Mayor Joe Anderson warns famous Cavern Club could be forced to close forever
The club, where the Beatles and countless others have played, has been losing £30,000 a week since the beginning of the pandemic.
Mayor Joe Anderson has warned Liverpool could lose the famous Cavern Club forever due to coronavirus.
The mayor said the city’s music scene “is in peril” as the club prepares to reopen after lockdown at just 30% of its full capacity.
It has been reported that the club, made famous by The Beatles and countless other musical greats down the years, has been losing £30,000 a week since the beginning of the pandemic.
And those in charge say that the Cavern is facing financial ruin if they don’t receive some help from the government.
Bill Heckle, one of the directors of the club and Cavern City Tours, said the pandemic has been the most challenging time of his life.
He said: “We made a decision a few years ago to keep as much money in the bank as possible for a rainy day, not realising it was going to be a thunderstorm.
“So, we were sitting on £1.4 million in the bank that has now been halved.
“We went five months before unfortunately we had to make about 20 people redundant.
“We think we might have to make another 20 redundant in the next few weeks, so it’s heart-breaking you know these people are part of this team and this global family.”
Bill said the club’s future now rests on a bid to the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund.
He added: “If the government grants allow us to open at 30% then we still lose money.
“I don’t want them to pay our profits,I wouldn’t expect them to pay our profits, but at least make sure we don’t lose money, because it’s costing us £30,000 a week at the moment to be closed. “That’s a lot of money.”
Mayor Anderson has also expressed his concern over the Cavern’s future.He said: “The fact that the world-famous Cavern could close forever because of Covid-19 should bring home to the Government how much our hugely treasured music industry is in peril. “This virus has caused unimaginable pain and grief but it’s proving to be an existential threat to our cultural scene.
“The prospect of losing a national jewel like The Cavern is a horrible scenario for all concerned, be they Beatles fans, music lovers and above all those whose livelihoods depend on it. “Liverpool City Council is doing it all it can to help our venues but we can only do so much, given how much financial pressure we are under supporting the most vulnerable in our communities.
“I would urge the Government to expedite this issue with the utmost urgency to ensure that when lockdown is over our music venues and cultural way of life is there for us to return to and enjoy. again.”
The club on Mathew Street, in Liverpool city centre, has become one of the most famous in the world after hosting a wide range of superstars.
Along with The Beatles, the iconic venue had had many performers cross its stage, such as The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie and Elton John to modern day chart toppers like Adele.
And Bill says this is exactly why the club should be helped through the pandemic.
He added: ““The history is continuous. It’s not a museum.”It’s a very vibrant part of the Liverpool economy, which is why we’re reaching out at the end of August and reopening the Cavern for a week, virtually and bands from all around the world have sent messages and recorded sets.“We know we’re not going to make money, it’s about really reminding people we’re here and the sole aim is to get out the other side. “I’m sure we will, but it is about survival.”
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