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Author Archives: ihughes

25 Jun 2025

Celebrate Local Excellence: Enter the The Merseyside Independent Business (MIB) Awards 2025

The Merseyside Independent Business (MIB) Awards 2025 are now open for entries and we’re calling on all local businesses to get involved! These awards shine a spotlight on the incredible talent, innovation, and resilience of independent businesses across our region. Whether you’re a creative startup, a thriving food venue, or a community-focused CIC, there’s a category for you. Key Dates: Nominations close: 4th July 2025 Entries close: 11th July 2025 Categories include: Trades or Manufacturing Business of the Year Professional Services Business […]

24 Jun 2025
DrakePhotography montage © Geoff Drake 2025

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: DRAKEPHOTOGRAPHY MEET THE MAN WHO’S CAPTURING LIVERPOOL IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT

Geoff Drake never set out to be a professional photographer. But a single image changed his path. In 2016, he captured a striking photo of the Liver Birds emerging above a rare cloud inversion over the city. The response to that image, titled Rise Above, was immediate. It sparked the creation of DrakePhotography, a business that has gone on to publish two books, host guided photography walks and showcase Liverpool in fresh and thoughtful ways. We caught up with Geoff […]

19 Jun 2025

Chester Zoo named England’s most popular attraction outside of London

Chester Zoo has been named the third most popular ‘paid for’ attraction in England after more than 1.9 million people visited last year. New data, released by VisitEngland, has revealed the zoo welcomed 1,947,544 people in 2024, on par with the previous year’s figures (1,942,890). The new numbers, which gathered information from 1,373 English attractions, rank the conservation-focused zoo as the most visited ‘paid for’ attraction outside of London and third overall. The Tower of London took top spot with […]

17 Jun 2025

Public invited to shape the future of Liverpool’s historic waterfront

How can Liverpool’s world-famous waterfront be developed and improved is the subject of a major new public consultation to be held on Monday, 7 July at Liverpool Town Hall. Liverpool City Council is posing the question as part of an 8-week consultation, which will run until Friday, 8 August. The Council appointed highly acclaimed urban design and landscape architecture firm, West 8, together with BDP, to develop an ambitious and visionary plan that sets a benchmark for waterfront regeneration in Europe. Now […]

17 Jun 2025
Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool, Merseyside. General view of nave with high altar and baldacchino. View from south. Cathedral by Frederick Gibberd, 1962-67.

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral upgraded to Grade I listed status

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has awarded The Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King in Liverpool Grade I listed status, following advice from Historic England. The cathedral, previously Grade II* listed, is now nationally recognised as a building of the highest architectural and historical interest.Built between 1962 and 1967, the cathedral represents the greatest Roman Catholic post-war architectural commission in Britain. It was built over an earlier Sir Edwin Lutyens-designed crypt, intended to be part of a grand classical-style […]

10 Jun 2025

A MESSAGE FROM OUR MANAGING DIRECTOR, NATALIE WYATT

It’s been a couple of months since my last update, and there have been plenty of highlights in that time. From hosting VisitEngland representatives alongside our colleagues in Southport, to attending a dynamic LVEP session in Manchester, I’ve had the pleasure of engaging with trade professionals and global partners whose insights underscore a key truth: Liverpool City Region’s visitor economy thrives on collaboration and forward-thinking. Alongside this, the latest LVEP webinar explains how Liverpool City Region is shaping high-value travel markets, seamlessly blending cultural heritage with […]

09 Jun 2025

Shakespeare North Playhouse Ignites Summer with Bold Theatre, Queer Comedy, and Punked-Up Classics

Summer is in full swing, and there’s no better place to soak up the season’s creative energy than at the Shakespeare North Playhouse. Nestled in the heart of Prescot, this cultural gem is more than just a theatre—it’s a buzzing hub of imagination, community, and unforgettable storytelling. This June, the Playhouse is rolling out a thrilling programme that blends Shakespearean classics with modern twists, live music, laugh-out-loud comedy, and powerful performances that speak to today’s world. Whether you’re a die-hard Bard […]

09 Jun 2025

Exciting Progress in St Helens Town Centre Transformation

The transformation of St Helens town centre is picking up pace, with preparations well underway for the next phase of regeneration. Upcoming works at the Hardshaw Centre and bus station sites will pave the way for their safe and carefully managed demolition, marking another major milestone in this ambitious project. Construction teams have now begun precision cutting around the former Hardshaw Centre car park, setting the stage for the phased demolition of the main building this summer. To ensure these […]

06 Jun 2025

LIVERPOOL TO HOST PIVOTAL LGA 2025 CONFERENCE: A CITY SHAPING THE FUTURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Liverpool will welcome the 2025 LGA Annual Conference and Exhibition, from the 1-3 July 2025 at ACC Liverpool – an event poised to redefine the future of local government across the UK. Known for its rich history, cultural vibrancy, and spirit of innovation, Liverpool provides the perfect backdrop for a gathering focused on transformation, empowerment, and progress Who should attend: This conference is designed for senior representatives from local authorities and the business and voluntary and community sectors including: Leaders […]

05 Jun 2025

SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND CLUBS IN LIVERPOOL TO BENEFIT FROM WORLD BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS SOCIAL PROGRAMME

Thousands of people and communities across Liverpool and the North West are set to benefit from an extensive Social Impact Programme developed to complement the forthcoming World Boxing Championships at the M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool, 4-14 September 2025. The Social Impact Programme will deliver a range of benefits covering education, health, fitness, wellbeing and community cohesion and is based around a series of initiatives including a literacy programme, training courses, volunteering opportunities, capacity building in boxing clubs and a host […]