Now the doors have finally closed on the place for the last time I was wondering just what may happen to the site.
Given Yokos track record with Menlove Avenue and helping John Lennon's old school out, I doubt she'll just sit on the sidelines and let it become a hotel or something.

So, what do you the future holds for this important tourist and cultural site in Liverpool?

Perfect place to build a McDonalds.

Or we could just graze some SHEEP on the site.

Its not exactly an important place though...

Elaborate.

Its a foster home that happened to be mentioned in a song.

I think you'll find its one of the most important locations for thousands of tourists who visit the city every year.
Assuming its big enough I think there is great potential to do something really interesting with site - maybe a childrens art school or something like that.

The grounds could be opened up to tourists and maybe a small gallery or musuem to Lennon could also go there. As I say, much potential.

Its not exactly an important place though...
Maybe not to you, but to thousands of tourists it is.

Ideal for a smart Hotel, (not TravelHut), because a large mansion house once existed on this site, but the usual 70s idea to knock it down happened. Will probably end up as residential though.

Maybe not to you, but to thousands of tourists it is.

Ideal for a smart Hotel, (not TravelHut), because a large mansion house once existed on this site, but the usual 70s idea to knock it down happened. Will probably end up as residential though.

Maybe. Problem is I don't know how big the grounds are. If its tiny that may limit things.

Don't get me wrong, I like the building itself, and I'm aware that its on the Magical Mystery Tour. But I dont see why the building cant be used for anything. As long as the few people who want to see it can still see it, its no problem.
As you said, Miss Merseyside Fanatic will probably poke her nose in and turn it into some drab piece of art.

Don't get me wrong, I like the building itself
and I'm aware that its on the Magical Mystery Tour. But I dont see why the building cant be used for anything. As long as the few people who want to see it can still see it, its no problem.
As you said, Miss Merseyside Fanatic will probably poke her nose in and turn it into some drab piece of art.

If you like the building you're the only one who does. Its just a 70's house at the moment. I'm not much of Yoko fan myself creatively speaking, but she has at least tried to put a bit back into the city in the last few years (not as much as McCartney obviously)
This could be a good opportunity to change that.

Perfect place to build a McDonalds.

You filthy chavster.

How about a recording studio? Ambient noise would be minimal and its a place already linked with music history... :cheers:

When John Lennon was shot, a section of Central Park in New York was made into a garden called Strawberry Fields with a mosaic of the word 'Imagine' in the centre. I remember at the time that they planned to create a similar one actually at Strawberry Fields. Maybe now is the time to do that. I'm sure Peel Holdings would stomp up some cash as they use a line from Imagine in the airport logo.
http://www.inetours.com/New_York/Images/Cntrl-Prk/Strawberry-Fields_9293.jpg

As the old building is no longer needed, and is of no architectural merit, why not replace it with a modern building, maybe a hotel or apartment building and make the rest of the site into a garden. I'm sure there would be no end of Japanese tourists.

Could even put the Yellow Sub there.

I'll confess I'm no Beatles fan, but you can't dispute they are our strongest brand internationally. Strawberry Field means magic to a lot of people.
We have and must do better then a hotel.

That mosaic is a tribute to that *cough* magic, the real place however needs no such celebration as its very existence does that.

I would say a museum but Yoko's already plopped one of them in some no mark Japanese town.

I Suppose she could start franchising them? :D

Heres what was lost:

http://www.upv.es/~ecabrera/icon/strw2.jpg

Here's an idea. how about a field full of strawberrys. People could go fruit picking. The Japs would love it! :)

If you like the building you're the only one who does. Its just a 70's house at the moment. I'm not much of Yoko fan myself creatively speaking, but she has at least tried to put a bit back into the city in the last few years (not as much as McCartney obviously)
This could be a good opportunity to change that.
Nude Art vs Wirral the Squirral...

Take your pic :)

Ambient noise would be minimal ...

Cool. Minimal ambient noise is one of my favourite genres of music.

You know what I meant smart arse! Background noise :D

I'll lay off the ale when I post in future. :cheers: :puke:

Only joshing mate. But yes, my wife would certainly agree that I can be a right smart arse. :)

(Though actually, I DO REALLY kinda like stuff that you could describe as minimal ambient noise. Which my wife finds just as infuriating as my smart arsedness.)

While The Beatles are being brought up can anyone tell me whats going on that site next The Cavern?
I'm guessing nothing too inspirational, which would be ironic as that actually is the real site of the original club!

And why don't they re-open The Futurist up on Lime St and just show Beatles films everyday? Better then dereliction, cheap to do I'd imagine, and adding another layer to the whole tourist experience.

Just an idea.

meant to be an extension to cavern walks, linked to the existing shopping centre and owned by the centre's owner's Warner Estates.

While The Beatles are being brought up can anyone tell me whats going on that site next The Cavern?
I'm guessing nothing too inspirational, which would be ironic as that actually is the real site of the original club!

And why don't they re-open The Futurist up on Lime St and just show Beatles films everyday? Better then dereliction, cheap to do I'd imagine, and adding another layer to the whole tourist experience.

Just an idea.

Just an idea?! Thats a great idea PJ!

It would be a hit with the tourists and the locals.

Is that site really big enough for an extension of any meaningful size?

Oh well, thanks anyway Awayo.

Why not re-open Erics on Mathew Street as an alternative music museum, devoted to the likes of Echo & the Bunnymen (obviously), The Teardrop Explodes, The Icicle Works, Dead or Alive, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, The Christians, The Cheesy Wah!, Big in Japan, OMD, The Farm and The La's? Something like that could prove just as big a draw as something devoted to the Beatles. We have a massive music history in this city, and sometimes we need to remind ourselves as well as the rest of the world about it. :)

You do mention a lot of good groups there that I did like.
I'd be wary of falling into the "Mad-chester" trap though and assuming a level of importance to the world that just isnt there. They are all great though. :)

Shame we never got that pop museum years ago. Liverpool is one of the few cities that actually could have made a go of such an attraction.

We have a massive music history in this city,

What we need is some record label offices up here. At the moment the scouts move in, cream off the talent and we're left with nothing.
Even Manchester had Tony Wilson etal.

Collectively, those groups had a world presence. Frankie Goes to Hollywood hit America for six, the Bunnymen were toe to toe with U2 before they decided they couldn't be arsed, and put U2's work ethic down to their Gipsy heritage. :) Bono and Mac the Mouth still take the occasional swipe at each othe, and long may it continue! :D

Even one hit wonders like Dead or Alive would be played on both sides of the Atlantic.

I forgot the Lightning Seeds, Space, Cast, Dog Spice, Sonia, Atomic Offal and the current shower, including Gomez, the Coral and the Zutons. :cheers:

Is that site really big enough for an extension of any meaningful size?

Oh well, thanks anyway Awayo.

Seems as if the extension must have been an earlier plan I'd read about when Warner bought Cavern Walks.

This was in the Echo more recently:

1.2m plan for site of original Cavern: "1.2m plan for site of original Cavern Sep 22 2004


1.2m plan for site of original Cavern Sep 22 2004




By Mark Hookham, Liverpool Echo


PART of the original Cavern Club site in Mathew Street is to become a £1.2m restaurant and office complex.

Work has started to clear an area once partly occupied by the club where the Beatles perfected their live routine.

Workmen are digging a five-metre deep hole in preparation for new foundations.

It is hoped the restaurant, under four floors of offices, will include original brickwork and mementoes from the club.

The work, by Liverpool company Iliad, is expected to be finished by next August.

The original brick-lined Cavern cellar was demolished in 1973, despite protests, to make way for the underground railway line. The site is now a car park.

The new development was welcomed by Beatles tour guide Phil Coppell, who said: "It should never have been knocked down in the first place.

"It was a very short-sighted view by the council. At the time one councillor even said 'what have the Beatles ever done for us?'

"I think it's good they are at last doing something with it."

The current Cavern club, a replica of the original, will remain open for business.

The Beatles played their final Cavern gig - the last of 292 - in 1963.

A spokesman for Iliad was unavailable for comment.

The resturant seems like a good idea. When they say under the offices though do they mean basement level or ground? Basement would seem to make more sense given its eventual theme.

I forgot the Lightning Seeds, Space, Cast, Dog Spice, Sonia, Atomic Offal and the current shower, including Gomez, the Coral and the Zutons. :cheers:

Don't forget Dr Phibes and the House of Wax Equations and the incomparable Walking Seeds (reckoned to be Liverpool's best band when I was in my late teens).

Fave number: "Hairy Who", whose chorus went "Hairy Who -------- Who are You?"

Those were the days.

Their seminal "Skullfuck" album can still be found in second hand record stores, if anyone's interested.

You do mention a lot of good groups there that I did like.
I'd be wary of falling into the "Mad-chester" trap though and assuming a level of importance to the world that just isnt there. They are all great though. :)

Shame we never got that pop museum years ago. Liverpool is one of the few cities that actually could have made a go of such an attraction.This is where we need someone to start something up like a Liverpool Pop Museum, we don't have to give up because Sheffield have the implanted Pop museum. A recording studio/record label/live music club and pop music impresario is what we need in this area as others above have said. We do have the Pop wall of fame, so maybe this is the start of a genuine pop history attraction which will grow. The best attractions take years to grow, with a built up tradition over the years, which is what we have with all the bands mentioned.

The Sheff pop museum died. Its building stayed in use as a Barfly (like the Masque in Liverpool) and is now being converted into Sheffield Hallam Uni's students' union. So, there's no competition.

Not the greatest Beatle fan, but just starting to appeciate them as I begin middle age and my dick shrinks. My early teens was Soul & Reggae.

Taken last week when I took my overseas rellies on a tour of Liverpool

http://www.**************************/rellies.jpg

I stayed away from the cavern for years assuming it was just a tourist trap.
When I finally went I couldnt believe just how far underground it really is. A good few flights of stairs at least.

Collectively, those groups had a world presence. Frankie Goes to Hollywood hit America for six, the Bunnymen were toe to toe with U2 before they decided they couldn't be arsed, and put U2's work ethic down to their Gipsy heritage. :) Bono and Mac the Mouth still take the occasional swipe at each othe, and long may it continue! :D

Even one hit wonders like Dead or Alive would be played on both sides of the Atlantic.

I forgot the Lightning Seeds, Space, Cast, Dog Spice, Sonia, Atomic Offal and the current shower, including Gomez, the Coral and the Zutons. :cheers:

Also don't forget China Crisis and Flock of Seagulls

I didn't forget them, just deemed them unworthy! :D

Did I include Deaf School? :?

I didn't forget them, just deemed them unworthy! :D

Did I include Deaf School? :?

I'll let you off ;) and no you didn't.

I didn't forget them, just deemed them unworthy! :D

Did I include Deaf School? :?

You're still ignoring the 'Seeds, Bunnybollix. And... (Wallasey's Liverpool) the Boo Radleys and Half Man Half Biscuit, the latter maybes my favourite band, miserable sarcastic cunt the leadsinger might be.

Saw a great gig given by the rads in 93 in Aberdeen. If anyone's interested, "Wake Up" is the only album from the Shitpop era I was really into. Worth checking out for the the Merseyside accented "Charles Bukowski is Dead": "cords and wigs are sound, Katerina werks at the mtv, etc."

:cheers:

Half Man Half Biscuit certainly take the crown for Best Song Titles In Pop History.

The Deep House Victims' Mini Bus Appeal.
Four Lads Who Shook The Wirral.
13 Eurogoths Floating In The Dead Sea.
Twenty Four Hour Garage People.
The Ballad Of Climie Fisher.

etc.

You're still ignoring the 'Seeds, Bunnybollix. And... (Wallasey's Liverpool) the Boo Radleys and Half Man Half Biscuit, the latter maybes my favourite band, miserable sarcastic cunt the leadsinger might be.

Saw a great gig given by the rads in 93 in Aberdeen. If anyone's interested, "Wake Up" is the only album from the Shitpop era I was really into. Worth checking out for the the Merseyside accented "Charles Bukowski is Dead": "cords and wigs are sound, Katerina werks at the mtv, etc."

:cheers:

I went to see Echo & the Bunnymen in Aberdeen in the early 80's.

I thought Macca was going to start a riot. He was drinking a can of Tennants Lager, the cans used to have diferent pictures of women on them. He asked the crowd if it was a local brew and they all shoted back 'yes'. Macca replied 'well it's fucking shite'. Luckily most of them laughed. I was up there for 5 years and to say they don't like the English is an understatement.

When Liverpool were due to play Aberdeen in the European Cup at the start of the 80's, all the locals were wearing Tee-shirts with 'Liverpool Who?' printed on them. We eventually won 5 - 0 on agg. 1 - 0 at Pitordrie and 4 -0 at Anfield. After the Anfield win, I got so pissed in the NAAFI, I collapsed outside my accomodation block for nearly six hours lying in the snow. I was lucky that I came round.

Good to hear another Merseysider's impressions of living in Aberdeen.

I was there for only a year. I liked the place and didn't get any problems from the local for my English sounding accent. I did hear that Aberdeen could put out a fairly impressive hoolie team if they wanted to. Didn't we have some problems more recently up there with non-official firework celebrations from the Pittodrie mob?

Still, a very grand city, I thought, with great C19th granite architecture all around the city. I liked the locals too. My personal prejudices are focussed at snobs generally and the south of England in general; Scotland I think of having a natural affinity with Liverpool. Bullshit all, maybe I'll admit. I was in a university environment though, that might be different.

One local did say to me once, that its not people from places like Liverpool they had a problem with, but southerners.

Jesus, it was cold up there though. I arrived there in mid September and it started snowing immediately. It was still summer back in Formby. Were you in the RAF Gazzab? I visited Findhorn whilst I was there (that's near a big air base innit?) - strange place: full of American hippies wanting to get money out of you. The cafe sold very heathy fibre-based food that got the whole minibus farting on the way back to Aberdn. That wasn't good...

Good to hear another Merseysider's impressions of living in Aberdeen.

I was there for only a year. I liked the place and didn't get any problems from the local for my English sounding accent. I did hear that Aberdeen could put out a fairly impressive hoolie team if they wanted to. Didn't we have some problems more recently up there with non-official firework celebrations from the Pittodrie mob?
I think the firework 'problem' was actually caused by some scousers firing a firework into the stadium from an area outside during a friendly.




Still, a very grand city, I thought, with great C19th granite architecture all around the city. I liked the locals too. My personal prejudices are focussed at snobs generally and the south of England in general; Scotland I think of having a natural affinity with Liverpool. Bullshit all, maybe I'll admit. I was in a university environment though, that might be different.
The granite buildings are fantastic. There's an area in Lancaster where it looks identical to parts of Aberdeen.




One local did say to me once, that its not people from places like Liverpool they had a problem with, but southerners
I must admit, Aberdeen was OK during the day. What I liked was that the pubs were open all day (the pubs shut between 3pm & 5pm in England back then). There was also entertainment in many of the pubs with live bands playing and that was in the afternoon. They also had the first video jukeboxes. I didn't see one in England for a good while after leaving Aberdeen. At night the atmosphere changed and you had to be careful. I came out of one pub in the afternoon with my friends and a local who must have heard my accent stopped me and shook my hand. He was saying he had been to Anfield for the Liverpool v Aberdeen game and he was made to feel very welcome by the scousers in all the pubs he went in.




Jesus, it was cold up there though. I arrived there in mid September and it started snowing immediately. It was still summer back in Formby. Were you in the RAF Gazzab? I visited Findhorn whilst I was there (that's near a big air base innit?) - strange place: full of American hippies wanting to get money out of you. The cafe sold very heathy fibre-based food that got the whole minibus farting on the way back to Aberdn. That wasn't good...
Yes I was in the RAF. Our base was actually 30 miles further north of Aberdeen near Peterhead. I know what you mean by the weather. When I got posted to my base (RAF Buchan) towards the end of March 79, the bus from Aberdeen to the camp got stuck in a snow drift. I thought what the hell have I done choosing this bloody place to be posted to. We used to say there were two seasons up there - Winter & July.

Findhorn if I remember was a communications place. Most of our comms network was routed through there. I think the bases near by would have been Kinloss & Lossiemouth.

This is three years old:

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/page.cfm?objectid=11895028&method=full&siteid=50061

Strawberry Field being empty and this seems like a match made in heaven.

This is three years old:

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/page.cfm?objectid=11895028&method=full&siteid=50061

Strawberry Field being empty and this seems like a match made in heaven.

That would be a great idea, if they were to build something on this site to do with the beatles it could be a wacky design similar to the "Cloud" or something like that, and hopefully no nimbys around, (no three graces to disgrace). The only problem then might be access and local residents complaining of increased traffic.

Search link about Strawberry fields closing (http://www.sandiego.salvationarmy.org/usw%5Cwww_usw_sdm.nsf/0/E7E8C38C2B8579AE88256FD5000917F6?opendocument)

If I remember rightly that road isnt heavily populated, so I doubt traffic would be a problem. Penny Lane would also be a good candidate for this "world beatle centre" I think there are playing fields there which the council want to sell off for housing at present.