The Belvedere is one of many iconic pubs that populates the Georgian Quarter
13:47, 23 Nov 2025Updated 13:49, 23 Nov 2025
The Belvedere pub has grown in popularity in recent years(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
It’s one of the city’s most beloved pubs. But after Coronavirus pandemic restrictions were lifted in 2021 the Belvedere was facing an uncertain future. It was taken over by Liam Riley, 44, who felt it was an opportunuty he couldn’t turn down.
And in the four years since Liam moved in it has become well-established as a key part of the Georgian Quarter’s iconic enclave of pubs,. Stepping into the 19th century boozer, it’s easy to see why. With an array of cask ales lining the bar and traditional decor dotted throughout the pub, Liam has retained much of its natural charm while adding minor improvements to ensure a bright future for the venue lies ahead.
Before acquiring the Belvedere Liam was self-employed working most recentky at a local brewery. He said: “I think being a part of the brewery set-up was one thing but, being someone who’s self-employed, you’re always looking for the next opportunity regardless of whether it’s linked to the thing that you’re doing or not.
Liam started running the pub in 2021(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
“Having learned how to run a brewery and learning more and more about the actual beer game itself, getting involved in pubs was the next logical step.”
While he had always had his sights set on the “next step” in his career, it wasn’t until 2021 when a chance phone call saw Liam take the leap and start running his own pub.
He said: “When the Belve became available, it seemed like too good of an opportunity to let pass. It’s not very often that you’re going to get the chance to take over what is considered by a lot of beer drinkers in Liverpool to be one of the old school institutions, particularly amongst the real-ale crowd.”
He added: “There’s only so many pubs that actually exist that have been around for more than 100 years and everybody’s got a story about them. So, when you’ve got your chance to get your hands on one, I don’t think it’s something that you can say no to.”
While he always had a desire to one day start running his own pub, Liam explained he had a particular affection for the Belvedere after trips there became something of a Christmas tradition for him and his friends .
Liam said that he was eager to ensure that the pub maintained its original charm(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
He said: “Going back a good while ago, I lived in town for six or seven years and one of the rituals at that time was, in the build up to Christmas, we’d have a lads’ day-out and it would always incorporate the top end of town around the Georgian Quarter, what you’d call the old-men’s pubs really.”
For many like myself who first find the Belvedere by chance due to its “tucked away” location in the Georgian Quarter, its almost hidden location is something Liam has loved about the pub since he took over.
He added: “The fact that it is a little bit tucked away, for some of the customers, it is the entire reason that they love it. It’s almost like a little secret place that not everybody knows about and they can go and sort of get out of the way.”
A vast selection of craft beers and cask ales line the bar (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
With the pub growing in popularity since Liam took over, he believes one of its greatest strengths has been attracting new audiences to the venue. He said: “I remember a few ladies stopped me to tell me that they’d always kind of liked the look and feel of the place, but they always felt that it was a bit of man’s pub and they weren’t quite so sure about it.”
Liam added: “But now they felt completely welcome and they felt it was much more mixed and much more open to everyone particularly for ladies going out for a few drinks.”