The ECHO has taken a first look at how a proposed luxury hotel in Cavern Walks could look after the site was bought by a property investment joint venture.
Craig Greenwood's Greenwood Developments teamed up with JSM Company Group to buy Cavern Walks from Signature Living earlier this week.
Craig, 34, started his career with fridge engineering firm Everkool before moving into property investment. He told the ECHO: "It is an iconic space, plain and simple. It is home of The Cavern Club, where The Beatles first made their name. This space will forever be linked with everything the band went on to achieve."
READ MORE: Plans to turn landmark city shopping centre into 'new Quiggins'
Craig added: "When you think about what The Beatles have done for Liverpool, on so many levels, it is a proud moment for me to own a piece of that history and bring it into the modern era. It is an exciting time being able to write the next chapter but I am also respectful of the history and heritage of the site."
The new venue will be known as 'The Cavern Walks Hotel' and discussions are ongoing with potential operators. The venue will occupy the upper floors of the shopping centre, which used to be office space.
Permission has been granted for 125 rooms, but Craig is optimistic that he can stretch the figure to 150, subject to planning. The hotel will 300 beds over seven floors, as well as a large function room, a bar and a cinema room. It is estimated the venue will have a gross development value of more than £35m once complete.
There will be a number of homages to The Beatles, including themed rooms and themed areas of the function suite, as well as a NEMS record store in a nod to Brian Epstein. The cinema room will also be decked in all white in tribute to John Lennon and will show films from The Beatles' era.
The entrance to the hotel will be on Harrington Street and the reception where Cavern Menswear currently trades from. The fashion boutique is relocating to another unit in the shopping centre.
Craig told the ECHO: "There is no other road in the city centre comparable with Mathew Street in terms of the history it has. it is one of the most frequently visited sites in Liverpool, especially for tourists.
"We are offering people the chance to stay on the street The Beatles first made their mark on music, which is an exciting opportunity in itself. I really hope a hotel will succeed for these reasons."
Craig told the ECHO he hopes the opening will be "phased" with some rooms available by summer 2023.
The lower floor of Cavern Walks will remain as shop units, but the centre's famous atrium will be boarded over and its staircase removed so the space can be used by the hotel.
JSM is targeting 'independent and quirky' retailers in a bid to drive footfall back to Cavern Walks.
Matt Crebbin, of JSM, said they'd like to "recreate the pull" of alternative indoor market Quiggins , which initially traded from School Lane before moving to Grand Central and eventually closing its doors.
Signature Living bought Cavern Walks in 2018 and had started fitting the hotel out before collapsing earlier this year.
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