It was at the legendary Liverpool pub that ‘will never happen again’

In its heyday, a legendary Liverpool pub was a city center landmark and a regular haunt for locals, actors and theatre-goers.

Located on the corner of Lime Street and London Road, The Legs of Man was next to the Empire Theater and has seen generations pass through its doors. Despite fierce opposition, the pub was demolished in 1999 – but boasted a long and fascinating history and incredible moments from an era that “will never happen again”.

For decades, the late Sadie Coventry ran the beloved pub. Ms Coventry was born in Liverpool and moved to the Wirral as a young woman when her publican father took over the Farmer’s Arms in New Ferry, the ECHO previously reported.

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She lived and worked at the pub, where her father was the licensee before her, from 1948. After helping out behind the bar while also working at Woolworths, it eventually became her full-time job.

With her husband Charles, the couple moved into the pub in 1948 and Mrs Coventry took over the pub in 1962 after her father’s death. Over the years, Ms Coventry oversaw the operation of three bars and a cocktail lounge at the pub and managed 26 staff.

In its heyday the pub was a regular haunt of Empire actors and barristers who worked at Liverpool’s main courts at St George’s Hall. It has also had celebrities walk through its doors.

Famously, the pub was the birthplace of Paul O’Grady’s character Lily Savage. Lily Savage first came to life in the late 1970s when her creator Paul O’Grady was working for social services.

Remember The Legs of Man pub? Let us know in the comments section below.

Years ago, Savage’s website claimed she was “born in Butlins, Pwllheli and born outside The Legs Of Man Public House, Lime Street”. Savage is said to have made his debut miming a Barbra Streisand number in a pub in 1978.

Over the years the pub has also welcomed the likes of Bruce Forsyth, Carry On star Charles Hawtrey and comics such as Les Dawson and Norman Wisdom.

Mrs Coventry ran the pub from 1962 until her retirement in 1981. But before the millennium, it was announced that the pub’s final chapter was imminent.

Despite fierce opposition, The Legs of Man was demolished in 1999 to make way for an extension to the theatre. In June of that year, the Liverpool Daily Post reported: “The final curtain is set to fall on a long-standing Liverpool pub to make way for a theater extension.

“Legs of Man has lost its battle against demolition and is to be leveled to make way for a multi-million pound extension by the Empire Theatre. Liverpool City Council has been granted a compulsory purchase order needed to take over the city center pub.

“Homeowner Marion Grocott and her son Anthony Kong say they are devastated and facing the loss of their home and livelihood.” It’s almost 25 years since Liverpool said goodbye to The Legs of Man.

But many still have fond memories of the living pub. In 2013, it was announced that Mrs Coventry had died aged 86.

Paying tribute to her, her only son Michael looked back at the pub’s success and his mother’s legacy. Mrs Coventry was a hit with regulars and in 1969 they voted the 42-year-old winner of the ECHO Mine Host competition.

At the time, Michael said: “She really loved the pub and put her heart and soul into it. It was fair and a good house, not a troubled one.

“She was very charming and had a lot of charisma. The place was packed on the night the award was presented by Doris Speed ​​and Arthur Leslie, who played Annie and Jack Walker in Coronation Street.

“Doris and Arthur came to the pub early and my dad cooked them a scampi dinner. She liked the fuss and was excited to win.

“I remember being on holiday with my mum in Mallorca and people recognizing her. The piglet was a huge success, and by the time my mother had it, the town was absolutely booming.

“Liverpool was the music capital of the world and they had a wall full of photos of stars like Ken Dodd, all signed with my mum. When the pub was demolished, she was sad – but said she was there in an era it would never have. it happened again.”

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