'Beloved' Liverpool pub The Dovedale Towers closes as future revealed
A ‘legendary Liverpool institution’ has closed its doors as it prepares for a ‘new chapter’.
The Dovedale Towers, located on Penny Lane, has stood proudly for more than two centuries but opened in its current form in 2010. Now, operator Old Rope Walks Ltd has confirmed the venue has been taken on by new owners.
In an announcement yesterday (January 26), the team said: “And so, after 15 years, it's time to hand over the reigns.
“As of today, The Dovey will be closing for a short period whilst its new owners undertake a refurb.
“It's been an absolute pleasure L18. See you in the Spring.”
Built in the 1800s, the landmark pub was originally known as Grove House, built by Andrew Kurtz. Following Kurtz’ death in 1890, the site became the Children’s Rest, before becoming the parochial hall for St Barnabas’ Church in 1914.
The building offered much-needed support as a community hub during the two World Wars, becoming known as Barneys during WWII and hosting dances for locals and visiting troops.
The venue later welcomed performances from John Lennon and Paul McCartney with The Quarrymen in 1957, and Freddie Mercury even lived in a flat above the pub before his huge success with Queen, after the property was passed into the Higgins family in the 1960s.
The Higgins family renamed Grove House to The Dovedale Towers and the iconic Queen frontman was offered a place to stay by their son, Geoff, during his time in Ibex (later The Wreckage).
The site stood as several different venues before closing in 2009 but it returned as The Dovedale Towers in 2010. Since then, the pub has become a popular location for locals and tourists alike and a cherished part of the Penny Lane furniture.
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Now, the future of the venue has been confirmed as a major player in the Liverpool pub business takes over.
Known for the restoration of many iconic Liverpool pubs including The Vines (Big House), The Monro and the Pilgrim, the 1936 Pub Company boasts several venues across the city, such as The White Hart, The Queen of Hope Street, The Masonic Arms, St Peter’s Tavern and the newly opened Shandon Bells.
After recently revealing it is taking over the former home of Maggie May’s on Bold Street, the 1936 Pub Company has now confirmed it will be leading ‘The Dovey’ into its next chapter.
A spokesperson for the pub operator told Liverpool World: “We’re so excited to be taking on The Dovedale Towers - a legendary Liverpool institution that’s so deeply engrained in the city’s history and culture.
“We’ve been working really closely with the previous owners of The Dovey who felt they’d taken the pub as far as they could.
“They approached us because they felt we were the right people to breathe new life into a beloved community institution.
“We’ll be investing significant time, effort and resources into re-opening The Dovey by the spring, and we’re truly honoured to have been trusted to act as the new custodians of a storied pub with so much history. We’re thrilled to be taking The Dovey into this new chapter.”