Liverpool Olympia cements its place as a cultural hub with exciting new plans

Empowering the local community, Liverpool Olympia has officially taken on Community Interest Company status.

The West Derby Road landmark aims to make a real difference to the lives of the local people.

A Community Interest Company (CIC) is a type of limited company which operates to provide a benefit to the community it serves, ensuring profits made are reinvested to do that. CICs are different to a charity.

Liverpool Olympia CIC is dedicated to providing opportunities for local people to access a wide variety of training, education, arts, community and activities.

It will work with the local community to ensure it understands people’s needs and wants, and will engage them in developing arts, training and empowerment programmes; ensure equal opportunities in everything it does, and act as a community hub for a range of activities. 

To help achieve its vision, The CIC will also access local, regional and national funding.

As custodian of the historic site, with the aim of bringing it back to its former glory, it will intend to approach funding bodies and foundations to seek financial support to maintain the fabric of the building 

The Liverpool Olympia was designed by Frank Matcham – the visionary British architect responsible for more than 90 playhouses across the country – and opened in April 1905 as a purpose-built indoor circus and variety theatre for up to 4,000 people spread across the stalls and three balconies.

Designed by Frank Matcham, who was also responsible for more than 90 playhouses across the country, The Liverpool Olympia opened in April 1905 as a purpose-built indoor circus and variety theatre. It was designed to hold up to 4,000 people across the stalls and three balconies.

Dubbed the ‘elephant pit’, Animals were housed in a large basement area. Aquatic shows were performed in a giant tank below floor level that was capable of holding an impressive 80,000 gallons – or more than 360,000 litres – of water.

Throughout its long-standing history, the classic venue hosted Harry Houdini, The Beatles and Little Richard and in more recent times welcomed Robert Plant, Paul Weller and Liverpool’s Elvis Costello, The Zutons and, earlier this month, Robbie Williams who played to a sell-out crowd.

The historic building was a pioneer for cinema, being one of the first regional picture houses to show talkies; a wartime Royal Naval depot; a famous dance hall – the Locarno – where couples would foxtrot and jive the night away under its grand domed ceiling, and a Mecca bingo hall. 

In its time, the building has also been a pioneering cinema, which was one of the first regional picture houses to show talkies; a wartime Royal Naval depot; a famous dance hall – the Locarno – where couples would foxtrot and jive the night away under its grand domed ceiling, and a Mecca bingo hall.

The current owners, back in 1990, purchased the Grafton Rooms next door, which they ran as a successful nightclub and refurbished the Olympia after several years of closure. 

Eventually reopening in February 2000 venue featured live music, club events, sports, comedy and being an in-demand location for TV and film as well as music videos and adverts. It was famously used in Peaky Blinders and Tin Star. 

Liverpool Olympia managing director Chris Zorba said today:

“I’m proud to collaborate with Liverpool Olympia CIC to preserve the 120-year heritage of this iconic building and ensure its future both as an entertainment venue and community hub into the next century.

“Our vision is to continue providing artistic and community programmes, which will now be delivered and developed by the CIC. However, we also see ourselves as custodians of this local asset and want to protect the heritage of the building, as part of this process we will be making a number of applications to funding bodies with the aim of bringing the fabric of the building back to its former glory.”

Alan Smith, Head of Heritage Preservation and Development at Liverpool City Council, added:

“Hidden in plain sight, the Olympia is a magnificent example of Liverpool’s architectural treasures, and this Frank Matcham building has played an outstanding part in the city’s musical and performance history.

“The building is the new gateway to the city’s ‘town within a town’ restoration plans that extend from Everton to Bootle and can once again play a leading role in our musical repertoire.

“The Olympia also offers the Elephant Pit in the basement, an amazing space which fizzes with Liverpool’s characteristic sense of history, fun and uniqueness, and where once real elephants were brought in to be raised on to the stage above.”

Find out more about the Liverpool Olympia here 

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