The Pig & Whistle, a well-known pub in Liverpool city centre, is currently undergoing refurbishment. During this work, a 'ghost sign' was uncovered, revealing a forgotten chapter of the building's history. This discovery confirms an enduring local belief that the pub is the only one in Liverpool located above a former shop.
Situated on Chapel Street, one of Liverpool's original seven streets, at its corner with Covent Garden, the Pig & Whistle has a history spanning 150 years as a pub. The building itself dates back to the early 18th century.
Key Takeaways
- The Pig & Whistle pub is celebrating its 150th anniversary.
- A 'ghost sign' was uncovered during recent refurbishment work.
- The sign confirms the pub's long-standing connection to a shop located beneath it.
- The building originally served as a boarding house and brothel in the 18th century.
- The pub is widely considered the only one in Liverpool built above a shop.
A Glimpse into the Building's Origins
The building housing the Pig & Whistle has a rich and varied past. Its origins trace back to the early 18th century. Historical records indicate that it initially functioned as both a boarding house and a brothel.
It was not until 1875 that the premises officially became a pub. It adopted the name 'Pig & Whistle', or 'Pig' for short, a common term for crew bars on ships. This name was particularly fitting given its location and its clientele, which frequently included dockers and seafarers.
Did You Know?
The term 'Pig & Whistle' was a popular name for pubs and bars frequented by sailors and working-class individuals, often referring to places where patrons could drink and enjoy music.
Uncovering the 'Ghost Sign'
Recent refurbishment work at the Pig & Whistle led to an unexpected discovery. While stripping back old render on the building's exterior, a team found a faded 'ghost sign'. This sign features white lettering that reads "go down" and includes an illustration of a hand pointing downwards.
Bobby Dix, the current licensee, described the moment of discovery. "On the building, you can see where it's been rendered in some places and I was being a bit fussy about the finish of it," he told the ECHO. "I wanted it to be smoother than it was, so the team just started stripping that part and chunks just kept coming off. The more they stripped, eventually it uncovered this ghost sign to what I think was called The Nutshell."
"A lot of older people still say this is the only pub in Liverpool above a shop. The sign has got to be 30 or 40 years old, probably older than that, because it looks faded and faint underneath." - Bobby Dix, Licensee, Pig & Whistle.
The Nutshell and The Fruit Cellar
The uncovered sign provides physical evidence for a long-held local belief. For decades, a shop operated beneath the pub. This space served various purposes over the years, including a greengrocers and a sandwich shop.
In 1976, a reader wrote to the Liverpool ECHO's onlooker's diary column about the shop. Bill Bothwell mentioned, "I've just met a couple of greengrocers who are such rabid Everton fans that it hurts them to sell tomatoes. John Reid and Eddie Hall have taken over the only fruit store in Liverpool under a pub."
Bothwell continued, "It is what used to be called The Nutshell and is located under the Pig & Whistle at the corner of Covent Garden. They took over when former owner, Charlie McGuiness, who'd been there for 40 odd years, retired a short time ago." This historical account confirms the name 'The Nutshell'.
Historical Context
Chapel Street is one of Liverpool's original seven streets, forming part of the city's historic core. Its development dates back centuries, making buildings along its length significant historical landmarks.
Evolution of the Ground Floor Business
After Charlie McGuiness retired, the shop changed its name. "Charlie wanted to keep the 'Nutshell' name for himself so now the shop is called 'The Fruit Cellar,' quite a play on words, you might say," Bill Bothwell wrote in 1976. This new name reflected its function as a fruit store.
In later years, the space evolved further, becoming known as The Fruit Cellar Sandwich Bar. An article from the Maghull & Aintree Star on June 27, 1991, featured The Fruit Cellar Sandwich Bar in its lunchtime guide for city centre workers, indicating its continued presence decades later.
Bobby Dix noted the various iterations of the ground-floor business. "Older generations remember it as a greengrocer. More recently people know it as Time to Eat, which was a sandwich shop and with the previous landlord, it was briefly Porky's as well, as another local sandwich shop." He added, "I think it might have been a barber as well at some point."
The Pub's Unique Position and Future Plans
The Pig & Whistle holds a distinct place in Liverpool's urban landscape. It stands alone on its block, a fact that has generated its own urban legend. Many believed the surrounding buildings were destroyed during the Blitz. However, historical records confirm that the adjacent structures were demolished by the city council in the 1970s, leaving The Pig & Whistle as the "last man standing."
The pub is currently owned by Star Pubs, Heineken's pub arm. Licensee Bobby Dix, who started last summer, is overseeing the current refurbishment. He previously worked at the pub under the former landlord.
Building Mergers
The Pig & Whistle building is actually two separate structures that were merged into one. This has created a complex internal layout with various hidden rooms and blocked-off spaces, adding to its unique character.
The refurbishment, which began on August 24, involved closing the pub temporarily. The work focuses on cosmetic changes, including interior decoration, new upholstery, and exterior additions like flower beds and new light-hearted signs. The pub is expected to reopen this month.
Bobby Dix expressed his ambition for the ground-floor space. He hopes to "utilise the space once more" in the future, potentially bringing a new business back to the area beneath the historic pub.
Hidden Discoveries Inside
Beyond the ghost sign, the refurbishment has unveiled other intriguing elements of the building's past. "We found in what is now the gents toilets, in what was the ladies toilets, a mirror with a little toilet behind it, sort of three feet of up in the air, and there must have been access to it at some point," Dix revealed.
He added, "But nobody's ever told me that there used to be a toilet. We just found a whole room no one knew was hidden back there." These discoveries highlight the building's long and complex history, with many secrets still embedded within its walls.
- The pub closed on August 24 for renovations.
- It is expected to reopen this month.
- Changes include new interior decor, upholstery, and exterior features.
- The licensee hopes to reactivate the ground-floor shop space in the future.
The ongoing work at the Pig & Whistle not only revitalises a beloved local establishment but also continues to bring to light fascinating details about Liverpool's past.