‘People come for lunch and end the night at a rooftop party’ – how Blackstock Market became a big Liverpool success story

It took nearly three years to transform a derelict old factory not far from Liverpool’s waterfront into one of the biggest multi-space venues in the UK.

Now Blackstock Market has become a huge success story for the city, thanks to a unique combination of events that take it from early morning family fun sessions to late night rooftop samba parties.

Home to Hot Water Comedy Club, it’s the second largest purpose-built comedy venue in the world, with three separate in-house theatres.

But with live music seven days a week, giant screens showing every Liverpool and Everton match, eight local street food vendors, DJs and events all happening under (and on) one roof, there’s more to Blackstock Market than comedy.

Brothers Paul and Binty Blair, co-directors of Hot Water Comedy, always wanted it to have something for everyone, from day one of the multi-million pound project.

Now less than 18 months since it launched in April 2024, and just five months after completing work to open its roof terrace, Blackstock Market has become an award-winning venue that regularly fills its 1,500 capacity.

On the final day of the last Premier League season, when the Reds picked up the champion’s trophy, it was the busiest it’s ever been – packed and with a queue of 300 outside!

Paul said:

“The reason Blackstock Market exists is because of the comedy club. We knew it would grow beyond that when we created all these different spaces but the actual market itself has grown a lot quicker than we expected.

“Now people find their own space and get involved in what they want to get involved in. We have live music every night in the main market square so people come for that, there’s live music in the Whisky Bar as well and entertainment on the roof. 

“You can spend a full 12 hours here and never leave – come in the daytime to an event, have something to eat, see a comedy gig and then go to the Whisky Bar or the rooftop. 

“Lots of people end up staying all day because every bar’s got its own aesthetic and identity so you’re literally moving venue to venue without actually leaving the main venue.”

The 220-capacity rooftop has been a major addition since it opened in April, with a chilled vibe from Wednesday to Friday and a full-on fiesta of bongos, sax players, DJs and dancers for Samba Soiree Saturdays from midday to 11pm.

Blackstock Market’s free family fun days in the main market square every Sunday between 10am and 1pm have also proved incredibly popular.

Paul said:

“We have loads of entertainment and themes like princesses and superheroes, there’s facepainting, mascots and characters. And it’s free so families don’t have to spend anything.

“We grew up in Toxteth and we’d have loved to go to something like this but even if it had existed you’d have had to pay so we like being able to offer it free, as something we’d have enjoyed ourselves as kids.”

After a successful 2025 so far, Blackstock Market is already looking ahead and finalising plans for a busy Christmas, hosting events including Christmas party nights, a kids letters to Santa event and panto.

“One of the things I love most about the venue is it’s versatility,” adds Paul. “We can have a family fun day on the same day as a sold-out rooftop event aimed at a totally different audience, a sold-out comedy show that’s a different customer base again and a band. 

“I love the fact you can do all of that in one venue and it’s seamless, everything ties together really well. I don’t think there’s anywhere else in the city that can do that like we do.”

Find out more about Blackstock Market here.

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