Renovation work is almost complete ahead of the St Patrick's Day party at the pub that claims to have the best Guinness in Liverpool
The Hangman Hotel & Bar on the corner of Bankhall Street and Brasenose Road in Kirkdale
The Hangman Hotel & Bar on the corner of Bankhall Street and Brasenose Road in Kirkdale(Image: Anthony Nixon)
View 6 Images
Toffees travelling from outside Liverpool for the Everton match will soon have a very special place to spend the night, with the opening of a new hotel above a popular matchday pub.
The Hangman Hotel & Bar on the corner of Bankhall Street and Brasenose Road, less than a mile from the Hill Dickinson Stadium, will start taking bookings this spring for guests looking to spend the night in a unique Kirkdale location.
The 19th century pub, at different points formerly known as the Brasenose Road Café and Bankhall Hotel, has views of the stadium from its new upstairs rooms and is popular with Everton fans on matchdays for its proximity to the ground and pints ranging from £3.20 to £4.50 - including, if regulars are to be believed, the best Guinness in Liverpool.
The pub's upcoming St Patrick's Day party on March 17 from 8pm, featuring karaoke, live music and Irish stew provides the perfect opportunity for patrons to put that claim to the test.
Ernie the dog with a pint of Guinness at The Hangman Hotel & Bar, Kirkdale, Liverpool.
Ernie the dog with a pint of Guinness at The Hangman Hotel & Bar, Kirkdale, Liverpool.
View 6 Images
Ernie the dog with a pint of Guinness at The Hangman Hotel & Bar, Kirkdale, Liverpool.(Image: Anthony Nixon)
The Hangman has an unusual and dark history, according to local legend. Records suggest that the building dates back to around 1884.
Not only has it survived the Liverpool Blitz and housing clearances in the surrounding area, but the pub is said to have regularly hosted hangmen during their visits to Liverpool to carry out executions at the nearby Kirkdale Gaol, back when the city shared an executioner with other towns in the North West.
The final execution at Kirkdale Gaol was carried out by James Berry in 1891, but the name 'The Hangman' has stuck ever since as a local nickname reflecting the murky past of the former Bankhall Hotel.
The Hangman's current owner, Anthony Nixon, reopened it as a pub early last year after the cafe's owners called time on 20 years of business, with the intention of maintaining its status as a welcoming community venue.
Renovations on the upstairs rooms are close to completion, having commenced after the sale of the building was completed six months ago. An upcoming open day, expected to be in mid-April, will allow prospective guests, regulars and visitors to the pub to admire the new rooms.
L: Upstairs at The Hangman Hotel & Bar before renovation, 2025. R: One of the newly-renovated hotel rooms at The Hangman Hotel & Bar, March 11 2026.
L: Upstairs at The Hangman Hotel & Bar before renovation, 2025. R: One of the newly-renovated hotel rooms at The Hangman Hotel & Bar, March 11 2026.
View 6 Images
(Image: Anthony Nixon)
Mr Nixon explained to the ECHO that returning the business to its former status as a hotel was an obvious decision.
Mr Nixon told the ECHO: "We're a massive Everton boozer, and it's absolutely chocka on matchdays. It's a great atmosphere in here. So the whole idea of taking over was to change it into a hotel, ideally for the footy at the weekend, but also for when there are any developments in the city, so that contractors from out of town have somewhere that's affordable, but we can serve the food and the drinks for them too."
'Toffee Siu Mais' at The Hangman Hotel & Bar.
'Toffee Siu Mais' at The Hangman Hotel & Bar.(Image: Anthony Nixon)
View 6 Images
Early reviews have been positive. The Hangman continues to operate as a café from 8am-2pm on weekdays, also serving evening meals Monday to Thursday from 5pm-8pm. On matchdays, fans can choose from burgers and fries, classic pub favourites and The Hangman's speciality, 'Toffee Siu Mais'. The salt and pepper dumplings are neither blue nor contain toffee, but are of course named in honour of Everton FC.
The regular weekly lineup of events at The Hangman includes bingo on Wednesdays at 8pm, pool team games on Thursdays, and a 5pm-7pm happy hour on Fridays when all shots are priced at £2.
Owner/landlord Anthony Nixon (grey t-shirt, centre) with the pool team at The Hangman Hotel & Bar, Kirkdale: Dave, Dave, Lee, Kieran, Anthony Nixon, Connor, Dan.
Owner/landlord Anthony Nixon (grey t-shirt, centre) with the pool team at The Hangman Hotel & Bar, Kirkdale: Dave, Dave, Lee, Kieran, Anthony Nixon, Connor, Dan.(Image: Anthony Nixon)
View 6 Images
Mr Nixon has prioritised the venue's community role since reopening The Hangman as a pub. Families and pets are welcome.
Mr Nixon said: "The pool team was established not only for competition but also as a way of supporting men's mental health within the community, encouraging socialising, teamwork, and providing a welcoming space where people can come together."
At Christmas, The Hangman hosted a Breakfast With Santa event, giving out free gifts to children and giving families the opportunity to have their photo taken with the man himself. The Hangman will also host a family-friendly Grand National viewing on March 10, with afternoon tea, a pub sweep, a raffle and children's crafts to keep the kids busy.
The opening of the upstairs hotel accommodation will serve as the culmination of a year that has seen The Hangman transformed.
Mr Nixon told the ECHO: "Everton fans coming from out of the city can expect an excitable but welcoming atmosphere. It's obviously very charged before the game, with a lot of singing.
A busy matchday at The Hangman Hotel & Bar ahead of Everton's home game against Brentford on January 4, 2026.
A busy matchday at The Hangman Hotel & Bar ahead of Everton's home game against Brentford on January 4, 2026.(Image: Anthony Nixon)
View 6 Images
"The ales start from £3.50 a pint. We do food and alcohol on match days. It's less than a mile from the football ground and there's parking around our establishment.
"As I say, it's very welcoming. It's modern on the inside, but there's obviously a lot of history in the building."
To keep up to date with the progress of the renovations, and find out about the open day first, visit The Hangman Hotel & Bar Facebook page here, or Instagram here.