Liverpool's iconic Cavern Club has been sold to new owners. The company that runs the legendary Mathew Street venue, as well as the Cavern Pub, the Cavern Restaurant, and the Magical Mystery Tour - Cavern City Tours Ltd, has been sold to a London-based firm, 14 Collective.
The new owners say they intend to 'build on the venue's long-standing tradition of live music and supporting upcoming artists.'
Previous owners' statement
The previous owners Bill Heckle, Dave Jones, George Guinness and John Lennon's sister Julia Baird, have been credited with putting Beatles tourism in Liverpool on the map over the past 35 years, including introducing the Magical Mystery Tour and International Beatleweek.
Julia told the Liverpool Echo: "We are leaving The Cavern Club as its owners today. I am feeling both sad for me personally, yet positive for the future of this world famous, number one music club. The club that gave birth to The Beatles. We leave it in good hands, in good faith. We are passing on the baton to further its spectacular story. Long live The Cavern Club."
A history steeped in Beatles lore
The Cavern is internationally recognised as the birthplace of The Beatles and developing the defining sound of Merseybeat. Founded by Alan Sytner as a jazz venue, the club first opened on January 16, 1957 and quickly attracted musicians such as Acker Bilk and Johnny Dankworth.
The basement stage was home to local emerging talent, including Ringo Starr, playing drums with Rory Storm's Hurricanes and The Quarry Men Skiffle Group, featuring John Lennon, and later Paul McCartney and George Harrison. The Beatles became the resident Cavern band, before the worldwide phenomenon of Beatlemania.
The Beatles played there nearly 300 times between 1961 and 1963. Their last appearance was on August 3, 1963, a month after the band recorded She Loves You and just six months before their first trip to America.
The Cavern's turbulent past
The Cavern closed briefly in 1966. But it re-opened after a petition and support from local business men and prime minister Harold Wilson. It closed again in 1973 to make way for a proposed railway ventilation shaft for the Merseyrail underground loop and the bulldozers moved in.
In 1984 the Cavern was rebuilt in a deeper cellar using some 75% of the old site and 15,000 of its bricks. It was temporarily closed again from 1989 to 1991, and has been open ever since.
The Magical Mystery Tour
Perhaps the most recognisable tour is the one aboard the Magical Mystery bus which includes stops at some of Liverpool's most iconic Beatles landmarks, including Penny Lane, Strawberry Field, and the childhood homes of Paul McCartney and George Harrison.
The Magical Mystery Tour was set up in 1983, designed to cater for the increase in tourists visiting Liverpool, wanting to see places like Penny Lane and Strawberry Field. Set up by Radio City in 1983, the famous coach has become synonymous with Liverpool's Beatle's tourism sector, and attracts visitors from all over the world, receiving rave reviews on consumer websites such as Tripadvisor.
The bus used during the 1980s was the same Magical Mystery Tour bus from The Beatles film of the same name. The venture would eventually run out of steam, with the original vehicle being sold to The Hard Rock Café and placed in its museum.
The tourism board of Liverpool then took over the Magical Mystery Tour with a new bus, and towards the end of 1990, Cavern City Tours was asked by the Merseyside Tourism board to take over the day-to-day operation of The Beatles Tour and introduce a daily scheduled one-hour city centre sight-seeing trip.
Decision 'not taken lightly'
Cavern City Tours took over its operation, starting with a 73-seater double-decker bus, and by 1994, the double-decker was replaced with a 1966 Bedford VAL Plaxton Panorama One, which was the model used in the 1967 film. Since then, multiple Magical Mystery Tour buses can be seen around the city every hour driving people around in comfort on its 53 seat coaches.
It has gone from strength to strength over the years, taking more than 70,000 people a year through the streets of Liverpool, and winning many awards in the process.
The tour begins at the Albert Dock, driving tourists out into the suburbs to see Beatles landmarks including Penny Lane, Strawberry Field, George Harrison's birthplace in Wavertree, Ringo Starr's home and birthplace in L8, John Lennon's and Paul McCartney's childhood homes and many more relating to The Beatles. Every tour finishes at the world famous Cavern Club, where passengers can enjoy live music, all included in their trip experience ticket.
Bill Heckle said: "It is an emotional day, but a proud day, for the four Scouse owners. It was never about putting Cavern City Tours up for sale to the highest bidder and it has taken over five years to find a suitable and like-minded custodian. The decision to hand over the reins was not taken lightly, but with all of the shareholders being of advancing years, it was time for retirement.
"However, we leave with the confidence that the new owners will continue to follow the path we have forged over the last 43 years of Cavern City Tours, including 35 years owning The Cavern, and that this iconic piece of music history will continue to be a pivotal and important element in both Liverpool's economy and its tourism industry, welcoming fans and visitors from all over the world."
The takeover will see Liverpool-born Keith Blackhurst join the board of Cavern City Tours to build on the venue's long-standing support of city's music scene, alongside 14 Collective CEO Roderik Schlosser.
The pair said in a joint statement: "We are delighted to be entrusted with the legacy of the Cavern Club and its related businesses in Keith's home city of Liverpool. The Cavern, which played such an extraordinary role in the story of The Beatles, is an iconic part of Liverpool's vibrant culture.
"We look forward to working alongside the existing management team, with a real appreciation for what makes the Cavern so special and excitement about what comes next"
