Published: 18 September 2006
Liverpool's Casbah Club Listed
Culture Minister David Lammy has announced that the Casbah Club in Liverpool, where The Beatles played their first live performance, has become a Grade II listed building,
The club still contains murals and paintings by John and Cynthia Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Pete Best, The Beatles's original drummer.
It was also the place where the group signed their first contract with their manager, Brian Epstein.
The listing is on the advice of English Heritage, the Government's advisors on the historic environment, and reflects the club's special historic interest as a unique starting point for what became a popular cultural phenomenon.
Built around 1860 by an unknown architect, the building which housed The Casbah was bought by Mona Best, mother of Pete Best, in 1957, following a winning bet on the Derby.
Two years later Mrs Best saw a TV programme about London's coffee and 'beat' bars and converted the basement and coal cellar to become the first such in Liverpool.
Taking its name from the film 'Tangiers', The Casbah opened on 29 August 1959 with a gig from The Quarrymen, whose line-up included John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison.
Shortly afterwards, Pete Best joined the group, which became The Silver Beatles and - subsequently - The Beatles.
The group's first-ever, and many subsequent performances took place there.
The Casbah closed in 1962 with a Beatles concert on the final night in front of 1,500 people, and has remained unaltered ever since.
David Lammy said:
"The Beatles were truly giants of popular culture in the 20th century, with a world-wide impact that few have matched before or since.
Nearly forty years after they split up, their influence on music and style remains fresh and potent.
It is absolutely right that the club where the group first learnt their craft should be badged as an important part of our heritage, and receive the extra protection from harmful redevelopment that listed building status affords."
Bob Hawkins, English Heritage's Head of Heritage Protection in the North of England, added:
"The basement Casbah Club rooms are historically significant because they represent tangible evidence of the Beatles' formation, their growth in popularity and their enduring cultural influence throughout the world.
The club survives in a remarkably well preserved condition since its closure in 1962 with wall and ceiling paintings of spiders, dragons, rainbows and stars by original band members along with 1960's musical equipment, amplifiers and original chairs.
We know of no other survival like it in Liverpool or indeed anywhere else."
Further information
Casbah Coffee Club
DCMS - Listing
English Heritage
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