Welcome to Dovedale Towers

Built in the 1800s, the pub was originally known as Grove House, built by Andrew Kurtz, a renowned patron of the arts in Liverpool and a talented pianist.

After Kurtz passed away in 1890, the building became a 'home for incurable children', also known as the Children's Rest

The Home became the parochial hall for St Barnabas’ Church in 1914 and became a vital part of the local community, providing the area with a community hub during the difficult times that spanned two World Wars. It was during World War Two that the venue became known as ‘Barneys’, hosting dances and balls for locals and visiting troops as St Barnabas' Church Hall.

This is why The Dovey's musical links come as no surprise; it has always been a community space, where musicians would come to play - John Lennon and Paul McCartney played the venue several times with The Quarrymen in 1957; Paul even sung in the St Barnabas’ Church choir

In the ‘60s, the property passed into the hands of the Higgins family, who renamed Grove House to The Dovedale Towers after a long demolished tower that could be viewed from the Mersey.

This is where the pub's musical roots grow deeper.

The Higgins’ son, Geoff, was a prominent member of the local music scene who became a roadie and manager for band Ibex, later The Wreckage - which was lead by Farrouk Bulsara

 

Farrouk had moved to Liverpool from London to find fame and Geoff offered him digs above his parent's pub.

The offer was gratefully taken by the man who would go on to become Freddie Mercury, and he lived in what is now our events space from 1969-1970

The Wreckage didn’t last too long, but on September 9, 1969 Freddie was joined on stage by guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor for the first time at The Sink on Hardman Street.

Now the room that was formerly Freddie’s bedroom is a 120-seat event space that pays homage to the building's past.

 

Throughout the 70s and 80s The Dovey was home to many different venues - and featured many different names - before closing its doors in 2009.

The Dovey returned in 2010, as a thriving community and destination pub.

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We have close relationships with local businesses, as well as our guests, to help create a sense of identity and character, a sense of being someplace, not just any place. Not unlike Liverpool itself.