the South Road pub a "go-to" place in Waterloo.

After working in the hospitality industry for over a decade, Aoife took the plunge to run her own pub business with The Marine. Aoife knew she was ready after managing a busy Irish bar in Liverpool’s city centre and had her eyes set on the Marine from the first time she saw it.

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She said: "The Marine looked like a sleeping giant waiting to be loved! The pub had so much potential, and I wanted to be responsible for bringing it back to life again. Since the age of 16 I’ve worked my way up in the pub and restaurant world and as my mum has always worked in hospitality and manages her own pub back in Ireland now too, I’ve developed my own passion for pubs and people."

The Marine’s two beer gardens which are south-facing were a big draw. She added: "Having nailed our plans for the pub’s beer gardens, we instantly got to work on our next priority – the kitchen. With big ambitions I set my sights on being able to serve food for Easter Sunday, and I’m so pleased to say we did it.

"The pub is now open for food seven days a week from 12noon until 9pm. It’s hearty, real good pub food and it’s what the community wants, the feedback has been nothing but positive." The menu combines traditional pub classics with a variety of burgers, pizzas, mid-week specials and Sunday roasts.

Just a short walk from Crosby beach and accessible by public transport links, the location was also attractive to Aoife who said that the pub is in the heart of the town. She said: "I was very lucky that when walking into the Marine, I’d inherited a brilliant team.

"Everyone is wonderful and we all share the same passion and love for pubs and people...Working behind the bar is supposed to be fun, it’s hard work and no two days are the same, but the camaraderie that comes with it, makes it the best job in the world."

Manager, Sophie Hughes added: "I’ve always seen the great potential in the Marine from the very first day. I had no experience of working in the hospitality industry before I started here four years ago, but I quickly progressed and climbed the ladder. I’m proud to say that I’m Assistant Manager, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds here."

Looking to the future, Aoife’s big plans for the pub go way beyond reviving the two beer gardens and the food menu. She also has ambitions to create a dog-friendly station, launch weekly interactive quiz nights and host live music events to be enjoyed all year round.

The next big event will be the Marine’s official launch night, which is taking place across the May bank holiday. Weather permitting, Aoife and the team are hoping to put on a huge family-friendly celebration to include an outside bar and bouncy castle.

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