From the origins of its name to the washing machines customers could once use
The Caledonia pub in the Georgian Quarter(Image: Photo by Andrew Teebay)
A historic Liverpool pub which has stood on a beautiful city street for well over a century could be starting a new chapter. In the heart of the Georgian Quarter, The Caledonia, on the junction of Catharine Street and Caledonia Street, has been welcoming customers for decades.
But back in March, the pub closed permanently as licensee Laura King said the economic climate had become too difficult to continue operating. Now, plans have been submitted to convert the site into a hotel and we wanted to take a look back at the building’s fascinating history.
The building that houses the pub first appeared in the Ordnance Survey map of 1890. The pub was named after Caledonia Street, which in turn was named after The Caledonia – one was one the first three ships to be commissioned by Cunard, which were launched in 1837 as Post Ships with accommodation, sailing between Liverpool, New York and Boston.
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In more recent years, The Caledonia became well-known for its live music, modern vegan pub food and also for being extremely dog-friendly. But over two decades ago, many will remember when the popular pub became known for a particular niche.
Back in the 00s, The Caledonia was “the first in the country” to put washing machines and tumble driers into their venue. A convenience for students living nearby as well as other customers, many will remember the days when you could nurse a pint while doing your washing there.
The Caledonia pub, Liverpool
On November 21, 2000, the ECHO reported: “The Caledonia LSP – Laundromatic Super Pub – is the idea of 27-year-old Ingo Aicher. He has the pub on a 10-year lease from owners Inn Partnership, to join the Grapes in Roscoe Street which he took over earlier this year.
“Ingo said The Caledonia should prove a big hit with the many students who live nearby. Ingo, from the southern German town of Rottweil, said: “It’s all about entertainment. You can do your laundry while you have a drink or have a dance.”
“He’s lined up DJs from top nightspots like Chrome, Voodoo, and Medication for special themed nights like Rinsin’, Heavy Load, and Laundro Lounge. And he said if his venture cleans up he hopes to expand it, adding: “If it takes off we’re thinking of starting service washes in the basement.”
A customer at the Caledonia public house in Liverpool loads one of the pub’s washing machines whilst having a pint. November 21, 2000(Image: Phil Noble/PA)
“Berlin and Amsterdam boast internet laundrettes, but Ingo said he wanted to take the idea further and put it into a traditional British pub environment.” These pictures, recently rediscovered in our archives, show what the pub used to look like when washing machines and tumble driers were installed.
Courtesy of PA and Reach PLC’s content archive, they offer a glimpse into what the pub looked like at the time, as well as customers posing and using the washing machines. For loyal customers who have been going to The Caledonia for years, these are bound to stir some memories.
The ECHO recently spoke to pubs in Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter about their fascinating history and what makes the area stand out in the city. Licensee of The Caledonia, Laura King, originally from York, took over The Caledonia back in 2010.
Art exhibition alongside washing machines at Caledonia pub. Ingo Akcher admires the artwork of Sue Lucine(Image: TRINITY MIRROR/REACH CONTENT ARCHIVE)
Laura previously told the ECHO: “The pub was built I think in the 1860s and named after a Scottish ship. It was frequented by Scots and I read somewhere that a lot of Cunard sailors used to drink here in the day.
“Originally it was a centre bar and the pub had little snugs, but it was knocked out in the 80s to be more of a standard wine bar. The building across the road which is now student halls was nurses accommodation, so it was redesigned with them in mind at that time.
“Recent history in the 90s and 00s – it was a bit of a rave place, it was popular for after parties that used to go on a little bit too late after the likes of Circus. Everybody likes to tell us that at some point in the 90s it was the laundromat super pub.
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“It was a normal pub inside but with washing machines and driers in the back. It was at the time you could still smoke inside and from the tales I heard, people would get drunk and forget their washing.”
But back in March this year, licensee Laura announced the pub’s closure in an Instagram post Since it closed its doors, The Caledonia’s ground floor windows have been boarded up.
The post said: “I have made the incredibly difficult decision to close The Caledonia permanently. I have fought hard since the pandemic and particularly over the last 12 months to keep the venue going.
Licencee Laura King (far left) of The Caledonia pub, with staff Sara Maguire, Orlagh Scott,and Siobhan Eves with Mildrid. August 2024(Image: Photo by Andrew Teebay)
“Despite incredible support and help, and with a huge amount of work having begun to restructure and build great new connections and events, it has become clear that in the current economic climate this current challenge is just one too far for me to fight through.
“I have been at the helm of The Caledonia for almost 15 years. I’ve watched the venue blossom into a true community hub for music and arts in Liverpool. I am privileged to know and am proud of all of you have been a part of that journey.
“We have hosted 1000s of musicians from all over the world, watched talented locals grow and develop professional careers, been home to theatre groups, community groups and clubs, and seen people build friendships and meet future partners.
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“I am very proud of the thousands of hours of free access to music we’ve been able to provide for our community and the employment we were able to create for local Grassroots performers.
“I’d like to say thank you to all of you. To our customers, and staff over the years, the performers, everyone who used our space, bought a pint and all the people who have supported me. In the perfect words of one of our supporters, “The Caledonia is not just a pub.”
“The cost-of-living crisis is crippling Community Venues, we are seeing compounding rising costs in utilities, stock, rent, rates and more all of which, and more, are set to rise again in April. That is coupled with a loss of customers because our community is struggling too. We are not the first to go and, without change, we won’t be the last.”
The Caledonia pub has a long history
But the building could be entering a new chapter, being converted into a hotel. Last month, the ECHO reported how plans have been submitted by INM & MC Properties Ltd to Liverpool City Council to convert the closed pub into a 12-bed hotel with a commercial unit on the ground floor.
A two-storey extension to the rear would be built as part of the plans and alterations would be made to the windows. Planning documents state: “The intention is to seek a sympathetic new use for the building following the permanent closure of The Caledonia Public House. There are no works proposed to the basement.
“The changes involve retaining a ground floor commercial frontage to Catharine Street for use within Planning Use Class E in conjunction with a rear extension and change of use of the upper floors and partial change of use of the ground floor to provide Hotel accommodation consisting of 12 bedrooms.
“The proposed hotel accommodation would comprise 12 bedrooms (with two bedrooms on the ground floor and five bedrooms on each of the first and second floors). Including the additional 34m2 derived from the first/second floor level rear extension, this would provide accommodation within Planning Use Class C1 in a total internal area of 284m2 .
“In addition, a commercial unit to provide 41m2 sales/commercial space for use within Planning Use Class E is proposed to occupy the Catharine Street frontage. The commercial unit would include the existing basement for associated storage and additionally includes a refuse storage area to the rear of the building.”