The venue has raised more than £100,000 for charity over the years
Upton Road Social, formerly known as Houlihan’s Variety Club, in Birkenhead(Image: publicity picture)
The team behind Liverpool’s famous karaoke pub, Coopers Townhouse, have acquired a beloved venue in Birkenhead. This is proprietor Jonathan Yates’ fourth venue after The Book Bar & Eatery in West Derby, John Street Social in Droylsden and Coopers in Liverpool city centre.
Jonathan has taken on Upton Road Social, formerly known as Houlihan’s Variety Club, which was established in 1988 by Kevin Houlihan and his wife, Audrey. The venue was known for its community and fundraising efforts totalling more than £100,000 across the years for Claire House Children’s Hospice.
Although the Houlihan family recently stepped down as licensees and tenants, the club retained its staff, prices and “love” in the handover to Jonathan. Jonathan said his immediate objective for the venue is to make the transition as seamless as possible.
Jonathan said: “It was originally known in the 1970s and 80s as Eric’s Club and Blythe Hall. The premises was then taken over by the Houlihan family in April 1988 and then it was just the upstairs of the building, operating as a traditional variety club with weekend entertainment.
Upton Road Social, formerly known as Houlihan’s Variety Club, in Birkenhead(Image: publicity picture)
“In the mid 90s, the club expanded to take over the shop units underneath, including a pet shop, butchers and engineers, combining them all into a lounge bar. Since then, Houlies as it became known, has been a fixture in Claughton Village providing a warm, safe welcome across generations for the community.
“As with all of our venues, and especially Coopers and John Street Social, our focus is to maintain the existing traditions, community and service, whilst improving and augmenting where we can.
“And also crucially, to make sure these places are vibrant and fun for all. So for the many locals who love Houlies, the Upton Road Social is very much a continuation of what they already know and frequent.”
Since the pandemic, the business has operated solely from the downstairs as a members’ bar, with live sports on TV, a jukebox and numerous pool and darts teams making the venue their base. The Club operates a members’ scheme at just £5 per year and renewals will be opened up shortly.
The grand room upstairs is a concert room that will need investment to restore it back to its original grandeur and longer term intentions. In the handover, the Houlihan family asked that the venue’s name be retired with them.
Upton Road Social, formerly known as Houlihan’s Variety Club, in Birkenhead(Image: publicity picture)
Jonathan added: “With the lease expiring, the Houlihan family made the decision to hand over the reigns to me which is a huge honour.
“We know how important what they have created is here over the years, and for myself and my team we promise to continue the reputation for the wonderful community and make improvements where possible, in the same way we have at Coopers and John Street Social.
“The family requested that the name retire with them, so I’ve renamed it the Upton Road Social based on its location and reflecting that, right now, it’s more of a social destination rather than a variety club.
“When we get to the point of re-opening the upstairs, I’m certain there will be lots of variety club type of programming up there.”