Haunt of Beatle Harrison and Tommy Steele sold
IT was the birthplace of the great inventor Ferranti, was where sixties legend Tommy Steele held his engagement party and where George Harrison got the inspiration for his first Beatles song ‘Don’t Bother Me’.
But for thousands of Liverpool clubbers Havelock Building at the top of Bold Street will forever be remembered as The Cabin.
The legendary club stuck by a tried and trusted formula of eighties anthems and a free lollipop on your way out, packing the punters in as a result.
But now the building is set for a complete overhaul having been sold by the club’s operator to a private London investor for an undisclosed sum.
“It’s in a perfect location facing the grade II St Luke’s church at the top of Bold Street and we’re expecting strong interest from gastro-pub operators and restaurateurs,” said Nick Huddleston of joint lettings agents CBRE.
“This part of the city has seen an extraordinary number of top quality, quirky restaurants and bars open in recent years and they’re all thriving. Operators like Maray, Mowgli, Berry & Rye and now Neon Jamon are transforming the area and this is probably the most visible site there is,” added Huddleston.
The new owners are said to be assessing their options for the building but plan a complete refurbishment, including a new roof and opening up the ground floor frontage with glazing.
“The building has incredible presence and, when opened up, will animate the street and draw more people to the area. The first floor dining room has floor to ceiling sash windows with lovely views over St Luke’s and will be sure to draw in lunchtime and evening traffic,” added Huddleston.
The building’s upper two floors offer impressive views north west over to the city’s business district skyline and architects have been instructed to examine how this space could be converted for residential uses.
Subject to planning considerations, work could start on site this autumn. In total, the building provides around 15,000sq ft of space.
The basement can be linked to the ground and first floor bar/restaurant uses or can be part split for a club or bar operator.
Harrison wrote ‘Don’t Bother Me’ whilst ill in a Bournemouth hotel room on tour with the Beatles in the summer of 1963. The title was inspired by being harassed by reporters and photographers on his way in to The Cabin.
The song originally appeared on the album With The Beatles released in the UK in 1963 and as Meet The Beatles!, released in the United States in 1964.
Joint letting agents are Nick Huddleston of CBRE and Dougal Paver of Merrion.
