Businesses across Liverpool are getting ready to be part of the city’s Eurovision party.
In two months time, around 100,000 extra visitors are expected to descend on Liverpool when it hosts the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine. The city has stepped in to host the major musical event after beating a number of other cities from across the UK for the honour.
Events across Liverpool will run from May 1 until May 14, the day after the show’s grand final at the M&S Bank Arena. A series of licensing applications have been made to Liverpool Council as venues across the city gear up to welcome crowds from far and wide.
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Plans have been lodged for Liverpool ONE to get involved once the main shows get underway from May 10. The shopping precinct is hoping to temporarily amend its existing permits to allow for businesses across its whole site, encompassing Lord Street, the Strand, Hanover Street and School Lane, to sell alcohol from 6.01am to 2am.
Such a move would only be permitted until Sunday May 14. Further afield, plans for plays, films and live music, alongside the sale of alcohol have been proposed for St George’s Quarter.
The planned licence would extend from St John’s Gardens, St George’s Plateau, St George’s Place, Lime St, the steps to Lime Street Station, Lime St at the junction of the bottom end of London Road, St John’s Lane, William Brown Street, Lord Nelson St, Commutation Row up to the junction of Islington. Opening hours from May 5 to May 14 would run from 10am to 11.30pm, with alcohol potentially served from 11am to 11pm.
Later this week, the local authority will rule over plans for a 25,000 capacity fan park at the Pier Head during Eurovision celebrations. This will only run on five specific occasions alongside live broadcast events and it is expected a premises licence running until 2am will be granted.
However further plans have been lodged at St George's Parade, running from 9am to 11pm. Alcohol could be sold throughout the opening hours, alongside the performance of plays, films, live and recorded music.
Ahead of the main event, the National Lottery is staging a free concert outside St George's Hall for 30,000 that will celebrate the city's music, unique humour, and famously warm welcome. It will also celebrate the partnership between Liverpool, Ukraine, and Eurovision that will define this year’s contest.
The countdown has officially started. Join our Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool Facebook group
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