Over 130 Liverpool retail and hospitality businesses sign open letter in support of Zip World Liverpool 

‘The economic boost this will provide to retail and hospitality sectors will be significant. We need this now more than ever’ – say city centre bar, restaurant, hotel and shop owners 

Owners and representatives from over 130 city centre retail and hospitality businesses have signed an open letter in support of the forthcoming Zip World Liverpool.

They say the positive economic impact from the attraction, developed by national adventure business Zip World, will be ‘significant’.

The letter includes signatories from a variety of bar, restaurant, hotel and shop owners from across the city centre. They highlight reduced football in the city centre and how the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem.

It has been supported by sector leaders including Frank McKenna, chief executive of the influential business support group Downtown Liverpool, Bill Addy chief executive of the Liverpool BID company, and John Hughes chief executive of Liverpool Nightlife CIC. 

The letter, which has been released today, states:

“As businesses operating largely in the hospitality and retail sectors, we depend heavily on tourists and visitors coming to Liverpool.  Our businesses depend on a thriving city that continues to draw people to experience our wonderful attractions. 

In recent years, in common with all major towns and cities, we’ve watched with alarm as retail and hospitality outlets close down because of reduced footfall. The recent Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem for us all. 

The future is uncertain for many local businesses and so we welcome any credible plans to boost visitor numbers. That is why we are all supporting the forthcoming Liverpool zip line which is projected to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to Liverpool every year. The economic boost this will provide to the retail and hospitality sectors will be significant. We need it now more than ever. 

Liverpool has always been a city of firsts. This exciting new attraction will be the fastest urban zip line in the UK and Europe. It will bring a new generation of visitors, particularly families, who will then all experience the brilliant independent shops, bars, hotels and restaurants that we have to offer. The Liverpool Zip Line will put the city on the international tourist map yet again. We’re right behind it.”

Commenting on the letter, Frank McKenna, CEO of Downtown Liverpool, said: 

“This is a remarkable intervention by independent small business owners and representatives from a large number of bars, restaurants, hotels and shops in the city. These people are suffering the consequences of the recent pandemic and the general trend of declining high streets. They are desperately dependent on a bustling city centre to survive. They know more than anyone that we need to attract people to the city. They see the powerful economic benefits of attractions like Zip World Liverpool. It is vital that their views are taken into account.”

Zip World, which was established by former Royal Marine Sean Taylor in 2013, is creating 32 new jobs and investing over £5 million into the new Liverpool adventure attraction which is set to give a new lease of life to St Johns Beacon and the area immediately around St Johns Shopping Centre.

Zip World is projecting the attraction could bring 300,000 visitors into the city centre every year when it opens Zip World Liverpool in 2021.

The innovative brand, famous for its daring and exhilarating adventures, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in North Wales and has  helped transform the economy in the region  by contributing £251 million* in only the first five years of operation. The significant benefits to the area have seen local job creation, increased visitor numbers and increased secondary spend from both UK and international tourists.

* Assessing Zip World’s Impact on the North Wales Economy Review 2018, independent survey by North Wales Tourism, 2018 

Those who have signed the open letter in support of Zip World Liverpool include: 

Frank McKenna, Downtown Liverpool in Business

Steven Hesketh, The Savvy Group

Jonny Lacey, Bongo’s Bingo

Nicola Byrne-Woods, Urban Calm, Met Quarter

Kevin Doran, Living Brick Hotels

John Sutton, Lost Soles, Albert Dock

Chris Devaney, RLB360

Christaki Georgiou, Christakis Greek Taverna

Bill Addy, Liverpool BID

Perry Ng, Golden Dragon Food Limited

Gary Wakefield, Lili Bizarre

Liam Fortune, Buffet Restaurant Limited

Madie Outaaraft, Bakchich, Bold Street

Amine Ell Gueddar, Kasbah, Bold Street

Paolo Cillo, Il Forno, Duke Street

Terry Stockton, Hippy Chick, Baltic Market

Sean Roche, Aintree Gin

Paul Jagota, Anar Express, Bold Street

Darren Simpson, Met Quarter Flowers

Tracey Shelvey, Kids Cavern, Met Quarter

Adam Sutton, Adam Sutton Estates

Antonietta Bagnardi, Antonietta Bakery

Maria Cillo, A Tavola

Jenny Wan, SIDA Far Eastern Supermarket

Dave Critchley, Lu Ban

Alex Bower, Hotel Anfield

Francesca Kearns, Francesca Couture

Neil Wan, Chy, Renshaw Street

John Sinclair, Peaky Blinders

Paul Lin, GoCre8

Chris Reza, La Parilla, Bold Street

Otto Mellouki, Organico

Danny Boon, Matou

Moya McQueen, Morgan Jones Hair

Ergin Mullah, Elif, Bold Street

Mo Abdullah, KO Grill

Chris Foulkes, Relish

Natalie Murray, The Bagelry

Christian Boyle, Bar 54

Sean Royden, Ink Bar

Charlotte Owens, Meatless

Hussain Etaaat, Shiraz, Williamson Square

James Sullivan, Yellow Submarine Bar

Alfie McCaughran, Black Pearl Bar

Rhys Jones, Rhys Jones & Co

Brendan Wyatt, Transalpino, Bold Street

Mark Ellison, Johnny English Fish & Chips, Bold Street

Mark O`Leary, Rebel Barbers, Bold Street

Andreas Doukanaris, Sarto Menswear, Victoria Street

Gennagh Thompson, Jimmy’s Bar, Bold Street

Andy Zhuobin, Mei Mei

Natalie Shilton, The Nakery

Christopher Hakeem, The Butterfly and The Grasshopper

John Gilchrist, The Industry Consultants

Melissa Newness, The Vines

Julie Georgiou, Key Lime Coffee, St Johns Shopping Centre

Mani Jones, Storm Menswear, St Johns Shopping Centre

Nicole Cree, The Bag Shop, St Johns Shopping Centre

Mohammed Aslim, B:U, St Johns Shopping Centre

Jean Kennedy, Bunnies Children’s Clothing, St Johns Shopping Centre

Lauren McCormick, Peacock, St Johns Shopping Centre

Yan James, Miles Accessories, St Johns Shopping Centre

Jade Lark, Koko, St Johns Shopping Centre

Louise Shelbourne, Perfect Getaways, St Johns Shopping Centre

Harleigh Corran, Hands Boutique, St Johns Shopping Centre

Was Anjum, CS2, St Johns Shopping Centre

Jeannette Zidaru, MoreGlam, St Johns Shopping Centre

Louise Ward, Catwalk, St Johns Shopping Centre

Jaz Kumar, Missie, St Johns Shopping Centre

Kaleem Hussain, Kiss, St Johns Shopping Centre

Harjinder Kaur Glamour, Forever, St Johns Shopping Centre

Dimi Boyuklieva, Berlin Doner, St Johns Shopping Centre

Nina McCormick, Chantilly Lounge

Jennifer Santos Darias, Cool Britannia

Ben Mayer, Johnny Googles, North John Street

Sandra Lawton, Yanni’s Fish & Chips

Peter Hunter, Liverpool Hospitality Exchange

Adam Wan, Yum Cha

Alan Cosgrove, Happy Days Ventures

Brian Connor, A Bar Called Teddy’s

Steve Smith, The Dispensary

Jay Baker, Down The Hatch

Conrad Sharp, Woo Tan Scran

Joe O’Garra, Ripolin

Paul Kelly, St. John’s Shoe Repairs, St Johns Shopping Centre

Alexandra Shepherd, Baby Melanie, St Johns Shopping Centre

Suneer Edakavil Kottayil, The Liverpool Gift Shop, Williamson Square

Hellen Newey, 200 degrees Coffee

Michael Cox, Hanover Hotel

Lois White, Print Works Hotel

Graeme Clark, The Scholar Bar

Michael Achilleos, Grael

Mark Hayes, The Red Berry Club

Mike Robinson, Kaspas Deserts

Joe Harper, Exec Menswear

Harris McWilliam, Ditto Coffee Liverpool

Claire Cox, Liver One Limited, St Johns Shopping Centre

Hamaad Akhtar, Storm Ladies, St Johns Shopping Centre

Aftab Razzaq, Foot patrol, St Johns Shopping Centre

Paul Jones, Keep Time Watch Repairs, St Johns Shopping Centre

Geoff Wakefield, Music Film Direct, St Johns Shopping Centre

Waqas Javed, Liverpoolhair, St Johns Shopping Centre

Claire Pye, Shush Clothing, St Johns Shopping Centre

Suwayd Khan, Hairclub, St Johns Shopping Centre

Steve Johnson, The Midland Public House

Vincent Tyrrell, Quarters

Megan Crosbie, Sweeney’s Bar

Angela Cowing, The Shakespeare

Saad Rowen, Go Falafel

Sharon and Lori, Say It with Diamonds, Met Quarter

Yulun Wun, Root Coffee

Aaron Shino, Dale Street Kitchen

Anthony Devine, Brownlow Inn Hotel

Anvar Yusuf, Toros Steakhouse

John Hughes, Liverpool Nightlife CIC

Melanie Ravenscroft, Baltic Beer Garden

Jamie Motlagh, Pub Invest Group

Marcus Magee, Hilton Liverpool

David Wade Smith, Webticket Master

Louise Kemp, The Core Collective

Dale Allman, Union 22, Dale Street

Paul Kierman, Nelly Foley’s

Gary Daly, Moloko

Jimmy Boland, Rubber Soul

Dean McClafferty, Irish House

Darren Smith, Ruby Blues

Sean Traynor, Celtic Corner

James Brackley, Einstein

Jo Pringle, Lago

Sam Harris, Sgt Peppers

Harjinder Kaur Glamour, Forever, St Johns Shopping Centre

Dimi Boyuklieva, Berlin Doner, St Johns Shopping Centre

Nina McCormick, Chantilly Lounge

Jennifer Santos Darias, Cool Britannia

Ben Mayer, Johnny Googles, North John Street

Sandra Lawton, Yanni’s Fish & Chips

Peter Hunter, Liverpool Hospitality Exchange

Danielle Youds, Liverpool Philharmonic Theatre

Adam Wan, Yum Cha

Alan Cosgrove, Happy Days Ventures

Brian Connor, A Bar Called Teddy’s

Steve Smith, The Dispensary

Jay Baker, Down The Hatch

Conrad Sharp, Woo Tan Scran

Joe O’Garra, Ripolin

Paul Kelly, St. John’s Shoe Repairs, St Johns Shopping Centre

Alexandra Shepherd, Baby Melanie, St Johns Shopping Centre

Suneer Edakavil Kottayil, The Liverpool Gift Shop, Williamson Square

Hellen Newey, 200 degrees Coffee

Michael Cox, Hanover Hotel

Lois White, Print Works Hotel

Graeme Clark, The Scholar Bar

Michael Achilleos, Grael

Mark Hayes, The Red Berry Club

Mike Robinson, Kaspas Deserts

Joe Harper, Exec Menswear

Harris McWilliam, Ditto Coffee Liverpool

Claire Cox, Liver One Limited, St Johns Shopping Centre

Hamaad Akhtar, Storm Ladies, St Johns Shopping Centre

Aftab Razzaq, Foot patrol, St Johns Shopping Centre

Paul Jones, Keep Time Watch Repairs, St Johns Shopping Centre

Geoff Wakefield, Music Film Direct, St Johns Shopping Centre

Waqas Javed, Liverpoolhair, St Johns Shopping Centre

Claire Pye, Shush Clothing, St Johns Shopping Centre

Suwayd Khan, Hairclub, St Johns Shopping Centre

Steve Johnson, The Midland Public House

Vincent Tyrrell, Quarters

Megan Crosbie, Sweeney’s Bar

Angela Cowing, The Shakespeare

Saad Rowen, Go Falafel

Charlotte Donoghue, Say It with Diamonds, Met Quarter

Yulun Wun, Root Coffee

Aaron Shino, Dale Street Kitchen

Anthony Devine, Brownlow Inn Hotel

Anvar Yusuf, Toros Steakhouse

John Hughes, Liverpool Nightlife CIC

Melanie Ravenscroft, Baltic Beer Garden

Jamie Motlagh, Pub Invest Group

Marcus Magee, Hilton Liverpool

David Wade Smith, Webticket Master

Louise Kemp, The Core Collective

Dale Allman, Union 22, Dale Street

Paul Kierman, Nelly Foley’s

Gary Daly, Moloko

Jimmy Boland, Rubber Soul

Dean McClafferty, Irish House

Darren Smith, Ruby Blues

Sean Traynor, Celtic Corner

James Brackley, Einstein

Jo Pringle, Lago

Sam Harris, Sgt Peppers

Find out more about Zip World Liverpool here.