One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
Listed status: Not listed
Rebuilt in 1957 in a conservative style for the period, the pub retains its public bar, lounge and some original fittings. It reopened in 2022 after two years closure, during which the upper floors were converted to flats. The public bar retains most of its original counter and bar-back, albeit painted an unbecoming shade of blue/grey; many fridges were also added. The lounge has a distinctive counter (thankfully not painted) and the original bar back (but again infested with fridges plus fairy lights). Most of the wall panelling has been painted and the off sales facing the front entrance was lost many years ago.
A framed letter dated 21 May 1957 from David J. Lewis, architect of Angel Buildings, 20 Dale Street, Liverpool to Peter Walker’s Brewery of Warrington, quotes a builder's estimate of £25,153 to re-build the Queens Arms. The new pub, built of brick with a rendered upper floor, was very conservative in style. The two bars are rather austere affairs but they do retain a large amount of original fittings, notably the bar-backs and counters. The detailing of the woodwork is very chunky in the supports to the superstructure over the counter in the left-hand bar and the bold ribbing on the right-hand counter. Note the rather delightful sliding door to the rear of the left-hand part of the servery. The pub closed for two years in 2920 during which time the upper floors were converted to flats. When it reopened, the public bar had been subjected to copious amounts of blue-grey paint, to the particular detriment of the bar area. The addition of plentiful fridges to both bar-backs has also had a negative impact. Some modern changes had previously taken place, chiefly noticeable in the dado panelling and the loss of an off-sales facing the front entrance.
Queens Arms, Liverpool