CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE

MERSEYSIDE - Liverpool, City Centre, Crown

National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors Part Two

43 Lime Street, Liverpool, L1 1JQ

Tel: 0151 707 6027

Public Transport: Railway Station: Liverpool Lime Street; Mersey Rail: Central

Listed Status: Grade II

View this pub on a local map

Built in 1905 of brick with marble facing to ground floor, and on the first floor an elaborate panel with 'Walkers Ales Warrington' on the Skelhorn Street side and also ornate wording 'Crown’ ‘Hotel' between the first and second floor windows on both the side and Lime Street frontages. The spectacular feature of the Crown is the amazingly ornate richly moulded plasterwork ceilings. This was clearly a very expensive pub and Walker’s were perhaps trying to rival Robert Cain’s Philharmonic. Cain’s then went one better with the Vines built in 1907. There are now two rooms. The rear one, with its high-quality panelling seems intact but the front one is now a large open area, the divisions between the various parts having been removed in the 19??s – two disused doors indicate there was at least three partitioned rooms when built.

Entrance is now via a vestibule entrance. The bar counter has a copper front but the ornate bar back is modern. Possibly the finest ornate ceiling in a pub – can you find the cigar shaped plasterwork? – there are five and include figures with one in their mouth, some are on the corner of the smaller square sections etc. There is also an ornate frieze around the room. On the right hand wall is an impressive tiled and glazed brick highly decorated large fireplace in blue, green and dark red tiles. Look for the etched window in door to gents' with 'Gents Lavatory' picked out in gold. Sadly the front room has lost its once superb window glass.

The rear room has 'Bar’ and’ Room' etched windows on the double doors with a stained and leaded glass panel above. It too has a highly decorative moulded plaster ceiling and cornice. There is dark oak paneling all around the room and a wood surround fireplace with a copper interior, tiled strips either side and a mirror in ornate surround above. The bell-pushes around the room look like modern replacements. A winding staircase with a glazed dome over leads to an upstairs room with a new bar counter and modest frieze of crests and good stained and leaded windows. Due for a refurb 2011 after which it will be branded as a Nicholson's pub.