If you've taken a walk down Water Street, you've probably wondered what lies behind the imposing doors of number seven.
Adorned with two tiger heads, legend has it Lascar sailors used to come and rub the tiger’s teeth on the doors of the city centre building for good luck. The Grade II listed building dates back to the early 19th century when it was home to a pub, known as the Talbot Hotel.
Number 7 is soon set to undergo a huge transformation after plans to turn it into a new Argentinian steak restaurant were given the go ahead in June. The new Gaucho restaurant will be based on the ground floor and basement of the three storey building, while plans to turn the upper floors into 10 self-contained hotel apartments were also given the green light last month.
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The site was previously earmarked for a branch of The Ivy in 2020, but these plans appear to have been shelved. Located on one of the original seven streets of Liverpool, the building has been empty since 2017 and holds a fascinating history, having changed hands a number of times since it was first built.
In 1831, the Bank of Liverpool purchased part of the building and later expanded into the Glasgow Steam Packet Company building on the corner of Water Street and Fenwick Street. By the time it was reconstructed in 1896, the bank had also acquired the former Talbot Chambers on Fenwick Street.
In 1928, the building became the headquarters for both the Bank of Liverpool and Martin's Bank, which later relocated over the road to larger premises at 4 Water Street.
By the 1990’s, the building was known as Il Plazzo and provided serviced offices for a wide range of local businesses.
The former Bank of Liverpool is not the only building that's set to undergo a transformation on Water Street, with the former Martin's Bank across the road also earmarked for redevelopment. Once complete, the Martin's Bank building will offer a large cluster of Grade A office space and also a range of spaces for commercial business.
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