The Vines (The Big House)
The Vines, known locally as the Big House, is a Grade II* listed pub at 81 Lime Street in Liverpool. Rebuilt in 1907 for the Liverpool brewer Robert Cain to designs by Walter Thomas, it keeps one of the country's great Edwardian pub interiors, rated by CAMRA as of outstanding national importance.
Photos
Savoria
A brewer's show pub
Albert B. Vines first opened a pub on the site in 1867, and the name stuck when Robert Cain's brewery rebuilt it in 1907. Local architect Walter Thomas designed it as a showpiece, and it is counted among the country's great show pubs. Look down as you come in for the Cains mosaic in the entrance floor.
The rooms to see
The smoke room has signs of the zodiac on the ceiling, a relief of a Viking ship over the fireplace and alcoves with bell-pushes for table service. The lounge has Corinthian pilasters, a copper-fronted bar and a fireplace flanked by caryatids. At the back, the former billiard room, now the Heritage Suite, has an oval stained-glass dome, three chandeliers and a marble fireplace. The public bar was altered in 1989, but the lounge and smoke room were left untouched.
Visiting
It sits on Lime Street close to the station, so it is an easy first or last drink on a trip to Liverpool. The Adelphi Hotel is next door and Hardware Coffee + Kitchen is around 200 metres away. Allow time to look round the rooms rather than just staying at the bar.
Highlights
- Grade II* listed, rebuilt in 1907
- Designed by Walter Thomas for Robert Cain's brewery
- Zodiac ceiling and Viking ship relief in the smoke room
- Stained-glass dome in the former billiard room
- CAMRA three-star historic pub interior
Good to know
- The lounge and smoke room keep their original fittings; the public bar was altered in 1989.
- Look for the Cains mosaic in the entrance floor.
Frequently asked questions
Sources: pubheritage.camra.org.uk