The Black Horse and Rainbow Opens in Liverpool’s Ropewalks Following £750,000 Transformation
A historic Liverpool pub has begun a new chapter after reopening as The Black Horse and Rainbow following a major £750,000 renovation.
The new venue opened on Friday 24 July on Berry Street in the heart of the Ropewalks. It is the ninth Liverpool city centre venue from independent operator DGB Hospitality Group.
The Black Horse and Rainbow features a beautifully restored main bar, a heated outdoor terrace and a first-floor function room. One of its biggest attractions is its 250-capacity beer garden, complete with a dedicated Guinness bar and a large outdoor screen showing live sport.
Designed to be used throughout the year, the beer garden will also host seasonal events and activities. A retractable roof and additional heating are due to be installed later this year, allowing the outdoor space to remain open whatever the weather.
Behind the bar, visitors can choose from a selection of continental beers, cocktails, wines and spirits, with the venue open seven days a week.
The redevelopment has created 25 new hospitality jobs in Liverpool and represents a £750,000 investment by DGB Hospitality Group.
Sean Singleton of DGB Hospitality Group said: “It’s been a very busy few weeks on site and now we are ready to proudly unveil our latest venue, The Black Horse and Rainbow.
“It’s a truly historic site in Liverpool and one we have lovingly restored into a classic pub with four main spaces. During the refurbishment, we’ve honoured its heritage, bringing back to life many fixtures and fittings which form part of the building’s past.”
The Berry Street building has been home to several well-known Liverpool venues over the years. Originally called The Masonic Arms, it later became Trader Jacks, operating as a traditional wet-led pub.
The original Black Horse and Rainbow launched at the site in 1990 and featured its own in-house brewery. It later became The Metropolitan, with the iconic Lemon Lounge upstairs hosting numerous club nights and events.
From 2015 until early summer 2026, the building was home to Red Door. Its reopening as The Black Horse and Rainbow nods to one of the venue’s most memorable former identities while introducing a completely modernised pub and events space.
Sean added: “At DGB, we’re immensely passionate about creating communities – whether it’s on the dancefloor, over brunch and dinner, or through late-night drinks with friends – and our brand-new venue on Berry Street continues this philosophy.
“As a group, we remain hyper-focused on delivering the best possible experience across all our sites. Every venue has its own identity and atmosphere, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to our latest addition.”
The Black Horse and Rainbow joins a growing DGB Hospitality Group portfolio that includes Gloria’s, Petit Café Berry Street, Petit Café Lark Lane, Loretta’s, Three Piggies, Pogue Mahone, Motel and Teddy’s.
The Black Horse and Rainbow is now open at 21–23 Berry Street, Liverpool, L1 9DF. Follow @blackhorseandrainbow for updates.
