Planning applications have been submitted to Wirral Council for two new entertainment venues on Taylor Street in Birkenhead. The project, led by local entrepreneurs, aims to establish a vibrant hub for live music and nightlife, strategically positioned to benefit from the area's ongoing regeneration.
The proposed venues, named The Northern Powerhouse and the Taylor Street Tavern, would be located opposite the Wirral Transport Museum. The vision is to create a self-contained destination where visitors can enjoy a full evening of entertainment without needing to travel elsewhere.
Key Takeaways
- Two new venues, The Northern Powerhouse and Taylor Street Tavern, are planned for Taylor Street, Birkenhead.
- The project aims to create an entertainment hub similar to Liverpool's Baltic Triangle.
- The location is intended to serve residents from upcoming developments like Wirral Waters.
- The Northern Powerhouse will be a large-scale event space for touring bands and live music.
- A separate application has also been submitted for a paintball venue next door.
Transforming a Corner of Birkenhead
The ambitious project is being driven by Michael and Katie Ward, experienced local venue operators who have been part of Birkenhead's hospitality scene for decades. The couple, who previously ran the popular nearby pub Molly’s Chambers, acquired the former Mersey Equipment Company building at 82-90 Taylor Street with the goal of creating a new focal point for the town's nightlife.
Their plan involves converting the building into two distinct but complementary venues. If approved by Wirral Council, these applications will be followed by separate licensing requests. The project represents a significant private investment in an area poised for major transformation.
A Strategic Location
The choice of Taylor Street is deliberate. Once considered on the outskirts of the town centre, the area is now seen as centrally located due to major regeneration projects. Nearby developments like the multi-billion-pound Wirral Waters and the planned Dock Branch Park are expected to bring thousands of new residents and visitors to the vicinity, creating a ready-made audience for new leisure facilities.
The Two Proposed Venues
The project is designed to cater to different tastes, ensuring a broad appeal.
- The Northern Powerhouse: This will be a large-scale event and live music venue. It has already operated on a temporary basis for three years, hosting 40 events without any reported issues. The permanent venue would aim to attract touring bands, host club nights, and provide a significant new cultural space for Wirral. Proposed opening hours are until 1 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
- The Taylor Street Tavern: This venue will offer a more relaxed atmosphere, described as being similar to an Irish American dive bar. It will focus on a wide selection of ales and beers, providing a casual spot for drinks and socialising.
In addition to these two venues, a separate planning application has been submitted for a paintball and leisure facility next door, further adding to the potential for a multi-activity entertainment zone.
A Vision for a New Destination
The team behind the project hopes their investment will act as a catalyst for further development in the area. Michael Ward explained that the changing landscape of Birkenhead was a key motivator for the investment.
“It did seem a bit out of the way but all of a sudden it now seems to be right in the middle,” he said. “When you are next to it all, there’s a bit of excitement. All the places that they are building are not too far away.”
Ward sees a clear opportunity to provide entertainment for the new communities emerging from developments like Wirral Waters. “There’s nowhere for those people to have their entertainment, to go out for a little meal or a bit to eat and drink,” he noted. “We are a stone’s throw away from it and maybe we can cater for that as well.”
Building a Local Scene
The project's vision extends beyond just opening new bars. The goal is to cultivate a unique atmosphere that encourages people to visit and stay in the area, creating foot traffic that could support other local businesses. “We could get a little corner of Birkenhead going here,” Ward added, hoping it could inspire similar schemes and attract further investment.
He acknowledged the challenge of attracting visitors from across the river but expressed optimism. “Sometimes I saw this river could be an ocean to get people from Liverpool over to Birkenhead. I think in time with a nice little live music scene, I think people will think let’s just have a change.”
Attracting Touring Bands to Wirral
Adam Pallett, who recently took over Molly’s Chambers from the Wards and will run The Northern Powerhouse, is focused on elevating Wirral's status on the national music map. He believes the venue has the potential to become a key stop for touring artists.
“It’s a very big space, probably the biggest event space in Birkenhead, maybe on the Wirral,” Pallett stated. “I have always been in live music and venues, I have always been working towards something that is big enough to do touring bands.”
His primary objective is clear: “We want to get on the touring circuit and get more bands coming to the Wirral, not always going to Liverpool.”
More Than Just Music
Pallett’s plans for The Northern Powerhouse are diverse. He highlighted the venue's high ceilings, which provide “amazing” acoustics suitable for both live gigs and electronic music events like raves. He also revealed plans for techno nights, noting that many DJs currently playing in Liverpool are based in Wirral.
To enhance the visitor experience, there are plans to introduce food options. “We want to get in food vendors, we want a box village type thing outside,” he explained. The overall strategy is to create an all-encompassing destination.
“Keeping everything together makes it a destination,” Pallett concluded. “People stay because they have everything there already for them, they do not need to go anywhere else.”
The planning applications are now under consideration by Wirral Council, with a decision expected in the coming months.