Last week we took another break, this time it was up to Liverpool with our friends Luann and Steve who are over from their home in Cincinnati in America. Steve is a friend since school and college who married American girl Lu and moved to the USA.
Ce and I have only been to Liverpool once before, that was back in December 2013 when we went up to see Paul McCartney at the Liverpool Echo Arena.
When we were on holiday in Majorca in May I read this book, my great mate Ian got me for my birthday last year, about 70’s Liverpool based band Deaf School and it brought the city to life for me so I decided a visit would be in order.
I mentioned this to Steve, on a Skype to him in America, and he said they’d love to join us. As soon as he said they had a trip to England booked I started to make plans – under a certain amount of self-imposed pressure to get it right and make the most of our time there!
Watch out for the PINK HIGHLIGHTED links to click for more information. (but not that one ~ lol!)
I guess for me this was a bit of a pilgrimage. I have been a Beatles fan since childhood, my Dad got me several of the early singles including Ticket To Ride / Yes It Is, We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper in 1965 and Paperback Writer /Rain in 66. I also remember a visit to Edwin Jones (now Debenhams) to get The White Album as part of my Christmas present in December 1968.
We collected Lu and Steve from T3 at Heathrow early on Monday morning and headed north arriving in Liverpool early in the afternoon.
Hard Day’s Night Hotel (brown building in the centre of this pic – our room was at the other end on the top floor overlooking Mathew Street). I’ve done a TripAdvisor review which I’ll link to once it’s been approved – suffice it to say it’s a good hotel in a great location and represents fair value for money so we’ll be staying there again.
They also host weddings at The Hard Days Night Hotel in the “Two of Us” Suite. My guess is that it wouldn’t be an easy venue to play at for a DJ but I’d love to have the opportunity if anyone is interested!
Anyway, we booked in and then headed off to check out Liverpool on foot – we didn’t actually use our car from Monday afternoon to Thursday morning (although I did move it to save some cash – see TripAdvisor hotel review.) The Cavern in Mathew Street was literately just around the corner!
The FAB Four in The Cavern (Me, Ce Lu and Steve)
Live music on the stage at The Cavern – it was free when we visited but I believe they charge sometimes – I almost tried to extend our stay so we could see Crowded House tribute act, wait for it … Crowded Scouse, play there on the Thursday night – it’s a good job I didn’t because it was cancelled because the singer was sick. Anyway the Cavern is great – the drink wasn’t expensive and you get a real feel for how it would have been in the 60’s.
Almost directly opposite the Cavern in Mathew Street is Eric’s which was the home of much of the music that came from Liverpool in the seventies and eighties.
Eric’s was originally co-owned by Ken Testi who was tour manager of Deaf School. Among the bands that famously made the trip to Liverpool to play at Eric’s were Blondie, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, The Jam, Iggy Pop and The Stranglers as well as many Liverpool acts who started out there like OMD, Teardrop Explodes, Big In Japan and Echo & The Bunnymen.
Mathew Street is a must visit for any music fans of the 60’s 70’s or 80’s. That area of Liverpool is full of bars and, restaurants and clubs – we refuelled at the Weatherspoons pub on the Monday and also had a decent burger meal at Wall Of Fame (great service but poor veggie offering – TripAdvisor review link) on the Wednesday evening watching the Wales Portugal match. Finally here’s Paul & John outside Wall Of Fame …
On the Tuesday morning I had booked us on a private tour with Fab 4 Tours. When I checked outside at 9:55am Phil was already waiting for us and for over 3 hours we were taken on what I can only describe as a FAB trip.
Peace & Love at Ringo’s child home in Admiral Grove with Ce, Phil (our FAB guide) and Lu. His parents were living on Maglin Street (about a minute away) when he was born but moved here
Paul’s, 20 Forthlin Road, with Phil.
“Mendips”, John’s Auntie Mimi’s in Menlove Avenue (the people are on a National Trust tour – must do that next time), this is where John spent most of his childhood. The other half of this semi is currently for sale! (Steve wants to buy it).
George’s family home from 1949 in Upton Green with Phil showing photos from his wonderful collection and telling us about the girls who slept in the front garden with Georges mum making them cups of tea in the morning and much, much more.
I could go on, the tour with Phil was freakin’ awesome (Tripadvisor review of Fab4Tours) and we have lots more pictures and memories. We did the 3 hour “Lennon” package for £60, it was superb value for money. I really would go again today if I could – if your planning a trip to Liverpool just do it! Click on this link if you missed the one above CLICK HERE!!!
On Wednesday we headed down to the river front and The Beatles Story Priced at £14.95 this is another “must do” for anyone who’d like to know more about John, Paul, George and Ringo. It’s a time-line based attraction and you each get a media player to hang around your neck with headphones so that you can listen – you can pause, play again, skip, whatever. As well as the basic commentary there are also interview’s, video clips and photos to look at – once you get the hang of the controls it’s really good.
You start with a nod to Elvis and the music scene of the 50’s and then it’s the Woolten fete where John first met Paul and it takes you through various scenes representing most of the main events – and this day (Wednesday 6th July) was the 59th anniversary of that meeting. It was strange to think we were there the day before.
From there it was on through The Casbah, the trips to Hamburg, Hessy’s music shop, The Cavern, NEMS record shop and then the singles, E.P’s, albums, tours and films – from the release of “Love Me Do” through to announcement by Paul in April 1970 that the Beatles would never work together again. Less than eight years that changed everything (for me at least), 22 singles, ten albums, four films and over 200 songs.
It didn’t end there because there are also sections on their solo careers ending with a a tribute to the famous White Room at John and Yoko’s house at Tittenhurst Park where the Imagine video was made.
Then there was a “discovery zone”, a cafe and a pretty good souvenirs shop at the end and I picked up a few bits and pieces – some where priced slightly higher than at the shop next to our hotel but there wasn’t much in it.
We spent around 2 hours in The Beatles Experience but could have easily stayed longer.
After lunch we headed back to visit The Liverpool Museum another “must see” and it was free (donations welcomed). There is all kinds of stuff over 3 floors, we investigated the music and arts, sport, TV and cinema areas but I reckon you could spend a whole day there and still not see everything. Maybe it’s just because I haven’t been to a museum for quite a while but I loved it.
The music section had all kinds of exhibits about the Liverpool scene through the years including this case about Eric’s featuring Deaf School.
The film area was also very interesting, there is a mini cinema area with short films explaining what it was like to visit Liverpool’s picture houses back in the day and how the City welcomes film makers and why it’s often chosen for it’s architectural settings. CLICK HERE for details of the Reel Stories exhibition. There is also an app you can use to find all the films featured.
TWO OTHER THINGS I WOULD DO AGAIN …
While we were in Liverpool we also took in a trip to the Royal Court Theatre to see a brilliant comedy called “The Royal”. It was set in The Royal, a hospital about to be closed down and then demolished and was written by and starred Lindzi Germain, Angela Simms (CLICK HERE to see her in a classic Aldi advert – it Will make you smile) and Lynn Francis and the production also featured Danny O’Brien and Alan Stocks. It was Directed by Cal McCrystal and we laughed … A LOT!
I’d really recommend a visit to the Royal Court, it’s a great theatre, very well priced and they also have an option where you can eat before the show – I had “Scouse” in our hotel restaurant before we went but it was cheaper at the Royal Court and looked just as good or better!
I’m absolutely sure we’ll be back there next time we visit the city.
I also wanted to mention The Shiraz, a turkish restaurant just up the hill from the hotel. We had breakfast there all three morning of our visit and it was excellent. This was their £3.20 small breakfast, great value for money and plenty for us – great food, great price, great service.
Thursday, after breakfast, we left the city but we headed out via Powis Street in Toxteth (just a few streets away from Ringo’s childhood homes). Phil pointed this street out to us on Tuesday because it was used in the set of Peaky Blinders and I wanted to snap our car there.
Liverpool is an amazing city, the regeneration funding has been well spent, the people really are lovely. We didn’t do The Casbah, the Cathedrals, much of Hope Street and loads of other stuff – two and a bit days wasn’t enough, so we’ll have to go back. If you’d like any more information from me please feel free to ask.
Peace & Love,
Paul x
