The pub has plans for a Guinness village, roaming bars and drag queen entertainment
Erin Johnson from the Queens of Aintree
The Queens Arms is gearing up for one of the busiest weekends of the year as tens of thousands of people prepare for the Grand National. With the pub located on Warbreck Moor, just a five-minute walk from the action at Aintree Racecourse, the team is planning for a “bigger and better party than there’s ever been”.The Queens Arms has held an unofficial after party for each day of the races for more than a decade. During that time they’ve seen everything from sports stars partying inside their giant marquee to huge conga lines dancing around the venue.With the races fast-approaching, the venue is busy putting the final touches on plans for a non-stop three-day extravaganza. A spokesperson from Blind Tiger Inns told the ECHO: “This year we’ve planned for a bigger and better party than there’s ever been.”We will have live music every day from 10am starting from Thursday and carrying the whole way through until Saturday. We’re creating our very own Guinness Village, who is our marquee sponsor this year.”
Manager Erin Johnson from The Queens Arms(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
The Queens Arms has recruited a number of drag queens to keep the masses entertained as the party spills onto the street. The spokesperson added: “We did it last year and we thought it was something different and brought people in.”
Live entertainment includes DJs, saxophones players and vocalists performing from, 4pm until 9pm from the marquee tent. Afterwards, the party will continue indoors until close with yet another DJ spinning party anthems.
New container bars will be added to allow more access points for service, with roaming back pack bars allowing people to grab a top up on the go from around the premises.
The Queens Arms(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
The Queens Arms is managed by Erin Johnson, who took over the venue in 2024 with the aim of putting her own stamp on the place. She previously told the ECHO: “I’ve worked here on and off for years now under different management until I took over.
“It’s the locals and customers that have kept me here all this time. I’ve worked in many pubs and nowhere else feels like it, I don’t know what it is – it just keeps pulling me back in.”
She added: “When people have done okay [betting on the racing] they’re especially generous to the bar staff, it makes such a difference to them because it’s such a hectic weekend but the staff love working it.”