The historic archways that signal the entrance to Liverpool’s famous Cavern Quarter have been restored. The five archways, which decorate and signpost the entrances to Mathew Street, Button Street and Harrington Street, were installed 30 years ago to celebrate the home of the legendary Cavern Club and the home of The Beatles.
Liverpool BID Company acquired ownership of the archways in March 2022 from the Cavern Quarter initiative and felt they needed a little love. The wrought iron archways, with the colourful street signs are a significant part of the character of the Cavern Quarter, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Shaun Holland is Director of Operations at Liverpool BID Company, and explains the restoration process.
“The archways had not been retouched since their installation in the early 90s and they are such a part of the vibrancy of the Cavern Quarter we wanted to give them a lift. The archways had to be stripped back and repainted black. The original colourful central disc design had to be reinstated and cleaned. We then enhanced them with multi-coloured LED lighting”.
The restoration of the archways is part of Liverpool BID’s ongoing Cavern Quarter investment, which has seen the investment in and installation of a Brian Epstein statue on Whitechapel, marking the moment the former Beatles Manager left the record store NEMS to see the Fab Four live in the Cavern. In summer 2022, a new mural was created and unveiled by street artist Smug. Inspired by Carl Jung’s famous description of Liverpool’s ‘Pool of Life’, the mural on Harrington Street celebrates the Cavern Quarter, one of Liverpool’s oldest and most creative neighbourhoods.
The Cavern Quarter is part of the Retail & Leisure BID Area. In 2020, a masterplan for Cavern Quarter and Williamson Square was approved and published, with a Spatial Regeneration Framework (SRF) focused on improving the area and celebrating its heritage, particularly through artist-led intervention and animating blank spaces.
Bill Addy is CEO of Liverpool BID Company. “The Cavern Quarter is such an important part of our city’s history and culture. As part of our investment in the city centre we want to animate our public realm but also ensure it is restored and kept in good shape.”
