Royal Albert Dock marks 180th anniversary with spectacular throwback light show

This July, Royal Albert Dock Liverpool is set to celebrate a massive milestone: 180 years since Prince Albert officially opened the site on 30th July 1846.

To celebrate nearly two centuries at the heart of Liverpool’s waterfront, the dock has announced an exciting line-up featuring large-scale photography displays, world-class dining, and local community stories.

The summer festivities kick off on the evening of Thursday, 30th July, when the front of the Maritime Museum on the inner quay will be transformed into a massive open-air gallery by a brand-new Dock Short Lates projection across the historic brickwork.

Celebrated Liverpool photographer Mark McNulty, renowned for capturing the city’s music, nightlife, and cultural scene since the 1980s, has teamed up with the dock to showcase a curated selection of his best photographs taken around the site. Debuting on the anniversary night and running all through August, McNulty’s imagery will showcase a cinematic journey of the dock’s history from 9:45pm to 11pm.

Adding a culinary touch to the visuals, Gusto Albert Dock is putting on an exclusive, one-off dinner on 30th July. With just 180 spots open, the modern Italian eatery has designed a special heritage menu. Every course will draw inspiration from the dock’s 19th-century trade routes, featuring the exotic spices, citrus, and rums that global merchant ships once brought to the Mersey quayside. 

Following their meal, diners can step onto Gusto’s freshly upgraded terrace, offering a prime view of the light projection. 

The anniversary night marks the start of a summer-long community initiative inviting the public to submit their own photos of the dock over the years, whether it’s a retro family trip from the 1980s or a recent selfie under the colonnades. 

A collection of 180 memories will be chosen for a permanent digital memory book, as well as a special Dock Shorts projection during a major grand finale event at the end of September.

Discussing the anniversary celebrations, Sean Morrison, Estate Manager at Royal Albert Dock, said:

“The Royal Albert Dock is a magnificent piece of engineering, but what truly defines it is the generations of Liverpool people who have made it their own. For 180 years, these colonnades have been the backdrop to everything from casual first dates and family traditions to global cultural moments.

“We are thrilled to partner with a legendary local talent like Mark McNulty and our brilliant tenants like Gusto to celebrate our past, before we hand the storytelling over to the public ahead of our major finale in September.”

Norma Lyons, owner of Liverpool Pictures on the dock, commented:

“It is an absolute honour to be part of the dock’s incredible journey. It really is the jewel in Liverpool’s crown, and it just gets better and better. Over the years, the biggest shift we’ve seen is how international the dock has become. At the beginning, our footfall was mostly domestic, but the expansion of European flight routes and the legacy of Capital of Culture completely transformed us, bringing in visitors from all across Europe.

“The Dock always has something exciting happening, while keeping that peaceful ambience people fall in love with. Turning 180 is a historic milestone which we’re proud to be a part of”.

Find out more about The Royal Albert Dock’s 180th anniversary here.

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