Passengers on the Manx Electric now have yet another reason to travel, thanks to the reopening of a once-popular pub which is now a café.
The Liverpool Arms, located along the A2 coastal road between Onchan and Baldrine, closed in 2017, with the landlord blaming a decline in trade, ‘particularly over winter’.
The new café, two minutes’ walk from MER stop Baldromma also known as ‘Halfway’ (Pole 178-9), ’focuses mainly on local ingredients while aiming to create a lively and welcoming atmosphere.’ Initially, the menu features sandwiches, salads, pastries, soup and cakes, accompanied by teas and coffees and soft drinks. It opens Mondays to Fridays 10 am to 4pm with weekends from 8 am to 4pm.
Following closure, the building was subject of a protracted planning wrangle over change of use, resolved after appeal and was eventually advertised for sale as ‘a 19th-century Public House and Country Inn’ and following the planning debacle, ’without covenant’ for offers in excess of £350,000.
During its extended closure, the building became a sorry sight inside and out. Fortunately, Baldrine-based Stewart Clague Services (SCS) bought it in October 2024.
It has since ‘been restored to modern standards, with its historical features carefully retained, and renamed The Lonan Arms.’
Tenants moved into the accommodation upstairs in January 2025. More recently, the commercial space downstairs was taken on by Jabbalee Ltd, and has opened as ‘LA Brunch Club’, the ‘LA’ a nod to its previous name.
Director of building owners LA2 Alan Clague said he was delighted the commercial unit had been filled.
He said: ‘The property was saved after a full renovation at the end of 2024 when it was purchased from Heron & Brearley.
‘The upstairs accommodation was quickly occupied and it would have been relatively easy to submit a planning application for the ground floor to become residential accommodation for a quick let.
‘However, we were keen to see it reopen for the public to enjoy and were pleased when we heard Lee and Stephanie were looking for premises for their Brunch Club. We wish them every success and know it will be well supported by the community.’
The building opened in 1850 as a Public House and Country Inn and still had a stable as recently as 1948. Situated halfway between Douglas and Laxey, the ‘Liverpool Arms’ was first mentioned in 1862. It had taken over from the Prince of Wales as the Halfway House. In 1976, Jim and Joyce Wallace opened their new Penny Farthing Grill Room. Clive Pemberton enjoyed a very successful period at the Liverpool Arms before moving to the newly built Haven in Port Erin.
The Liverpool Arms visible from any MER Car en route to Laxey