Former Beatles tourist attraction put up for sale

A community tourist attraction celebrating the Beatles has been put up for sale after closing its doors.

The Penny Lane Community Trust in Liverpool shut on New Year's Eve after struggling with rising costs and declining visitor numbers.

Former Lord Mayor and Penny Lane councillor, Richard Kemp, said: "It is disgraceful that this has taken so long and it will be well over a year before a successful bidder can start to use the building for the local community."

Liverpool City Council said it was "working with the liquidators and their representatives to explore future options for the building and secure the best possible outcome for the local community".

The site became a popular stop for tourists visiting Penny Lane and nearby Strawberry Fields, housing a visitor centre filled with Beatles memorabilia.

The successful bidder must demonstrate financial viability and compliance with the building's permitted use.

The council owns the freehold of the Penny Lane Development Centre site, of which a lease was granted to Penny Lane Development Trust.

The property is held under a 99-year lease, granted by the council in 2009 at a peppercorn rent of £1 a year.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the development trust behind the site went into liquidation, with a voluntary liquidator appointed in January.

The trust was established in 2003 to help save nearby fields from a housing development and went on to open its community centre and Beatles visitor centre in 2010.

The building featured a large mural of Paul McCartney and John Lennon on its exterior and became a regular destination for tour guides bringing visitors to Penny Lane.

Its grounds included a Beatles-themed garden with a yellow submarine donated by the Cavern Club and the former gates from the Mather Avenue fire station.

Before the closure was announced, the trust's senior charity officer, Julia Gornell, said increased utility costs and falling footfall had placed a "huge toll" on the charity's "already limited resources".

According to details published by JPS Chartered Surveyors, the building is being marketed to charities and community organisations only.

Kemp said he hoped local people, businesses and organisations would work together on ambitious proposals for the site's future.

He said: "I would be pleased to engage with local people and companies on the options. I hope that we can think big on this.

"These developments have a brilliant potential for attracting tourists into the Beatles Homeland Quarter, which will benefit the city and help raise money for good local projects, which will benefit Penny Lane area residents."

Any sale of the remaining leasehold must be approved by Liverpool City Council, which owns the freehold.

A council spokesperson said: "As this is an ongoing legal and property matter, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage."

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