The Athenaeum, Liverpool's oldest members-only club, is opening its doors to the public for free next month as part of the Heritage Open Days festival. Normally, membership costs thousands of pounds, but on Saturday, September 19, from 10.30am to 4pm, guided tours will be offered at no charge.
Hidden above one of the city's busiest shopping streets, directly opposite Primark, the club is located on Church Alley in the heart of Liverpool city centre. It is one of 150 free activities taking place in Merseyside from Friday, September 11, to Sunday, September 20.
A historic club with 500 members
The Athenaeum opened in 1797 and only a select group of people have ever set foot inside. The club currently has 500 members, all of whom have access to 120 private clubs worldwide. It welcomes "entrepreneurs, successful corporate executives and decision makers" from across the region who visit to work and meet with their networks.
Spread over three floors, the club includes a library with more than 60,000 books and archives, including a 1282 copy of Magna Carta. The Committee Room overlooks Bluecoat Chambers, while the Reading Room hosts talks and business gatherings. The club's 'newsroom' is described as "a home from home" for members, where daily newspapers are provided and members can dine, drink, or entertain with receptions, weddings, meetings, and conferences.
Tours and accessibility
As part of Heritage Open Days, guided tours will introduce the club's historic interiors, elliptical staircase, collection of Herdman pictures, and famous library. Pre-booking is required, and the tours are not suitable for children under 14 or wheelchair users.
