Liverpool poetry group Liver Bards have a new venue in the city centre – the historic Ma Egerton’s pub. The pub, just behind the Liverpool Empire theatre, is famous for attracting showbiz stars.

James Cagney, John Wayne, David Niven, Bing Crosby, Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra all visited the place, and in recent years Coronation Street and Benidorm star Margi Clarke worked there as a barmaid. Ma Egerton’s, in Pudsey Street, is also right next door to Liverpool’s main rail station, Lime Street.

Poetry will be performed there each third Sunday of the month, starting on 17 November at 7.50 pm.

Liver Bards founder Steve Regan, 56, said: “We are thrilled to be bringing poetry to this greatly-loved Liverpool pub.” Admission is free. Everyone gets to read in five-minute sets. Usually everyone gets to read twice.

The pub’s manager, Ian Hoskins, 35, said: “Liverpool is a top poetry city. It’s great that our pub is going to become part of a thriving cultural scene. We already have quizzes, bingo and live piano music here. Poetry is a great addition.”