The Grade II-listed pub dates back to the 19th century and retains a remarkable amount of its original character
Landlady Lindsay Nicholson of The Prince Arthur in Walton
Landlady Lindsay Nicholson of The Prince Arthur in Walton(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
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A much-loved Walton pub has survived Covid-19, the loss of its Everton matchday crowds and rising costs thanks to its loyal customers who refuse to let it disappear.
For generations of Everton fans, a trip to Goodison Park began long before they reached the turnstiles - with a pint at The Prince Arthur on Rice Lane. The pub would swell with hundreds of supporters on matchdays, with families returning year after year to meet in the same place before making the walk to the stadium.
But when Everton's men's team left Goodison Park to move into their new Hill Dickinson home, The Prince Arthur lost a huge part of its regular custom. But landlady Lindsay Nicholson is determined to keep the doors open, with the pub relying on customers who have made it their local for decades.
The Grade II-listed pub dates back to the 19th century and retains a remarkable amount of its original character, including ornate tiling, stained glass and an Art Nouveau-style bar.
For six years, Lindsay, 49, from Anfield, has been behind the bar serving customers. She chatted with the ECHO about the importance of the community, its regulars, and the pub's "one golden rule."
Landlady Lindsay Nicholson of The Prince Arthur with the locals in Walton
Landlady Lindsay Nicholson of The Prince Arthur with the locals in Walton(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
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How did you get in to the pub industry in the first place?
I've worked in bars most of my life. I took over the lease here just before Covid on February 19, 2020. It was my first proper pub that I owned.
I originally went to hairdressing college, and for some pocket money at the time, I worked in a pub called The Everton Park Social on Everton Road, glass collecting until I turned 18 and got on the bar.
The pub boasts stunning original features
The pub boasts stunning original features(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
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Even though I went on to be a hairdresser and barber, I still always went to work. Once you’ve worked in a bar, it’s addictive; you just always end up behind the bar.
What is the significance behind the pub's history/name?
We’re a Grade-II listed building, and we’re one of the oldest pubs, which was built around 1880, so it’s steeped in history.
We’ve got grandads who drink here who say that their grandads used to drink here.
There was a police station next door, which is also listed, where they used to hang people, and if you go into our back yard in the pub, you can actually see the room with the cell bars where it used to happen, which is really gruesome, but it just shows how deep the history goes.
For six years, landlady Lindsay, 49, from Anfield, has been behind the bar serving customers
For six years, landlady Lindsay, 49, from Anfield, has been behind the bar serving customers(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
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Everything's changed around us except for this pub. It's got lovely stained glass windows, it's really old-fashioned, but it's gorgeous. We’ve got all these unique tiles as well that apparently are worth a lot of money. It's a beautiful little pub.
What's an unusual thing that's happened at the pub?
One of our customers passed away, and his family scattered his ashes on the floor outside the pub because he loved it so much. Something happens in here most weeks. It’s just a funny little pub.
Have there been any famous or notable guests who have visited?
Digsy (Peter Deary) sometimes performs for us. He's friends with Noel Gallagher and Oasis wrote Digsy’s Diner on Definitely Maybe about him. We all love him.
The Prince Arthur pub on Rice Lane in Walton
The Prince Arthur pub on Rice Lane in Walton(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
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Have there been any spooky or haunted encounters in the pub/area?
We have a ghost, obviously called Arthur, who customers constantly report seeing. It’s supposed to be a tall, thin man who wears a big top hat.
I don’t know whether we convince ourselves sometimes, but there’s a stained glass window, and every now and again, if you look at a certain point, you can see there’s a figure walking backward and forwards.
We’ve had the lights off to see if it’s shadows and everything, but there’s definitely some presence.
Landlady Lindsay Nicholson
Landlady Lindsay Nicholson(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
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What’s your best-selling drink?
It’s John Smith's. We get a lot of bitter drinkers in the pub. Our customers also love a pint of Guinness after that, but the Guinness has got to be spot on. I do my own line cleaning, so I make sure they’re spotless.
What is it about your local community that you love?
All our regulars are lovely. They’re just brilliant. They all help each other. They all live in the area, so if they have a Christmas party, it’s not just like a few people; the whole pub’s getting invited. It’s just great.
They all have to sit in the same place, that's the rules or there’s murder. If someone's sitting in their chair, they will just sit and stare until they move. The other day someone came in and sat in someone's seat and it caused murder.
We lost a lot of custom during Covid and lost some of our little old gents, which is really sad, so the ones we’ve got left, I really look after them. If they need feeding, they’re getting fed; if they need a lift home, I’ve got a friend called Julie who will take them all in her car. It’s a real caring little pub. If anything happens, the whole pub gets together. They’re fabulous.
The Grade II-listed pub dates back to the 19th century and retains a remarkable amount of its original character
The Grade II-listed pub dates back to the 19th century and retains a remarkable amount of its original character(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
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We were an Everton pub, but then when their ground moved, we lost a whole lot of business, but we’ve got such a loyal customer base that we’re still surviving. These people won’t go anywhere else.
On match days, they’d come in when Everton were at home, and we’d have people come from all over who would meet at this pub and walk to the match because they’d done that their whole lives. We used to squeeze in at least 100 extra customers. It’s been really hard since they’ve gone, but it’s picking back up again.
They’re just like a big family in there. It wouldn’t matter who’s got the pub, they’re still going to drink there, no matter what. They’re all just so loyal. We do get a lot more young ones coming in at the weekend, but they’re all our regulars' sons and daughters anyway so it’s just a continuation.
How can people support their local pub?
Use it, or you're going to lose it. That’s what I’ve been telling people. I know times are hard and difficult, but even if you call in and have a Diet Coke, it makes a difference. When you want these little pubs at Christmas and New Year, they aren’t going to be there for you unless you go out and support them.
So just call in, sit yourself down for a pint or something else, and keep it open.
We’ve seen so many pubs on our road go under, I think we’re the only one left.
Landlady Lindsay Nicholson
Landlady Lindsay Nicholson(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
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Since Covid, when everything went up, people just haven’t got any more money, so where’d they’d come and stay for the whole day or whole evening, they’re coming in later and drinking less. It’s just the way it is because the price of everything has increased, and drinking habits have changed. Most of our customers are full-time hard workers who will come in after work and on weekends. At the moment, all of our day customers are pensioners.
I can see the strain with them because, say, if they’d have four pints just to get them out of the house, sometimes they’re now only drinking two. In the winter, it’s like a community centre, I put the heating on full for them because they sit in the pub like it’s their living room, so I want them to be warm, comfortable and looked after.
I think the low prices keep them coming back as well. Obviously, I’ve had to raise the prices, but I keep them as low as I possibly can. I’ve got no real profit margin.
Do you want your pub or know a pub that deserves to be featured as the Liverpool ECHO's next Pub of the Week? Send an email to rebecca.mcgrath@reachplc.com