The culture year has got off to a bright start at my firm with members of our property and corporate teams attending the Echo Arena for the Liverpool No 1's concert on Saturday night. This was an impressive event indeed at a fantastic venue - a real rival for the MEN Arena in my opinion.
The event was organised for charity by Martin O'Shea and Jon Ritchie. Weightmans corporate and property teams agreed with Jon to provide pro bono advice to the organisers and were credited for that in the programme with Sean Crotty, Emma Nichols, Laura Gittins and Amerigo Holthouse specifically mentioned.
With artists as varied as Doctor & the Medics, Icicle Works, The Farm, Hollyoaks cast members plus of course Atomic Kitten performing their new single Cilla's classic “Anyone who had a heart" it was a high profile event. A track entitled “Does this train stop on Merseyside?" said it all really ........a song enough to reduce the late great John Peel to tears we were told in the programme! There were further innovative performances of classic number 1 hits made famous by the likes of Dead or Alive and Frankie Goes to Hollywood as well of course as the Beatles…
Oblique references to Ringo Starr’s appearance the night before on the Jonathan Ross show did feature in the event – in my mind little more than the traditional Starkey humour showing through although some would say more.
The arena really does have a fantastic presence by the waterfront and its positive effect on business in the Albert Dock is vivid for all to see. Soon to be coupled to the Liverpool 1 scheme, its now neighbour provides the crucial linkage with the town centre lacking for so many years.
The commercial focal point created by these three enterprises is great to see and gives me every confidence the culture year will be a great one for our city leading to the further regeneration of our local economy and Liverpool’s place as one of the country’s most significant cities.