The stylish Cavern Walks complex opened in spring 1984 and replaced a row of grimy old warehouses. In one of these, number ten, formerly a wine and spirits store, egg packing station and even a makeshift air raid shelter against Hilter's Luftwaffe, 18 stone steps led down to a cellar club the name of which was to become known the world over, that Club was The Cavern. Here, in the catacombed darkness beneath your feet, the Beatles played no less than 274 times. They made their debut during the lunchtime of 21 February 1961 for £5.00 and went on to play a further 151 lunchtime sessions. Their final performance, for £300.00 took place on the evening of Saturday 3 August 1963. Along with other top local groups, for the Mersey Sound was never just the Beatles, they made the Cavern the most famous rock and roll venue of its day.

But the Cavern had not always echoed to the big beat sounds. When doctor's son Alan Sytner bought it in 1956 he planned a similar venture to "Le Caveau Fransais", the Parisian jazz club. The Cavern first opened its doors to a jazz-only crowd on 16 January 1957, but soon yielded to the skiffle craze sweeping the country at that time. It was to be the thin end of a very large rock and roll wedge. Indeed, it was as the Quarry Men skiffle group that the young Beatles made their first true appearance at the Cavern on 7 August 1957. Paul missed this historic event. He was away at a boy scout summer camp at the time. Six months passed before the 14 year old George Harrison was to meet the Quarry Men for the first time. Maggie May, Railroad Bill, Cumberland Gap and other Lonnie Donegan skiffle numbers would have been as much a part of the Beatles repertoire in these days as their distinctive versions of Elvis, Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly classics. However, by this time, the first hesitant efforts of the Lennon / McCartney song writing partnership were also being given an airing.

In 1959 the Cavern passed into the hands of accountant Ray McFall. Although rock and roll had occasionally sneaked in, much to the disgust of the regular jazz pursuits, it was not until 25 May 1961 that McFall relented to allow the very first beat night. On stage that night were the immensely popular Cass and the Cassanovas (later the Big Three) and Rory Storm and the Hurricanes whose drummer was none other than Ringo Starr. From that night the Cavern was "lost" to rock and roll. Welcoming fans to "the best of cellars", the Caverns legendary DJ Bob Wooler, the prince of pun, introduced the cream of hundreds of Merseyside groups that had emerged out of the short lived skiffle boom. The Searchers, the Swinging Blue Jeans, the Remo Four, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas, the Fourmost, the Big Three and of course the Beatles. There was also a girl singer, the Cavern's cloakroom attendant Priscilla White, better known as Cilla Black.

On 9 November 1961, during one of its famous lunchtime sessions, a sober-suited 27 year old Brian Epstein visited the Cavern to see for himself its star performers, the Beatles. He watched, he listened, he was hooked. Despite the warnings of Allan Williams, their so-called first manager, "not to touch then with an effing barge pole", the besotted Brian eventually signed them up in his NEMS office in nearby Whitechapel on Wednesday 24 January 1962.

On 28 February 1966 amid howls of protest, the debt-ridden Cavern was closed by the Official Receiver. It was ceremoniously re-opened five months later on 23 July by Prime Minister Harold Wilson who was presented with a wooden pipe crafted from the orignial stage which had been broken up piece by piece for charity. Although it survived for another seven years, it closed its doors for the last time on 27 May 1973 as Paul McCartney and his new group Wings played the final night of their UK tour at the Odeon Cinema, Hammersmith. The warehouse was then bulldozed to the ground to provide a working site for the construction of Liverpool's new underground railway system. Most Beatles fans are amazed that the City of Liverpool did nothing to stop this act of cultural vandalism.

For a number of years the historic Cavern site was an unsightly temporary car park before it was redeveloped into the Cavern Walks shop and office complex you see today. Cavern Walks bristles with Beatles features. Cynthia Lennon designed the terracotta embellishments to its frontage and of course the Beatles shop "From Me To You" a mecca for all Beatles fans. There is the famous statue of the fab four standing in the centre of the complex, it is a fitting tribute to the four boys who shook the world and a must for any Beatles fan to see. Beatles fans travel from all over the world to capture the atmosphere surrounding the most famous music city in the world.

Most exciting of all, the Cavern club was rebuilt as near to the original as possible using the bricks saved from the old Cavern. It is well worth a visit ! The high spot for the new Cavern came on 14 December 1999 when Paul performed his last gig of the millennium in front of 150 lucky fans and similar number of media people. Paul explained "I am going back for just one night as a nod to the music that has, and will ever, thrill me. I can't think of a better way to rock out at the end of the century than with a rock n' roll gig at the Cavern."

To visit The Cavern Walks Shopping Mall web site click here - www.cavernshopping.com
Extracts taken from "The Beatles Liverpool the complete guide" by Ron Jones - available in our store

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