Owner mourns closure of pub beloved by loyal customers for decades

The owner of a long-standing pub closely associated with Everton supporters has said the club’s departure from Goodison Park drained the area of its character, forcing him to shut the doors after decades of matchday trade.

The Winslow Hotel, which dates back to the 1880s, sits just a short walk from the former stadium on Goodison Road and was a regular gathering place for fans on home matchdays. Its final drinks will be served on Saturday.

Landlord Dave Bond, who took over the pub in 2014, said business declined sharply after Everton’s men’s team relocated to the Hill Dickinson Stadium in August, ending 133 years at Goodison. He said the loss of regular matchday crowds made the business unsustainable.

Mr Bond, originally from County Clare in Ireland, said the pub relied almost entirely on the influx of supporters. Despite efforts to adapt, including organising coach travel to the club’s new home at Bramley-Moore Dock, he said revenues never recovered.

He described Goodison Park as the heart of the L4 area and said the pub’s identity was inseparable from the supporters who filled it on matchdays. While Everton Women continue to play at the old ground, he said attendances were far lower than those for the men’s fixtures.

Regulars have spoken of their sadness at the closure, recalling encounters with former players and the atmosphere built up over generations. Supporter Donal Morgan said that while the new stadium was impressive, the surrounding pubs lacked the history and sense of tradition found at the Winslow.

Mr Bond said his connection to Everton began in childhood through stories of club legends such as Dixie Dean, whose image features on the pub’s exterior. He added that listening to Everton matches on Radio Merseyside from Ireland cemented his lifelong attachment to the club.

He said closing the pub was a painful decision but one made inevitable by the loss of the matchday crowds that had sustained it for so long.