There was a great atmosphere at the cavern club and the live bands and musicians were great and I…read moreloved all the memorabilia of all the famous faces that have played there from Chuck Berry to The Who to Adele. There were a few things though, I have respiratory problems and the stairs were a struggle and I'm not sure there was a disabled access, if there was I didn't see it. Also drinks were served in plastic tumblers and staff were seen piling the empties into buckets and dragged along the ground which for me didn't seem very classy but I don't think it's meant to be a classy place just a good place for a few drinks and some live music.

Stopped in at The Cavern Club after our Beatles tour while in Liverpool. The vibe was chill, with a…read moremusician performing, and you're free to wander around at your own pace. Entry was £5, and I was surprised by how big it was underground, with tunnels leading into different rooms and bars. The memorabilia (though I wish there was more) added to the fun, nostalgic atmosphere. Overall, it's a must for any Beatles fan, and I'm glad to have The Cavern Club under my belt as an important part of Beatles history. Saluti

The aquarium in the world museum is brilliant, it combines fish from Australia to Anglesey with the…read morevery latest technology. They have combined a new learning and activity space within the aquarium; the Living Laboratory. In this part everyone can get up close to fish and other sea life in special low-level tanks. As interesting as aquariums are, they can often be quite boring but with the staff running regular demonstrations for the visitors and a chance to observe and properly get involved so for that reason it has to be one of the better ones that I have visited. There are many displays and activities in the Living Laboratory and they have tried their best to emphasise links between the live specimens and the museum's historic collections. Video conferencing facilities are also available, this allows to link through to behind the scenes activities, events in the Treasure House Theatre and other parts of the museum. Be sure to ring to find out what events they are running so you don't miss out.

The Playhouse strikes a bold shadow in Williamson Square, I've seen many a good play here, from…read moreArthur Miller's The Price and more recently, Ghost Stories (a cross between The League of Gentlemen and Derren Brown) with numbers scrawled over the walls, sifting into your subconscious and a true psychological horror. On at the moment is a classic performance of The Woman in Black and it has to be said that the range of plays performed at The Playhouse is outstanding. A real old-style theatre you can really enter into the atmosphere and enjoy the imaginative experience. If you're a bit short on cash and can't afford tickets at full price or on the last minute, try going down on the day (preferably early!) as they sell any remaining tickets for a fiver. Cheaper than the cinema and a little more cultural!

To say the Playhouse is my second favourite theatre in Liverpool is not to denigrate the place, I…read morehave seen some fantastic productions here it's just that the city also boasts the Everyman which is by far my favourite theatre in the country. The theatre has been here for some time and while the fascia and theatre itself are fairly traditional - whitewashed, cornice studded walls and heavy red curtains are the order of the day - the reception and bar areas have both received a bit of a facelift. This combination of the traditional and the modern is indicative of the sort of work that the Playhouse plays host to. Recently I have seen a fantastic production of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales which was excellent and demonstrated the versatility that an apron theatre space still has, given a skilled production team and set of actors. The Woman in Black will be playing here very soon having had an immensely successful run in London and this is demonstrative of the sort of production and acting talent that the Playhouse can attract. Very, very highly recommended.

Ok, this theater is AWESOME. We go to reclining theaters all the time back in LA, but sofa…read moreseating?? Never seen that before. It's ridiculously cozy and honestly made our date night feel extra special after running around doing touristy stuff all day. Parking was a breeze--literally across the street and only £1.50/hr after 6pm. Can't beat that. We saw The Roses, which was funny because we had joked back home about how cool it would be to watch it in the UK since both Benedict and Olivia are British... and yep, it happened. Totally surreal moment. Also loved the little personal touch: right before the movie started, a staff member actually came in, reminded everyone to silence phones, and had a quick word with the audience. Felt very film-festival-ish, like Sundance vibes. Bottom line: if you're in the city, definitely check this place out. And whoever designed those seats--you're my hero. Let's be friends.

Well, rather a lot has changed since the Everyman was last reviewed on Yelp...not least that the…read morebuilding was completely razed to the ground in 2011 and rebuilt into the magnificent and award winning (The Sterling Prize for Architecture 2014 no least!) creation that now resides in exactly the same spot as before. Not only is it a stunning piece of architecture but it is also a brilliant piece of environmentally friendly design with, amongst many other recycled elements, 25,000 bricks from the old Everyman and huge chimneys creating natural ventilation. There are even nesting boxes for swifts and bats. Bless. The ethos of the theatrical content remains the same though with a dedication to inspiring and engaging a wide variety of audiences by producing a huge variety of shows, a passion for delivering new writing, a flare for giving a contemporary twist to classic pieces and generally to producing world class theatre. I have hugely enjoyed the shows I have been to see since the re-opening in March 2014 and absolutely love the new auditorium; I immediately felt hugely at home in somewhere that feels so familiar despite looking so different. The new Ev Street Cafe is absolutely one off my favourite places to meet and eat in Liverpool and the food and service is always lovely. The downstairs Bistro had a shaky start (but then it had big shoes to fill...) but is definitely getting there and I really enjoy heading there for aftershow drinks and have had a couple of excellent pre-show meals there too. The only teeny weeny complaint I have is that sometimes the service in the foyer bar before shows and during intervals can be a little slow (it feels like they need one or two extra members of staff behind the bar but maybe there just isn't room!) but it really is a small complaint and has never majorly impacted on my enjoyment of an evening in the theatre. It was such a thrill for so many people in Liverpool when the Ev re-opened and certainly for me that thrill hasn't gone away. Long Live The Everyman Theatre!!

It seems rather strange that a city like Chester doesn't have a decent cinema closer than this,…read moreanother cloned multiplex in an out-of-town retail park in the middle of nowhere, but there it is. Actually I say the middle of nowhere, that's just what it felt like during the 20 minute drive in the dark - it's actually on the edge of Ellesmere Port, but that's hardly a hub of civilisation in itself. It's the typical retail park scenario, you know the kind of thing - windy roads, lots of roundabouts, a steady breeze sweeping the tumbleweeds past as you're dazzled by the neon glow from Burger King, Nandos, Pizza Hut, Frankie & Benny's, Bella Italia, and the other usual suspects. The cinema experience itself was just like any other Vue, I just hate this universal trend towards corporate blandness that insists on building these huge conglomerate retail parks in the middle of nowhere.

This is really the only choice of cinema in the Chester area if you are looing for decent screen…read moresize and a good amount of leg room. It's annoying to get to without a car as the buses can be quite bad and sometimes don't show up at all. If you can get there then it is a far better venue than any cinema nearer to the city. With a large number of screens there are a lot of films on offer at any one time. In fact last time we visited, my wife ended up watching a different film to me, and this worked out great with only a 20 minute wait for one of us. The food is obviously a massive rip off, but that is true of every cinema these days. Luckily the rest of the retail park offers a range of restaurants to suit al tastes so it is worth eating before or after the film rather than spending a similar amount on a drink and some ice cream.

Simply electrifying…read more.. Packed yet an amazing atmosphere, I think everyone in Liverpool is here lol, it's definitely the place to kick off the night!

Having to provide photo ID, that is scanned and saved on file, seems a bit OTT to buy a pint…read more I guess it stops under 18s getting in. It also stopped a wedding party getting in, 2 senior citizens and 2 lads who must have been 40. But they did let in a lady who was so so very drunk she needed help up the steps, was pole dancing on a pillar and generslly falling over. But she did have photo ID so it's clearly fine. Afterasll, Policy is Policy! The decor inside is fine. The outside courtyard area curiously reminds me of a village train station platform.

Felt a tad bit touristy but I don't know how you could avoid that. So much of the Liverpool…read moreexperience is dominated by Beatles things so of course this museum goes all in. That being said, I thought they do a good job with each room being its own experience and sort of immersive. Didn't necessarily learn anything new but enjoyed myself nonetheless.

The Beatles Story is a little expensive at first. But with the audio it really pays off…read more An In depth understanding of the band steps over really a few years from start to finish. And I lived thru it all. New facts and surprises here. Gotta come. Look for Epsteins black briefcase. He had secrets. There is a copy of abbey road crossing and the cavern. Both are a shadow of the real thing. The Cavern, just down the lane is a rebuild, but a exact, right down to the stage and the bar. He sure to spend the five each to go, a singer playing Beatles after 11 am. I liked him. I would feel special just to stand on that stage. I didn't. But I was close, singing along. We did all three spots in a week. This is what we traveled around the world to do. We bought guitar pics and tee shirts I have never seen on anyone. That's just what I like. Our reverse British Invasion Tour. Yes, it's personal.....

The Olympia was once a grand forum for all sorts of live performances and until recently was the…read moremecca for the city's proud boxing tradition. My feelings on the place are not nearly as warm as they once were as the venue now mainly plays host to Mixed Martial Arts fighting which to me is not really much of sport. Ex bouncers beating each other up in a cage is nothing like boxing but the times move on and this stuff is very popular. The place will still host the odd gig but the glory days of the venue are long gone.

The Liverpool Olympia is an old, slightly decrepit, very dirty music and event venue located just…read moreoutside of Liverpool city centre. Outside of the slums of LA, I've never in my life seen so many boarded-up houses and buildings and empty, grass-filled plots outside a cemetery as I've seen in Liverpool. Yet there's something about the dirty, unkempt streets that seems to pulse with energy. Not nearly as good as Brooklyn, but if you're in the UK, it's interesting to see. The Liverpool Olympia continues this theme and doesn't disappoint. It's over-the-top, Victoriana gingerbread soffit and fascia, and it's gorgeously gilt gold and white finishings are completely contrasted with burnt orange walls straight out of the bar from the beginning of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The floors are black, sticky and dirty, and the meandering, ten-minute walk to the bathrooms is filled with plastic-covered ancient sofas and chairs with cigarette burns and flower patterns your grandmother would covet. Everything about this place is sad, worn-down and creepy. The vibe would perfectly suit a Halloween haunted house, or a Madonna concert. Something nightmarish. The "food" offered was a metal stand the size of water closet consisting of mushy chips with curry sauce or "hot dogs" shaped like pigs intestines. There are loads of bars -- three just on the floor where we were standing, and at least one on each balcony level. The prices for drinks are ridiculous -- £3.50 for a can of beer in a plastic cup -- but the service is so bad there, the waitress just dump your beer straight into the cup, resulting in over half a cup of foam, and no top up. We saw The Specials there, and the concert was outstanding, despite the venue. For an even odder flavouring to the night, all of the bouncers were from Northern Ireland -- a privately hired-in company. OK. Two words that rhyme with Liverpool Olympia? Never again.

The VUE cinema in Birkenhead is perfect for catching a movie at any time of day. It's in an ideal…read morelocation as it is right next to Conway Park Train Station and right in the centre of Birkenhead. This cinema used to be called Warner Village, and is situated next door to the Europa Pools swimming baths, a place ideal for families with children as id has flumes for the kids. So if you're looking for a cinema and a swimming baths for a weekend day with the kids, this is the ideal location for a family day out. Although Birkenhead seems to be more of a rundown city that it was when I was a kid, this end of the town doesn't seem all that bad. That said, it's not a place I would recommend hanging around at night. This cinema is a mainstream venue and tends to lean towards showing mainstream movies as opposed to independent films, which are always the best. But of course the majority of people will want to see the latest high budget blockbuster, and this is the place for that!

This Vue cinema is cheaper than Cheshire Oaks! It doesn't have an I-MAX cinema screen, but has…read morearound 12 screens showing the latest films. They don't have many late night special viewings as Cheshire Oaks, but they are a nice cinema facility. These days you queue up to get food and tickets from the food tills which can cause long queues which is out of the staffs hands and more up to the senior management. The staff there are very friendly particularly the duty managers who do their best to accommodate your needs. There is pick and mix of course as standard here!! You can pick any seats so get in early! Plenty of parking at night for free, but pay and display in the day.

Every good city requires its own independent art centre, and FACT manages to fulfil all the…read morecultural needs of arty Scousers and more. Smart, sleek and stylish, it puts on a wide array of thoughtfully chosen films and art exhibitions which arguably rival those of many larger art spaces. Take for example the recent 'Space Invaders' exhibition, which saw the space filled with retro arcade machines and exhibitions detailing the history of video games, or the wonderful WAR exhibition currently on in the gallery space. And then there's the building itself - a towering vista of glass and chrome, topped with a breathtaking atrium. Stand at the top of the building, and you can see down the entire length of Bold Street in all of its giddy glory. The cinemas themselves are a delight - the chairs are roomy and spacious, and they have a handy drinks rest for your pint - a very nice touch! Their film repertoire definitely rivals that of the major multiplexes - plus, at FACT, you're less likely to have M&M's thrown at your head by rowdy teenagers whilst you're trying to watch the main feature. FACT also contains a delightful little cafe which is a great space to curl up with a coffee and a good book on a sunny afternoon. It also has free Wi-Fi, which makes it a great place to work from during the day if you're looking to get out of the office. The only gripe I have with FACT is that sometimes there's not enough staff working in its bar - which means that the service on a busy night can be decidedly slow - not great if you've popped in for a quick drink before going to see a film. Once they get this right, I can think of no better place to go for an enjoyable and educational night out.

To rate Fact, you'd have to ask yourself what you want from a cinema. I think the following:…read morea. A good variety of films, a mixture of hits and more obscure movies b. No hassle or irritations, such as trouble causers who've no intention of enjoying the film in question c. A nice place to visit before/after the film starts, or somewhere you'd want to go back to time and time again Fact, parallel to Bold Street, one of the city's main shopping streets, fulfills all these wishes and more. A light, airy and modern building (that was criticised at the time of building), Fact shows some great off-circuit and obscure films, but does so much more as well. A trendy bar area (the first place in Liverpool to sell Hoegaarden years ago before it was cool), drinks you can take into the auditorium, reclining seats, quiz nights, a cafe, wifi, sofas (in the ground floor cinema), various functions several times a month: you get the feeling from the outset that you're being treated like an adult. There are slightly cheaper places to see a film, but the simple fact here is that you get what you pay for: good films in a lovely surrounding watched by people that also like film and aren't going to wreck your evening. The local Odeon instead? Not a chance.