14 reasons to smile this weekend in Liverpool

Reasons to smile? 

Liverpool’s got loads of ‘em  this weekend … just look at this lot!

Keep it with us all weekend long as we shout about the positive stories shining through and the good news coming from Liverpool City Region with another Good News Weekend.

Let’s start with this lot…

Liverpool pulls together to get tested!

1/2 #ThankYou everyone who has gone to get a Covid-19 test or has booked to have one.

The centres are really busy today, please don’t use the walk-in option, but an appointment instead.

A further 10 centres will open tomorrow. Location details to follow.#LetsGetTested pic.twitter.com/QyzG6BsVmB

— Liverpool City Council | #LetsGetTested (@lpoolcouncil) November 6, 2020

The new mass coronavirus testing sites opened in Liverpool today with a further 10 opening tomorrow (Saturday). The city has not disappointed as people booked online and turned out in their droves for a test. One attendee said simply said  “I want to be able to go for Christmas dinner.”. Get more info and book yours here.

Listen up – there’s new albums out from Liverpool’s Camelphat, Sam Smith, Ariana Grande, and Kylie is back!

Camelphat

Live gigs might be off for now, but there’s still loads of great new music to keep us all going. Camelphat’s Dark Matter has gone straight to the top of the UK dance chart and it’s a masterpiece reminder of why Liverpool loves its dance music so much. If that’s not your thing, then Sam Smith has a new studio album after a three-year wait, and so does Ariana Grande. Plus, the ultimate showgirl Kylie’s back with Disco which basically does what it says on the tin – 70s and 80s disco floorfillers to get your glitterball going again!

The Secret: Dare to Dream film is new to Netflix – let the positive energy flow …

We could use all the positive vibes right now, so The Secret: Dare to Dream couldn’t be timed better.  Compassion, love, optimism and kindness of the human heart are all here in spades. If you’re looking for a feelgood film to prove there are still good people out there who mean well then this is the one. And it’s new on Netflix, so if you’ve already burnt through everything else, November is saved.

Lunya deli is still open for takeaway and they’ve got a great online store too

This month especially is all about supporting our independents, and that includes Liverpool’s best restaurants. The award-winning Lunya is definitely high on that list and, even though obviously it’s not open for sit-ins at the moment, you can get its fabulous Calalonian and Spanish hot food, bread and pastries to take away and they have discounted beer and wine cases. The deli is still open too, Mon-Sat 10am-6pm and Sundays 1am-5pm. Visit the website here.

Keep the tunes playing as In Demand Radio launches on DAB

The Brekky Butler, Lee Butler, will be waking everyone up on Breakfast from Monday and he’s having his birthday party live on air! Our own Jay Hynd will be on weekday evenings from 7-9pm and there’ll be lots of big names across the weekend too with Liam Hincks, Gemma, Dave Graham, Pez Tellet, Ian Redman, Ste Cocky and more.

The new SKAUS store is now open in Allerton

SKAUS Allerton Road is open now serving fresh fruit, veg, craft beer and more

Scouse Scandi restaurant Skaus has opened its doors on Allerton Road with a lockdown food shop, from Wednesdays to Sundays 10am-6pm. After hugely popular stints at Baltic Market, Dockleaf and Camp & Furnace this is the lads’ first permanent home and, even though they’ll have to wait for sit-ins, they’ve still got wine, craft beer, grab and go bites, bakes, fresh veg and more and they promise their coffee machine will be on too for takeaway brews.

Catch an autumnal sunset over West Kirby Marine Lake

There are so many beautiful places in and around our city to get out and see all the gorgeous colours of autumn, but not many can compare to West Kirby Marine Lake. If you’re nearby, then at the end of a crisp autumn day, wrap up and head there at sunset and give yourself a little gift from nature.

New Liverpool film ‘Out of Time’ is streaming on Amazon Prime

Directed by former Brookie and EastEnders actor Leon Lopez, Out of Time stars Louis Emerick, Suzanne Collins and Lindzi Germain, and tells the story of a young person struggling to come to terms with the body they were born into. When ex-fighting champion Danny’s eight-year sentence is over, he returns home to a revelation that not only is his beloved gym under pressure, his childhood sweetheart Sam and their only son Connor have been hiding a huge secret!

It’s Doddy Day!

Have a tattifilarious day celebrating the Squire of Knotty Ash. Lockdown Two may have put an end to live stage performances but, fear not, Doddy Day has moved online! So log onto doddyday.com to see some great new videos of interviews and performances. Harry Hill, Lee Mack, Miriam Margolyes, Nichola McAuliffe, Ricky Tomlinson, Stephanie Cole, Stephen K Amos and Tim Vine talk about their special memories of Sir Ken and share some jokes.

Have an afternoon tea party courtesy of LIDS and Mrs Danvers

You can’t beat the very-English occasion of an afternoon tea with dainty sandwiches, scrummy cakes and scones with jam and cream; and you can get the very best in Liverpool from people like Mrs Danvers, and the local suppliers within Liverpool Independent Delivery Services. So sit back and enjoy it with a good old cuppa – one sugar or two?

Liverpool’s community spirit is shining 

One thing we’ve learned in lockdown is we have to look after each other and lots of great businesses are helping us to do just that. Having earlier this year launched a scheme to look after the vulnerable and elderly, the team behind the Eccleston Arms Bar & Grill is now asking for help and donations to provide free meals to those who need them most in St. Helens and Prescot; while a group of volunteers from a Liverpool foodbank is aiming to create Christmas stockings for young children who might not otherwise get one on Christmas Day, and staff and regulars at a great Melling pub continue to provide meals for those isolated and in need of food and supplies.

You can get the drinks delivered to your door!

So, you may not be able to nip to the pub or go out to your favourite bar but, cheers, it can come to you. There’s loads of bars and boozers waiting to serve you your favourite tipples either with a delivery to your own front door or have it ready for collection, like cocktails and more from Berry & Rye, the best of beers from Love Lane Brewery, or a nice glass of fizz from Think Wine.

The Nest is now open for online shopping and you can order hampers

It’s never too early to start your Christmas shopping and this Albert Dock design shop showcases local artists and their incredible creations. From chopping boards to original prints of iconic Liverpool clubs, sparkly Liver Bird pins, cushions and artwork to exquisite handmade jewellery.

We are building up to Tuesday’s Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards, celebrating the best of our visitor economy

There’s never been a better time to celebrate – and remind ourselves about – everything that’s great about Liverpool and why we, and so many others across the country and the globe, love it so much. The awards ceremony is being screened live on Tuesday, at 7pm, on YouTube, and hosted by The Guide Liverpool’s Jay Hynd, so tune in to support all those who have done so much for us and our city region …and who will come into their own once again in 2021!

Pick up a pastry at Rough Hand Made on the Dock

Family-run favourite bakery, Rough Handmade, will be staying open for takeaway and phone orders to be picked up on the same day. Their freshly-baked pastries, fluffy pittas and milk chocolate filled croissants are the perfect treat to pick up with a coffee whilst strolling around the picturesque Dock.