Café Tabac, the iconic Bold Street café in Liverpool, has joined the Ma Pub Group, marking a new chapter for a venue synonymous with the city’s creative history. Launched in the 1970s by Rita Lawrence, the café became a haven for Liverpool’s post-punk, new wave, and alternative scenes in the 1980s. Artists, musicians, writers, and performers including Holly Johnson, Pete Burns, Margi Clarke, Ian McCulloch, Jayne Casey, and poet Gerry Potter frequented the venue.
The transition to Ma Pub Group officially takes place on Wednesday 3 December. All staff will be retained, and Café Tabac will continue to trade under the same name, maintaining the values and spirit it has held for over fifty years.
Elaine Clarke, chief executive of Baa Bar Limited and current owner, described the handover as “deeply personal.” She has been associated with Café Tabac for 33 years, starting in hospitality there at the age of 14, and took ownership in 2001. Clarke reflected on the café’s enduring influence: “Taking it on in 2001 was one of the proudest moments of my career. I wanted to honour what Rita created: a home for artists, musicians, performers, night owls, early risers, and everyone who found a piece of themselves in its red glow. Letting go now comes with a heavy heart. It truly marks the end of an era for me and for my family.”
Clarke emphasised the importance of continuity, noting that her successor, Iain Hoskins, has a deep understanding of the café’s history. Hoskins, director at Ma Pub Group, began his hospitality career working with Clarke in the mid-1990s and has now returned as custodian. “Being entrusted with Café Tabac is an honour,” he said. “It has been at the heart of Liverpool’s cultural landscape for decades and holds a huge place in the city’s memory. Like so many others, I have my own stories tied to this place. Tabac is one of the last living reminders of a Liverpool that shaped generations of creativity and character.”
Hoskins confirmed that the café will remain true to its bohemian roots. “Elaine has protected its authenticity for more than 20 years, and Rita did the same for decades before that. We are proud to continue that legacy and carry this iconic venue into its next era.”
For decades, Café Tabac has provided a social and creative hub for the city, and the acquisition by Ma Pub Group ensures that its role as a gathering place for artists, performers, and local communities will continue. The handover reflects both a respect for the past and a commitment to preserving the unique atmosphere that has defined the venue since the 1970s.
