One of the most iconic pubs in the city of Liverpool has been lovingly restored this month by its operators Blind Tiger Inns and is now looking sensational and receiving fabulous reviews.
The pub, located in the heart of Liverpool’s Cavern Quarter is one of the most famous watering holes in the city and is popular with tourists, revellers and locals. Known for its live music and party atmosphere, The Grapes has been a must-visit bar in the city since 1960 when it was the only pub on the famous Mathew St.
The Beatles would often visit the Grapes having entertained the baying crowds in the Cavern, as the Cavern was not a licensed venue and the Grapes, directly opposite was the ideal place to quench the thirst of the Beatles.
With such an iconic venue, a refurbishment can be a real challenge, as customers expect to see modern facilities, however the history and culture of the venue must remain.
According to reviews, the recent refurbishment has ticked the boxes in terms of facilities and culture. It is far from being a Beatles themed pub, as many are in the surrounding area, paying homage to many of the famous icons from the city with nods towards the era of Merseybeat. You will find yellow submarines; original Cavern artwork and album covers from many of the artists that are intrinsically linked to the city.
This history is combined with new toilets, state of the art sound and lighting, and all furniture and original seating lovingly restored to create a blend of comfort with strong links to culture.
Landlady Karen Strickland tells us;
“We have been lucky enough to run this pub for many years now and it really is the place to be on Mathew Street. We are a very busy venue and the high footfall we receive meant it was time for a refurbishment once again. The designers have been superb, really capturing the spirit and heart of what the pub is, whilst making it a very cool and exciting venue that our customers love and feel safe in.”
Throughout the pub, taking in the original stonework and external areas, a local graffiti artist has paid homage to the culture of the city and Karen goes on to tell us how popular these artworks are;
“The murals and designs throughout have been a real talking point. So many places just want plasterboard and modern art, but we have our real features, adorned with beautiful graphics and people love this!”
The Grapes is open daily from noon, with the party keeping lively until late as live music can be heard 7 days a week. Many local bands and artists like to join in with karaoke and open mic sessions so it is really worth getting down and seeing the place in all its beautiful new glory.
