The building has been home to numerous venues sinceThe Masonic Arms, Berry Street, Liverpool. 22nd August 1984.The Masonic Arms, Berry Street, 1984(Image: Mirrorpix)

It’s now been more than 40 years since customers headed to a lost city centre pub that was loved as a rock music venue. Earlier this month, the Liverpool ECHO reported how a pub has reopened to the public and gone back to its roots with its original name.

Located on Lark Lane, many will have fond memories of The Masonic at number 33, but in more recent years, the building has been home to The Lodge. The site has since had a transformation and is now operated by 1936 Pubco, with the name The Masonic Arms.

For years, many will remember the days when The Masonic Arms called Berry Street home in the city centre.

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The building itself has a long history and has been home to numerous businesses over time. But decades ago, as The Masonic Arms, it had a “considerable reputation as a rock club– seeing many local bands take to its stage.

One photo, courtesy of our archive, Mirrorpix, was taken in 1984 and captures the exterior of the grand building when it was home to The Masonic Arms. It was photographed for an article surrounding a number of licenced premises which were on the market at the time.

Inside Red Door, Berry Street, when it openedInside Red Door, Berry Street, when it opened(Image: Mirrorpix)

On August 23, 1984, the Liverpool ECHO reported: “Different in character is The Masonic Arms in Berry Street, a stones throw from Liverpool’s Chinatown and just down the hill from Hardman Street and its buzzing nightlife. The Masonic Arms once enjoyed a considerable reputation as a rock music venue, While connoisseurs of the off-beat will know that on its walls are to be found some relics of a bygone age in the shape of a very faded advertisements for Cain’s beer – a brew long since vanished.

“At ground-floor level there is a modestly- sized public bar and a big lounge at concert room complete with a small stage – and artistes’ changing room. upstairs there is plenty of space with five bedrooms on the first and second floors and five storerooms on the third floor, which also has a wrought-iron balcony.” At the time, The Masonic Arms was being sold by Cain’s successors, Tetley Walker.

Geoff Windham formed band Marital Aids in the late 1970s and was among the musicians from the city and beyond who found themselves performing at The Masonic on Berry Street. He previously told the ECHO: “We played the Masonic I think twice. It was just great to play on stages where I knew these great bands had played on.

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He said: “Eric’s was the place to be, you had to play at Eric’s. But the most exciting times we had was playing at The Masonic pub. At that time, one of my jobs was catering and I used to dress in a tuxedo and bow tie.

“We had a gig at the Masonic at the same time I had a catering do on in Southport. It was for the Masons society and we finished about 10pm and I got in my car and raced over to Liverpool. They’d already set up and I walked on stage dressed the same.

“Maggie who sang with us, she was wearing a wedding dress – we used to do mad things like that. The audience loved it and I think that’s one of my favourite memories – going from one Mason to another Mason, but they were completely different worlds.”

But by the 80s, the name of the popular venue changed. On July 20, 1985, the ECHO reported: “Anyone who remembers The Masonic Arms in Liverpool’s Berry Street, before it closed down is in for a surprise when they see it today.

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“Three years after the “demise” of The Masonic and in the wake of a costly £220,000 refurbishment comes Trader Jacks. Trader Jacks, a free house, has to be the most eye catching pub in Liverpool if only for its striking exterior.

“The purple painted walls, with gold leaf patterns are startling to say the least, and the lanterns set off the “art nouveau” appearance.” At the time, the venue had two split level downstairs bars and upstairs, there was a cocktail bar where you could find “any cocktail under the sun.”

The pub was owned by three partners – Joe Houston, Steven Foster and Ken Hughes – and customers could enjoy anything from garlic mushrooms served with salad for 95p and main meals include lasagne, kebabs, casserole and steaks, selling at up to £1.95. Through the years, the building has been home to a number of different businesses.

Inside Red Door, Berry Street, when it openedInside Red Door, Berry Street, when it opened(Image: Liverpool ECHO)

After Trader Jacks came The Black Horse and Rainbow and the Brewery, from when the site housed its own brewery. Many will also remember the days when it was The Metropolitan, which had a “club above the pub,” known as the Lemon Lounge.

But for the last decade, it has been home to bar Red Door. It was the team who brought Life Café to Liverpool in the late 90’s who reunited to open the city venue.

It’s now been over 40 years since The Masonic Arms welcomed customers on Berry Street. But many will remember performing on its stage or enjoying a pint or two with friends there.