Ma Pub Group has expanded its presence in Liverpool with the acquisition of Café Tabac from the Baa Bar company. The independent hospitality operator, known for Ma Boyle’s Alehouse and Eatery, Tempest on Tithebarn, Nova Scotia and Newington Temple, will officially take ownership of the Bold Street venue on Wednesday 3 December. Café Tabac will continue to operate under its well-loved name and all existing staff will remain in place.
Café Tabac first opened in the 1970s under the ownership of Rita Lawrence and has remained an independent family run business ever since. The venue has long been regarded as a cultural landmark in the city, attracting generations of artists, musicians and locals over its five decades.
For Baa Bar chief executive Elaine Clarke, the sale marks the end of a deeply personal chapter. She said: “My own working life has been tied to Tabac for 33 years. I started in hospitality in Café Tabac at 14, and this place has been part of every chapter since. Saying goodbye is deeply personal, but I also know that every great institution evolves, and this is the right moment for its next chapter. Ma Pub Group has built a strong reputation for looking after their venues and their teams, and I know Iain (Hoskins, Ma Pub Group director) will protect this place with the same heart, integrity and pride that have sustained it for half a century.”
Iain Hoskins said he recognises the weight of becoming part of such an important Liverpool institution. He said: “Being entrusted with Café Tabac is an honour. It has been at the heart of Liverpool’s cultural landscape for decades and holds a huge place in the city’s memory. Tabac is one of the last living reminders of a Liverpool that shaped generations of creativity and character. To become its next custodian is a privilege I do not take lightly. We are proud to continue its legacy and carry this iconic venue into its next era.”
With its identity firmly preserved, Café Tabac looks set to begin a new chapter while remaining a beloved part of Liverpool’s hospitality and cultural scene.