A visit to The Cavern Club in Liverpool is a chance to experience music history up close. Known as the birthplace of The Beatles, The Cavern Club is an iconic music venue that has had an important impact on British pop music for over 60 years. Whether you’re a fan of The Beatles, or just music in general, the venue is a highly recommended stop on your trip to this northern English city.
History of The Cavern Club
The Cavern Club first opened its doors in Liverpool on the 16th of January, 1957. Located in a warehouse cellar at 10 Mathew Street, the venue was opened by jazz enthusiast Alan Sytner. His plans were for the club to become one of the top jazz clubs in England and a number of renowned jazz and blues musicians played the venue, including Big Bill Broonzy, Ronnie Scott and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
While The Cavern Club was opened as a jazz venue, it also quickly became associated with the Skiffle movement that was sweeping the country at the time. Skiffle music took influence from American folk, jazz and blues music and was initially popular in early 20th century America. In the 1950s however, the genre underwent a revival in the United Kingdom and was popularized by musicians such as Lonnie Donegan. One skiffle group, known as The Quarrymen Skiffle Group, first graced the stage of The Cavern Club in 1957, and a member of this group would go on to become one of the most famous musicians of all time.
The Beatles at the Cavern Club
That member was, of course, John Lennon, founding member of The Beatles. John Lennon’s first advertised debut with The Quarrymen was on the 7th of August, 1957. Later that year, Paul McCartney joined the band and on the 24th of January, 1958, he made his first debut with The Quarrymen at The Cavern Club. It wasn’t until 1961 that the group officially took the stage at The Cavern Club as The Beatles, with new guitarist George Harrison.
In 1962, The Beatles were scouted at the venue by long-time manager Brian Epstein, who helped them secure a recording contract the next year. In August 1962, Ringo Starr made his first appearance at The Cavern Club as a drummer for The Beatles (although he had played the venue numerous times with other bands). The Beatles became the signature act at the Cavern Club and as they say… the rest is history.
The Cavern Club Post-Beatles
The 1970s brought some rough times for The Cavern Club and it was actually closed by British Rail in 1973 to make way for underground railway construction. The location of the club was moved across the street from the original location and sadly, the original cellar of the club ended up being filled with rubble. In the 1980s, there were plans to restore the original club, however it turned out that there was too much structural damage to do so. Instead, bricks from the original club were used to create an authentic reconstruction of the venue, within a new development on site.
The later 1980s were also a turbulent time for The Cavern Club and things didn’t really get back on track until the 1990s. From then on however, The Cavern Club thrived as a popular music venue and a place to celebrate its legendary musical residents. Today, The Cavern Club is a pilgrimmage for Beatles fans from around the world and celebrates both the history of music at the venue as well as contemporary music and upcoming artists.
Visiting The Cavern Club in Liverpool Today
A visit to The Cavern Club is one I highly recommend for all fans of The Beatles. Even if you’re not a Beatles fan, it’s still a fascinating venue that has a strong historical association with the city of Liverpool. Inside the venue, visitors can enjoy live music, explore Beatles memorabilia or enjoy something to eat and drink. The actual Cavern Club is the front stage at the venue and has live music 7 seven days a week (or is it 8 days a week?). With only a £5 entry cost, it’s a great way to spend an afternoon or evening!
There is also the Cavern Live Lounge, which on Friday and Saturday nights has performances by The Cavern Club Beatles. You can enjoy this incredible music experience for around £20 a ticket! You can also visit the Cavern Pub (located across the street from the venue) which is free to enter and has live music every night of the week. And if you’re looking for even more of a Beatles experience, you can visit during the annual International Beatleweek in August.
Tips for Visiting The Cavern Club
How do you get to the Cavern Club?
The Cavern Club is located at 10 Mathew Street in the centre of Liverpool. The venue is easily accessible by public transport and is only a 7-minute walk from Liverpool Central Station.
How much does it cost to visit the venue?
Entry to the Cavern Club costs only £5 and payment can be made at the door. The Cavern Club Beatles shows in the Live Lounge on Friday and Saturday nights cost approximately £20. Prices for other special events are also detailed on The Cavern Club website.
Is there live music at The Cavern Club?
Yes! Live music is on at the Cavern Club seven days a week starting at 11:30am.
When do Beatles tribute bands play at the Cavern Club?
The resident Beatles tribute band, The Cavern Club Beatles, play in the Live Lounge on Friday and Saturday Nights. However, you can also catch Beatles acts in the regular club (the front room) at various times. I recommend taking a look at The Cavern Club music calendar to see what’s on during your visit.
What other Beatles things are there to do in Liverpool?
Liverpool has a number of sites associated with The Beatles that can easily be explore during your stay. Visitors can explore Penny Lane (yes the barber shop is still there!), Strawberry Fields, The Beatles childhood homes and more.
This article was last updated in August 2022.