Historic Pig & Whistle to close for refurb

A 150-year-old Liverpool pub will shut temporarily to undergo a refurbishment that aims to modernize while preserving its character.

Historic Pig & Whistle in Liverpool closes ahead of refurbishment

The Pig & Whistle on Chapel Street in Liverpool city centre will close on Sunday, August 24, to allow major work after the team described the building as a wreck. The pub sits in a building that dates back to the early 18th century and marks its 150th anniversary as a drinking spot, having served dock workers and seafarers since the 19th century. It remains the last standing building on its block after surrounding structures were demolished in the 1970s. The closure is framed as temporary while the refurbishment proceeds.

Star Pubs, the pub arm of Heineken, is funding the project. When it reopens, the team says the space will change in places but the overall feel should stay the same. Planned upgrades include removing the stage, reinstating the fireplace, moving the gents toilets upstairs, and updating the floor, ceiling, electrics and windows. A new roof and render, plus larger signage and a big mural, are also planned. The team stresses this is a refurbishment, not a change of ownership, and the last trading day will be a match day.

The Pig & Whistle story highlights how heritage venues survive in a city that keeps reshaping its streets. Keeping a historic space alive while meeting modern safety and comfort standards is a delicate balance, and funding from a parent brewery shows how small, traditional pubs rely on outside investment to stay viable. Retaining familiar fixtures — from the mural to the so-called Celebrity Corner — helps preserve identity even as interiors are updated. Yet the renewal also underscores a broader tension between preserving memory and expanding commercial capacity in urban cores.

Looking ahead, the pub’s revival will test whether a strong sense of place can coexist with contemporary expectations. The landlord’s hands-on approach and commitment to keeping the vibe while upgrading infrastructure may serve as a model for other historic venues that face similar pressures.

Highlights

Heritage lives where people invest in it, brick by brick.