Member Article

Record first quarter for Liverpool attraction

Liverpool’s Albert Dock has reported record-breaking visitor figures for the first quarter of 2015 with a like-for-like increase of 21% (from 963,126 to 1,164,871).

Coach visits to the dock have also surged with an uplift of 15% during the same period (from 963 to 1,103).

The Albert Dock has maintained its status as the North West’s most visited free tourist attraction.

Along with the mild weather for the first quarter, a programme of free, family animation during February half term, the inaugural Albert Dock Rum Festival, and Tate Liverpool’s hugely popular Transmitting Andy Warhol exhibition, all contributed to securing such positive numbers.

52,323 people visited the Warhol exhibition, making it one of Tate Liverpool’s most successful exhibitions.

Many of the Dock’s restaurants, bars and attractions have also reported excellent figures.

Gusto had a record year with a like for like increase of 8%; Merseyside Maritime Museum saw visitor figures of 150,000 for the first quarter, an 8% increase on the previous year, with sales in the Maritime Dining Room up by 83%; and the Beatles Story in its 25th anniversary year have announced a record quarter of a million visitors during the last financial year.

Early reports also suggest that the Easter school holiday was one of Albert Dock’s most successful to date. Visitor figures show a like for like increase of 21% (from 241,903 to 291,916) – a varied programme of family entertainment including a mini-farm and chocolate-making workshops drawing in huge crowds.

Albert Dock has also been shortlisted for two prestigious tourism awards – in the ‘Large Visitor Attraction of the Year’ category at the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards, and in the ‘Best Attraction for Groups’ category at the national Group Travel Awards, with the Dock pitted against the likes of London Eye, Houses of Parliament and London Bridge.

Peter Cronin, director of development and marketing for Albert Dock Liverpool, said: “Visitor and coach figures are up, we have record figures at many of our venues, and we have been nominated for two top tourism awards – we really couldn’t ask for a better start to the year!

“It is testimony to the hard work put in by our highly skilled on-site team, as well as the continued close relationship we have with our partners on the waterfront and the wider city, to ensure the visitor experience at Albert Dock is world class.

“In what is promising to be an extremely eventful summer ahead of us – including the International Mersey River Festival, One Magnificent City, Red Bull Harbour Reach and Tri Liverpool, these visitor figures are very positive and a sign of greater things to come.”

Andrea Nixon, executive director, Tate Liverpool, said: “The gallery had a fantastic start to the year with Transmitting Andy Warhol closing on February 8 with a visitor figure of over 50,000. Performing well since its opening in autumn 2014 it bolstered our annual figure of 600,000. We work closely with Albert Dock and it was wonderful to see the Dock so busy during the first quarter, seeing our Warhol exhibition as one of the main drivers for visits.”

Martin King, of the Beatles Story, said:“We would like to congratulate Albert Dock, these are fantastic figures. This is great news for all of the businesses at the Dock. This just proves what brilliant attractions we have here on the Liverpool waterfront and we are delighted to be a part of this and to have had a fantastic 25 years here too.

“We would like to thank all of the team at the Dock for their ongoing support and we look forward to another successful 25 years!”

Visitors have plenty to look forward to this year at Albert Dock.

The Beatles Story will celebrate 25 wonderful years on May 1 with a series of special events; continued free activity at Merseyside Maritime Museum, including the fascinating new exhibition, Lusitania: life, loss, legacy, which marks the centenary of the sinking of the Lusitania on May 7, 2015; and Tate Liverpool will showcase the works of one of the most influential and provocative American artists of the twentieth century in its new exhibition – Jackson Pollock: Blind Spots (from June 30 to October 18).

Also on the calendar is the International Mersey River Festival (June 5-7), including the first ever Northern Boat Show, the Rock n Roll Marathon (June 14), the triumphant return of Red Bull Harbour Reach (July 25), and Tri Liverpool (July 26).

Albert Dock will also play a huge role in the One Magnificent City (OMC) celebration – a landmark seven week programme of events (from May 15) marking 175 years of Cunard and the city’s unique maritime links with America, including Vintage on the Dock (July 4 and 5).

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .