The colourful history of Penny Lane pub The Dovedale Towers

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The colourful history of Penny Lane pub The Dovedale Towers
It's been open since the 1800s and has hosted famous faces and travellers from around the world
By Elle May Rice
22 APR 2019


The Dovey on Penny Lane (Image: Livepool Echo)

A staple in the history of Penny Lane, The Dovedale Towers, affectionately known as The Dovey, is loved throughout Liverpool.

The gastropub stands tall on the busy street, with people popping in for breakfast, lunch and often more than a few drinks after work.

And while many will know some of the much-loved pub's history, there’s more to the incredible story than you’d think.

The pub was originally known as Grove House, before being taken over by Andrew Kurtz, a renowned patron of the arts in Liverpool and a talented pianist.

It’s clear from the start that The Dovey would be a place for musicians to perform - just as Andrew did; he’s even featured in The Walker Art Gallery.


Inside The Dovey (Image: The Dovedale Towers)

After he passed away, Grove House became an orphanage, The Home for Incurable Children.

Operations Manager for Old Ropewalks Ltd, who own The Dovedale Towers, Jonathan Maguire said: “The Home became the parochial hall for St Barnabas’ Church in 1914 and became a vital part of the local community, providing the area with a community hub during the difficult times that spanned two World Wars.”

It was during World War Two that the venue became known as ‘Barneys’, hosting dances and balls for locals and visiting troops as St Barnabas' Church Hall.

This is why The Dovey's musical links come as no surprise; it has always been a community space, where musicians would come to play - just as The Quarrymen did.

John Lennon and Paul McCartney played the venue several times with The Quarrymen in 1957; Paul even sung in the St Barnabas’ Church choir, which he revealed during his Carpool Karaoke with James Corden last year.



However, The Dovey’s link to The Beatles is not its only claim to fame, by far.

In the ‘60s, the property passed into the hands of the Higgins family, who renamed Grove House to The Dovedale Towers after a long demolished tower that could be viewed from the Mersey.

This is where the pub's musical roots grow deeper.

The Higgins’ son, Geoff, was a prominent member of the local music scene who became a roadie and manager for band Ibex, later The Wreckage - which was lead by Farrouk Bulsara.


Inside The Dovey (Image: The Dovedale Towers)

Jonathan went on to say: “Farrouk had moved to  Liverpool from London to find fame and Geoff offered him digs above his parent's pub.

“The offer was gratefully taken by the man who would go on to become Freddie Mercury, and he lived in what is now our events space from 1969-1970.

“The Wreckage didn’t last too long, but on September 9, 1969 Freddie was joined on stage by guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor for the first time at The Sink on Hardman Street.”

Now the room that was formerly Freddie’s bedroom is a 180-seat event space that pays homage to the building's past.

Throughout the 70s and 80s The Dovey was home to many different venues - and featured many different names - before closing its doors in 2009.


Inside The Dovey (Image: The Dovedale Towers)

Jonathan said: “Old Ropewalks and Michael Girling took over in 2010 and brought The Dovey back to life as a thriving community and destination pub.

“We have close relationships with local businesses such as Homebaked and breweries such as Red Star Brewery, as well as our guests, to help create a sense of identity and character, a sense of being someplace, not just any place. Not unlike Liverpool itself.”

These days, The Dovey is as much a staple of the Penny Lane community as ever - and it's stunning beer garden certainly doesn't go amiss on a sunny day.