Rishi Sunak announces £2m budget for new Beatles attraction for Liverpool

Virgin Radio

28 Oct 2021, 15:33

It’s good news for fans of The Beatles, after Rishi Sunak announced an injection of cash to create a new Beatles themed attraction for Liverpool.

The announcement is part of an £850million investment plan, designed to protect museums, galleries, libraries and local culture across the UK.

There are no further details at the moment as to what the Beatles project will involve.

There is already a museum dedicated to the Fab Four in Livepool, as well as various landmarks.

Speaking in the House Of Commons, Sunak said: “Thanks to the Culture Secretary [Nadine Dorries], over 800 regional museums and libraries will be renovated, restored, and revived.

“And she’s secured up to £2million to start work on a new Beatles attraction on the Liverpool waterfront.”

Earlier this year, a cinema that George Harrison and John Lennon spent many an hour in was saved from demolition.

The Abbey Cinema in Wavertree often appeared in The Beatles‘ personal writings.

It also featured in the original lyrics of their 1965 song ‘In My Life’, however the cinema officially closed in 1979.

Rishi has pledged up to £2m for the project from his new budget.

Some Liverpool residents have complained, feeling there is already many destinations for Beatles fans to attend, including The Beatles Story and the iconic Cavern Club.

However, Liverpool's Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said the new venue was "not a museum" but "an immersive experience".

He told BBC Radio Merseyside: "Just like the government's invested in Stratford upon Avon for the Shakespeare stuff... we think The Beatles are a huge global attraction for the UK, and we should have something of significance in the Liverpool city region.

"We want something other than just looking at old artefacts - you know, John Lennon's underpants in a glass case - we want something that people will be attracted to."

Liverpool Mayor Joanne Anderson added the venue would "create a world-class visitor attraction, a blueprint for the future of music education but most importantly it will create opportunities and joy for the people of this city".