Dixie Dean and the Dublin Packet: An Unlikely Landlord
Best remembered as the greatest Everton player of all time, it goes without saying that Dixie Dean was an unlikely landlord!
But a landlord he was. Following retirement, Dixie Dean took on the job of landlord for the Dublin Packet in Chester.
Built back in the 1800s, Dixie Dean took on the pub shortly after the war.
It’s no surprise that his time there is largely considered to have been the pub’s peak of success.
Dixie Dean and The Dublin Packet
The Everton legend ran the popular pub for over 16 years. And it’s safe to say he was a hit with the customers!
Some have recalled their parents heading down to the Dublin Packet for a drink and enjoying a chat with the legend himself.
Dixie was said to have been happy to talk to everyone and reminisce about his Everton days. Fans described him as a “top man and a gentleman”.
After closing earlier this year, the much loved pub reopened its doors once again in September 2017.
Talking of its opening, Peter Corfield said:
“We’ve updated the decor but not made any huge changes to it. We will be serving good quality pub food but it’s always been a classic British pub to enjoy a pint in and that’s what it will still be.”
He added:
“It’s a beautiful pub with such a good history and we don’t want to lose any of that.”
Becoming a Landlord
It seems unlikely that footballers today would choose to or be able to return to a normal life after football.
But Dixie Dean, remembered by his colleagues as “a quiet, unassuming man”, was happy to get back to work.
World War II had forced him to retire from the world of football and running the Dublin Packet was an enjoyable role to take on board.
Alongside working in the pub, he was also a porter for Littlewoods Football Pools.
Dixie Dean and Liverpool goalkeeper Elisha Scott may have been rivals on the pitch but they were certainly friendly off the pitch.
21 years after Dixie retired and left his football rivalry behind, the iconic duo met once again inside the Dublin Packet.
When Elisha paid his unexpected visit, Dixie Dean joked: “He’s come back to haunt me!.”
Despite any tension on the pitch, the pair shared a mutual respect for each other that didn’t seem to go away as the years passed by.
The Dixie Dean Hotel
The upcoming Dixie Dean Hotel is truly one of a kind.
Set to form the world’s first “Football Quarter” opposite The Shankly Hotel, the luxury venue will pay tribute to the Everton legend.
Set to open in the summer of 2018, the stylish hotel will commemorate the life and legacy of Dixie Dean.
The project will see Liverpool’s stunning Jerome and Carlisle Buildings transformed into 100 luxury suites.
Following a similar format to the Shankly, the hotel will also feature a stylish bar and restaurant and exquisite wedding and events space.
In the meantime, you can keep up to date with the latest developments over on our Facebook page.
We look forward to welcoming you next year!
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