Liverpool to create masterplan for ‘Beatles Quarter’

Authorities in Liverpool are putting together a masterplan for boosting the city’s ‘Beatles Quarter’ and enhancing its appeal for tourists.

A report going before Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet next week (April 20) will recommend the creation of a Spatial Regeneration Framework (SRF) for the area around Mathew Street.

An SRF on the popular nightlife district, home of The Cavern Club, would allow the council to control the future use of buildings and draw new investment.

If approved, the Cavern Quarter SRF will be followed up with a new vision for enhancing the quality of attractions and building on the city’s £90m-a-year Beatles Heritage economy, which supports 2,335 jobs.

The findings of a scrutiny panel set up in 2016 will guide the masterplan. Among the panel’s recommendations for the area was the creation of a more diverse mix of complementary uses of buildings and an enhanced, more coordinated Beatles tourism offer.

It also recommended redeveloping derelict, under-used or undesirable sites on and around Mathew Street.

A recent economic impact report found that the city’s Beatles-related industry has grown between 5% and 15% per year since 2008, when Liverpool was crowned European Capital of Culture.

Cavern City Tours and the Cavern Club now attract 800,000 visitors every year. Further, the vast majority (80%) of guests at the Beatles-themed Hard Day’s Night Hotel are classed as international.

But tourists in the city are increasingly seeking a quality experiential visit, according to the Cabinet report.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “The Beatles are known the world over and not just by those who grew up with them. New audiences are discovering their music all the time and wanting to learn about the bands roots.

“The fact is we have a good Beatles tourism offer but it’s not at the level it could and should be – one that has a world class wow factor that reflects the band’s timeless genius and global impact.”

He continued: “A lot of progress has been made in the past decade and this new masterplan will seek to build on that and give us the tools to enhance the 24 hour appeal of the area around The Cavern and Mathew Street.

“This is a unique opportunity to establish an experience no other city can offer and one which will sustain thousands of jobs in the hotel, retail and hospitality sectors for generations to come.”

Once produced, the draft SRF would then go through a six-week public consultation before being formally adopted.