Tess Riley’s

Maria Collins

Lovely food, good staff and quick service.

Bev

Went to tes Riley's on Monday 27th July 15, brilliant atmosphere and the singer was brilliant. Will definitely visit again and perhaps try the food.

Mrs B Nicholson &mrs Matthews

we had a meal each in charlotte street and the chips were cold on both meals we do go in on a regular basis . and we have found that the meals have not been upto standard expected from your establishment

Sue

Great place great food and great entertainment and lets not forget the brill staff always there with a smile on there faces xx

Tess's History

Three generations of landlords began when Tess Riley (nee Makin) discovered her business brain while working on her mother Elizabeth’s second hand clothes stall at St John’s and Paddy’s markets. On non-market days Tess would travel over to the Wirral to collect her stock. She bartered with the affluent homeowners for the best price for their unwanted goods before selling them on at a handsome profit. Tess, born and raised in Scotland Road, took over the reigns and it was this experience that gave her the skills which made history in the Liverpool licensee industry. In 1947 Tess married Joe Riley. They had four children together – Joan, Billy, Frank and David. After raising her family, Tess retrained and in 1970 her new life in the pub and bar industry began. That same year she started working at The Pig and Whistle, followed by the Old Mona. She was manager at The Jester for five years before moving to The Beehive in Mount Pleasant, where she bought the free hold in 1978. This was the first of many of the family's pubs to be transformed from a quiet drinking hole to one of the best pubs in Liverpool. They installed a free juke box and played only 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s music. They introduced live bands at quiet times and on Sundays, which consequently became one of their busiest days. An organist called Mick Masters was a regular act. He always brought in crowds and when other pubs were quiet, The Beehive was bursting at the seams. People lined up outside to get in the door, in the days before people queued to get into pubs. Tess would often be seen getting up for a song or two of an evening, accompanied by the resident organist. Her voice was as well known as her pub. Always dressed in the most glamorous of outfits, which would later set her up for her retirement on board cruise ships sailing the world, Tess always looked the part. Tess passed on her publican skills to her children, who helped with the running of this pub and Riley’s, which they opened, on the same street, after Joe died. Eventually she would also help her eldest daughter Joan manage her very own pub. Joan Fay (nee Riley) met Denis Fay at the Locarno Ballroom and they married in 1968, having three children, Joseph, Vincent and Deniece. And so when the other Beehive across town became available in 1983, Tess helped her Joan to secure it. With her husband she became the landlord of the pub, in Paradise Street. They refurbished the tired building and it too became a favourite choice. They used Tess’s business template of a free juke box and live music to make it a success, a method still practised in the family pubs today. And like his father-in-law, Denis carried out the behind the scenes work, leaving his wife to do what she, like her mother before her, did best and entertain the punters. When the lease ran out, the family moved to The Stanley Arms, in Aughton. Joan’s touch made it another hot spot with the locals, but they missed city life. So in 1996 Joan and Denis bought a unit in the former Blacklers building in Great Charlotte Street, and opened, Tess Riley’s in memory of Tess, who had died a short time after her beloved husband. Today the pub is owned by Joan’s children following her death in 1998. Daughter Deniece said: “These two women were such an inspiration and their memory will live on in our pubs for years to come.” --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bj Lawson

As an artiste who performs at TESS RILEYS on a regular basis, I have to say city centre bars "generally" are frequented by some less desirable members of the general public, whereas TESS RILEYS, I am glad to say seem to have the same regulars who keep coming back again and again. I believe this is due to the great atmosphere, it is more like a club than a bar. A very strict No Drugs policy which keeps the less desirables out, thankfully.

Karenbh

This place gives a taste of the best Liverpool has to offer. Home made food, which is delicious and very reasonable, welcoming friendly staff and the entertainment is the icing on the cake. Ideal for days or night for all ages. I'll be going again and again!

Chyrell Frost

after a long day of shopping , tess rileys was fantastic, food was gorgeous , staff so welcoming, service was great, after a long day shopping ,so relaxing .i recommend this pub .

Bob Lawson

The outstanding thing about TESS TILEYS for me is, I feel it is very much an over 30's venue, which attracts couples and people who just want to have a good night out. No idiots, No drugs, good food, what more could you want. I feel it is one of the friendliest bars in the city centre.

Tiggs

me and my boyfriend love going to tess rileys for lunch - we often go over to liverpool, and we always say 'big fat chips' and we know where we are eating lol there is a load of us going on friday - because the food is so good and the atmosphere is nice, the the place itself is clean and friendly xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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