Coopers Townhouse says cheers to a hundred years since famous licensee took charge
Coopers Townhouse, ‘the friendliest pub in Liverpool’ renowned for its live music and karaoke, will celebrate its centenary on Thursday 16 January.
The Cases Street pub will be celebrating a hundred years to the day since Ada Cooper took over as licensee, going on to influence the character of the pub and eventually its name.
The celebrations will start with the presentation of a plaque dedicated to Ada made by local artist Emma Rodgers, which will be unveiled at 3pm by Coopers fan Jonny Bongo, followed by a surprise guest artist at 4pm.
The weekend of celebrations continues with surprise guest performances embodying the spirit and energy of Coopers on Friday 17 January and Saturday 18 at 5pm. Then on Tuesday 21, Wasted Heroes are setting up a screen print in the back room for an hour at 3pm, with a bespoke design for people to make their own t-shirts in a centenary giveaway. Finally, there’s the Pensioner’s party on Wednesday 22 January.
Despite having a century under its belt the pub will start its next hundred years with the same heart and soul that has made it so beloved to Liverpudlians, said licensee and co-owner of The Book in West Derby, Jonathan Yates.
“It’s a cliché to say this, but you never really own a pub like Coopers,” said Jonathan. “You are essentially the latest custodian of this fabulous place, because the pub was here long before any of us. When Maria passed the baton to me last summer, my intent was always to change nothing, simply to make Coopers the best it can be.
“We’ve decorated the front, invested in the cellar, the upholstery, the air-con and more, but made sure that the people, the staff, the entertainers and the customers didn’t change. The people make Coopers, they always have. And now we’re close to this special centenary, it feels like an incredible moment to celebrate.”
Jonathan continued: “From the moment I became the latest custodian, the centenary of Ada Cooper becoming the landlady here was firmly in our plans. For as long as I’ve been coming here, there has always been a plaque next to the bar stating ‘Ada Cooper (Owner). Licence endorsed to Ada Coopers 16th January 1925’. She must have been some landlady and character that in such a relatively short space of time, she made an impact that meant that the pub was referred to by her name decades later.
“I can’t think of another example where we get to celebrate a landmark anniversary like this in a pub. Coopers was first described to me as the little pub with the big heart and since Ada Cooper’s day, the closeness and bonding over 100 years later remains. At the same time, Coopers isn’t a relic to a bygone era; the last couple of years we’ve developed the social media presence of Coopers. The pub evolves to stay relevant, but never strays from its roots.”
For updates on the weekend's celebrations follow Coopers Townhouse on Instagram.
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