DGB Hospitality Group to Open The Black Horse and Rainbow in Liverpool’s Ropewalks
Liverpool hospitality operator DGB Hospitality Group has announced its latest city centre opening, confirming plans to launch The Black Horse and Rainbow in the Ropewalks following a £750,000 investment and the creation of 25 new jobs.
The new venue, located at 21–23 Berry Street in the heart of the Ropewalks district in Liverpool, will open in July 2026, marking the group’s ninth site in the city.
The project sees DGB take on the current Red Door site, a building with a long and layered hospitality history. The venue was originally known as The Masonic Arms, later becoming Trader Jacks, before evolving into The Black Horse and Rainbow in 1990, complete with its own in-house brewery. It later transformed into The Metropolitan, home to the iconic Lemon Lounge upstairs, before becoming Red Door in 2015.
DGB says it will honour that heritage while fully refurbishing and redeveloping the three-storey property. The new concept will include a 250-capacity beer garden, heated outdoor terrace space, and a dedicated function room designed for private hire and events.
The new opening will sit within Ropewalks, one of Liverpool’s busiest and most established nightlife and hospitality areas, and is expected to add further footfall to Berry Street’s growing leisure economy.
Once open, The Black Horse and Rainbow will focus on continental beers, cocktails, wines and spirits, alongside nostalgic bar snacks and a BBQ-led garden menu. The venue will also lean into outdoor social drinking, with its beer garden positioned as a central feature of the concept.
Live music and entertainment will remain a key part of the offer, with DGB confirming weekly DJs and live bands as part of a programme designed to support the group’s wider community-led hospitality approach.
Sean Singleton of DGB Hospitality Group said the site represents a particularly meaningful addition due to its history and transformation over the decades.
“We’re thrilled to make this new acquisition in Liverpool city centre, marking The Black Horse and Rainbow our ninth venue in the city,” he said.
“Opening any new site is always exciting, but this project feels particularly special because of the history attached to the truly iconic building and the different names and ownerships it’s had over the decades.
We’ve got the opportunity to bring a sense of nostalgia back to the area, whilst still investing heavily into modernisation and the overall guest experience both inside and outside.”
He added that the beer garden will play a central role in the venue’s identity, particularly during summer months, with BBQs, drinks and seasonal programming planned year-round.
“At DGB, we’re passionate about creating communities – on the dancefloor, over brunch and dinner, or through late-night drinks with friends – and this venue will continue that philosophy,” he said.
The group’s portfolio already includes Gloria’s, Petit Café Berry Street, Petit Café Lark Lane, Loretta’s, Three Piggies, Pogue Mahone, Motel and Teddy’s. Its most recent opening, Gloria’s, launched in September 2024 and continues to trade strongly.
DGB Hospitality Group is positioning the new Berry Street site as a flagship summer opening, with further announcements on the official launch date expected in the coming weeks.
The Black Horse and Rainbow will open in July 2026.
Follow @blackhorseandrainbow on Instagram for updates.
