Major update on future of famous Irish pub that was a firm fixture of Liverpool's nightlife scene
A famous former Irish pub in Liverpool city centre is to be made part of a neighbouring casino. Earlier this year, a notice of forfeiture was placed on the front door of The Liffey pub, part of the Grand Central building on Renshaw Street.
The site had been a firm fixture on the city’s nightlife scene for years. The venue closed at the end of March 2022 after a rent dispute involving a former tenant.
However, with new owners and a £200,000 refurbishment, the pub reopened on March 17, 2023. Now, after closing once again in July, the future of the venue has now been confirmed.
A planning application has been lodged by Genting Casinos to fold the pub into its neighbouring venue. In a design and access statement, the applicant said: “Main proposal is to extend casino gaming into the current Liffey Public House premises with access gained by means of breaking through structure between properties and forming new staircase down to lower section of gaming and accessible platform lift for wheelchair users.”
Nextdom served official notice of forfeiture of the lease to venue operator Crosbie Bar Ltd at the Liffey, which was effective from July 14. The new area will accommodate a mix of gaming machines and tables and will introduce approximately 40–50 additional seats to the casino.
Planning documents set out how the casino operator sought to upgrade the former pub and make it consistent with the existing business. The report said: “We propose to remove existing metalwork scrollwork to existing columns between windows to give a ‘cleaner’ appearance to the frontage.
“Inclusion of timber moulding on columns to create false stall riser appearance. All lower section to be painted to match adjacent casino colour scheme.
“All other frontage areas to be made good and painted to match adjacent casino colour scheme to give a cohesive appearance of a single property.” In its submission to city planning officials, Genting – which has operated the casino in the city centre for almost 40 years – said the refurbishment of the Liffey site would “bring a fresh new branded establishment to the city, the capital investment will hopefully be successful enough to keep the business open for years to come”.
The Renshaw Street establishment is slightly different to other casinos, in that it caters directly to Liverpool’s Chinese community who use the Genting branch as a meeting place and social hub. A date is yet to be confirmed for the site to go before planners for a final decision.
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