Welcome to the Mansion Hill Tavern, in the East Row Historic District in Newport, Kentucky.

The tavern building was erected in 1875 , and originally served as an Inn for railroad and steam boat workers traveling the Ohio river. In 1892, the ground floor space became a grocery, operated by Nicholas Wererich, which was expanded in the early 1900’s by Reinhold Matzner. The upstairs was home to Actor/Attorney and leader of the Socialist Party of Kentucky in 1910, Walter Lanfersiek, who, in 1911, ran for Governor of Kentucky on the Socialist Party ticket. He was defeated by Democrat James McCreary.

From the Roaring 20’s and until the 1940’s the building remained a grocery store, run by Edward Guiliani (of course, rumors abounded that the building figured heavily in the bootlegging business during prohibition).

In 1944, the first floor space was transformed into Ivy and Gill’s Café. The main bar and counter inside the tavern today date to this time. Proprietors Ivy Tutt and Martin Gill ran the business until 1960, when Ivy’s son Bill Tutt bought into the family business. Ivy and Bill’s cafe was known in the community as a favorite lunch spot, and business thrived. Tragically, Ivy was found dead in the upstairs living quarters on July 6, 1975, due to an apparent suicide, at the age of 88.

It was during the 50s and 60s that the cafe became the local hub of the “boogie woogie” movement, with greats like Albert Washington, H-Bomb Ferguson, Big Ed Thompson, and Big Joe Duskin calling the cafe home.

In 1988, the now legendary Mansion Hill Tavern was formed when the building was purchased by Lou Peluso, the son of Dewey Peluso, co-owner of the infamous Newport Yacht Club. Mansion Hill Tavern quickly became a draw for blues bands all around the region, while also building a reputation for its fantastic food. Lou’s famous fried chicken won countless awards. Mansion Hill was home to acts like Stacy Mitchhart and Blue Lou and the Accusations, and was an incubator for budding players like a young Ben Levin, Erin Coburn, and Noah Wotherspoon.

Finally, the baton was passed, as Lou Peluso decided to sell the building to local entrepreneur and Blues enthusiast, Brian Conner. Keeping the ball rolling with the established acts, Mansion Hill Tavern also welcomes national and touring acts, such as Brandon Miller, Sarah King, Johnny Burgin, Tony Holiday, and more. Mansion Hill Tavern is now the home of the Mansion Hill Blues Festival, the first privately produced blues festival in Northern Kentucky.

At long last, Mansion Hill Tavern offers food again, operating the kitchen under the direction of Chef Mike Cushman. The kitchen serves tavern staples with a southern touch.

Come join us and spend an evening in this place where history lives.

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