Not much has changed over the years which is why this pub is so special
Regulars having a pint at Piggies Restaurant & Bar(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
“You really get to know people. There are a few faces you’ll see during the week and then again on a Saturday afternoon. You know their orders, you chat to them and you become friends. They’re not just customers; they’re part of the furniture.”
When Three Piggies opened in 2016 on the former site of Vinci’s wine bar, locals saw it as the final piece of the puzzle in restoring Allerton Road’s appeal as a night-time destination. While the area is now packed with standout restaurants and cosy bars, this new arrival started life blending the best of both worlds.
Conceived as a new-age gastropub, Three Piggies focused on great food and drinks without the rowdiness often associated with traditional locals. Televisions were deliberately excluded and live sport was nowhere to be seen, encouraging conversation between people.
Those core principles helped shape what has since become a thriving community hub celebrating a decade of success later this year. The company switched hands in 2022 to its current operator, DGB Hospitality, who appreciated and respected the incredible groundwork laid by their predecessors.
Friends having a glass of wine at Piggies Restaurant & Bar(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Sean Singleton, marketing manager of DGB Hospitality, told the ECHO: “It felt like a proper local. I’ve worked in bars myself, and it reminded me of that village, community feel. It’s clearly a place where people come regularly because you see the same faces two or three times a week. It feels like a second home for a lot of people around here, which made it really appealing.
“I already knew the area well, so I recognised a lot of the faces from other places I’d worked. That made it even nicer. Everything felt familiar straight away.”
The new owners did little to flip the venue and focused on delivering the experience the community came to love. Too much of a unnecessary shift would be alienating to long-term patrons, so the change of hands was quiet.
Sean added: “It was a no-brainer for us from day one. The previous owner had built something really special, and there was already a strong attachment to the place from the community. We didn’t want to disrupt that.
Staff at Piggies Restaurant & Bar(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
“We didn’t change much. The previous owner had created a great atmosphere and a loyal customer base. Some of the staff were still there after three years, which says a lot. The locals were still the locals and the vibe was still the same. We kept food service until around half seven, added a few events here and there, but overall we just carried on the good work.
“I think it’s really important not to flip a venue on its head. People need to feel secure in a place they love. The only real change was bringing it slightly more in line with how we run our other venues – being a bit more guest-focused – but otherwise it’s largely stayed the same.”
Three Piggies has enjoyed success throughout its decade-long run and now acts as one of the best performing sites for DGB Group, who also own well-loved venues across the city like Gloria’s, Petit Cafe, Loretta’s, Pogue Mahone and Motel.
Sean said: “It’s probably one of the strongest venues we have year-round. There’s no real downtime. Even in January it’s still busy. People know what to expect, and it almost runs itself because of that consistency.”
An operator can have the biggest, flashiest venue known to man, but if you can’t secure the right customers, you’re on a slippery slope to failure. The community around Three Piggies is more akin to friends than visitors, with personality leading the way in every day interactions.
Three Piggies Restaurant & Bar(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Sean added: “You really get to know people. There are a few faces you’ll see during the week and then again on a Saturday afternoon. One man called Sid comes in all the time, goes to the bar and orders the same thing. He’s a regular we’ve come to love but there are so many. You know their orders, you chat to them and you become friends. They’re not just customers; they’re part of the furniture.
“We definitely feel supported by the local community. A huge percentage of our weekly trade comes from regulars. If something has worked well for ten years, you shouldn’t change it. We’ve tried to keep everything as close as possible to how it was originally and people have stayed loyal because of that.
“Running a local pub is very different to running somewhere in the city centre. You have to give people what they want. Accessibility is key. You can’t alienate your core customers in a place like this.”
Although there is a lot to be happy about, behind the scenes, the hospitality industry in general is struggling. Nearly 89,000 jobs have vanished in the hospitality sector since the Budget last October, according to data from the Office for National Statistics by UKHospitality.
The industry accounts for more than half of job losses in the UK since the Budget, with 53% of all 164,641 redundancies. The proportion of job losses within the hospitality sector, relative to its total workforce, is seven times higher than the rate across the broader UK economy.
The team at Three Piggies Restaurant & Bar,including Maddie Kootval(Duty Manager)4th left.(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
With venues crying out for help, Sean is just one of thousands of operators begging for relief. He added: “Like everyone in hospitality, COVID was tough, but beyond that the biggest challenges are rising costs – business rates, staffing and suppliers. You’re constantly forced to raise prices, which doesn’t help the guest or the business. You’re always trying to find ways to keep things accessible while staying viable.
“There needs to be more support from the government to help keep these venues alive. Hospitality isn’t dog-eat-dog. A strong local scene benefits everyone. If you have just one isolated venue, it’s much harder to succeed. You need vibrancy, choice and a sense of place that’s what brings people out because it we can all benefit from each other’s success. If there’s no venues, there’s no scene, and right now, it’s really tough.”
In October, Three Piggies will mark a decade since it opened on Allerton Road. Looking to the future and what will be an incredible 10th birthday celebration, Sean said: “We haven’t done big events before because the offer has always spoken for itself, but watch this space.”
For now, the site is offering 35% off food through January for anyone who joins the mailing list.