handpicked liverpool by rosie march
handpickedliverpool
by rosie march
hello! welcome to handpicked liverpool Exploring a city for the first time is exciting, getting lost and stumbling upon something you’ve never seen before, something magical, something unique. Handpicked Liverpool loves these hidden spots and we’ve made it our mission to uncover them and share them with you. We don’t care for prestige or price; we just look for those places that have that little something special. We think high street chains are boring and fast food franchises are dull. It’s those ramshackle pubs, tucked away down a side street, filled with locals and brimming with character, that we believe make Liverpool what it is today. After all, it wasn’t the European Capital of Culture for nothing y’know. So, go and explore. Discover. Try something new. Take photographs. Write down your favourite places. Your best memories. Keep receipts. Then next time you visit Liverpool look at this book again. It’s your own personal city guide, unique to you. Enjoy.
shops & boutiques
quiggins
This Golden Oldie is a treasure from the past. Once closed in 2006 and reincarnated in its original setting on Renshaw Street, this truly alternative collection of stores creates an authentic market scene for the unique shopping-experience seeker. If it’s antique furniture you’re searching for, a dress screaming individuality, or that lost record you can’t find in your mainstream music store…Quiggins is certainly the place to treasure hunt.
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Jot down notes about your Quiggins experience.
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olivia divine Grand Central Hall renshaw street L1 2SF
One of Quiggin’s many hidden gems, Olivia Devine offers handmade, one of a kind costume jewellery pieces.
vintage stores Are you looking for that one-of-a-kind piece of clothing that no one else can get their hands on? Or that ‘unique antique’ that completes your living room in a way that separates it from every other living room? Or even that statement necklace that cries out exclusivity? Well, Liverpool is the new ‘old’ place to find these hidden treasures. Bold Street, situated in the heart of the city centre has an abundance of vintage stores full of original pieces from the past. We know shopping is a matter of taste, so go and explore and see what you can discover. Write down your favourites and any purchases that you’ve made, so you know where to rediscover.
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larks
larks
The quintessential gift store. But a gift store with a vintage twist. From clothes to lamps, teacups to bathroom toiletries – this miscellaneous vintage gift shop will definitely supply you with that birthday present you’ve been searching ages for, or that little treat to yourself as your Liverpool souvenir. Go on, spoil yourself.
22 Lark Lane L17 8US
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little red VINTAGE
Little Red Vintage call themselves ‘Liverpool’s prettiest vintage shop’ and we just have to agree. Offering hand selected vintage garments, alongside specially reworked pieces; it’s your one stop shop for all things old. From silk scarves to leather bags, footwear to jewellery, Little Red has it all; with lots to look at while you’re there. Look out for their regular pay-by -weight kilo sales, they are definitely one not to miss.
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69A 69A is for the specialist vintage and antique hunter. With stock ranging from a rare twelfth-century Cambodian sandstone ornament to a Victorian egg holder, this store is certainly for all you serious treasure seekers. Of course, it doesn’t sacrifice clothes and memorabilia to space these rare items but the real magic of this particular vintage shop lies in the vast collection of global artifacts; one-of-a-kind pieces discovered from all around the world. If your spending money doesn’t stretch far enough for these exotic hoards then don’t worry, treat the store as a museum and discover the beautiful finds of these trading enthusiasts.
75 Renshaw Street L1 2SJ
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Take a note of any shops that have caught your eye and any tucked away treasures you’ve found.
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bars & eateries
restaurants & eateries
the peacock
The Peacock is a place consciously priding itself for its individuality and passion for what they call ‘proper’ music. This classy bar offers vintage-styled cocktails, trendy brick-work décor and BBQs in the summer. An essential spot for the wind-down, chill-out, relax yourself, city explorer.
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51 Seel St L1 4AZ
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alma de cuba St Peters Church Seel Street L1 4BH
alma de cuba Latin America comes to Liverpool with Alma de Cuba. This is a favourite of ours, situated in a renovated Catholic Church and gleaming with class. Offering exciting events throughout the year, stunning dĂŠcor, exotic dancers and of course an exquisite menu, this picturesque setting is perfect for those special occasion evenings. There is so much to explore in this breathtaking venue.
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lucha libre
Been exploring all day and want to find somewhere exciting to eat? Why not try our favourite Mexican, LUCHA LIBRE. With its vibrant atmosphere, exploding Mexican-inspired menu and fun canteen-styled seating, you are sure to enjoy your evening whilst satisfying your taste-buds. And when night falls, why not take a sneaky trip downstairs to its very own late night tequila and cocktail bar. Mexico meets Liverpool; it works surprisingly well.
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A real ‘lads’ bar. With beer in two-pint steins and American hotdogs flowing all day and night, ‘Salt Dog Slims’ is a fun and exciting way to release your inner-beast! But don’t be put off ladies, with an impressive cocktail menu, great service and an abundance of sensational world beers on offer, this gem is definitely worth a visit!
salt dog slims 79-83 Seel Street L1 4BH
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the shipping forecast
Traditional pub, American vintage diner, buzzing music venue and civilized art gallery; Liverpool’s ‘The Shipping Forecast’ is a combination of all four with its unique atmosphere and fresh ambiance for undiscovered talents to host music events and hang their art. It’s weird, it’s unique, it doesn’t make sense…but we love it. Not convinced? Go see for yourself.
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aloha
22 Colquitt St L1 4DE
ALOHA Every great city should have its own Tiki bar, and Liverpool is no exception! Aloha welcomes everyone to enjoy their range of rums and their infamous Zombie cocktail (note – not for the faint hearted!) For a refreshing getaway, try this tropical paradise and maybe one or two of their exciting cocktails; after a full day of city exploring, you deserve it!
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lARK LANE Lark Lane is South Liverpool’s bohemian district. Situated out of the city centre, it is a little enclave of artisan delis, individualist restaurants and cafés, music venues and traditional pubs, with a few vintage clothes shops, boutiques, antique shops and art galleries thrown in for good measure. Popular with young professionals, students and creatives. Lark Lane offers a lively alternative to city centre shopping and dining and is definitely worth a visit.
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heebie jeebies
We are certain that there is no other place on Earth like Heebie Jeebies. With three floors of tunnels and hidden corridors, this labyrinth bar offers a whole new cultural experience. Some of Liverpool’s top indie talent play here too, making it a fully-packed, fun place for anyone to explore whilst enjoying the up-and-coming music Liverpool has to offer.
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the egg cafe This is The Egg; it lives in the loft of an old Victorian warehouse, doubles as an independent art gallery and is a sure favourite amongst local vegan and vegetarians. We think their homemade soup is souper.
16 Newington Just off Bold Street L1 4ED I’ve been here
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Make notes of the places where you’ve ate, drank and got merry.
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public art & sculptures
superlambanana To celebrate Liverpool’s Capital of Culture status, 125 replicas of the Superlambanana sculpture were produced in an array exciting designs and patterns and were dotted around the city. There are still plenty of them hanging around just waiting to be discovered, keep an eye out for them.
Superlambanana count
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the sitting bull Otterspool Promenade is the home of The Sitting Bull by Dhruva Mistry – a 2.8 metre high red sculpture, surrounded by a fabulous newly-renovated park. Why not enjoy a picnic in the company of The Sitting Bull on a glorious summer’s day.
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for you English artist Tracey Emin created an installation named ‘For You’, placed over the West Doors and beneath the Benedicite window in Liverpool Cathedral. In pink neon lights and sculptured in the artist’s handwriting, the words read: ‘I felt you and I knew you loved me’. A piece of beauty in a place of serenity – check it out.
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a case study A Case Study is a sculpture by John King, situated just outside the Art School on Hope Street, commissioned by the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in 1998. It comprises of piles of concrete casts taken from suitcases, bags and guitar cases and arranged in piles on the pavement; as though on a station platform or dock side. It represents the city’s people both arriving and departing, with lots of the cases have name tags of noteworthy liverpudlians and visitors to the city, including Paul McCartney, Arthur Askey and Charles Dickens who sailed to America from Liverpool in 1842. Go and check it out and see what famous names you can find.
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touch and go ‘Touch and Go’ by Christina Lucas, was commissioned as part of the Biennial Festival in 2010. A derelict building, once housing ‘Europleasure International Ltd’ which is depicted by the name emblazoned across the façade. Now obsolete, this decayed building, typifies the remains of the thriving business economy Liverpool used to enjoy.
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This ‘Europleasure’ building, dominates the top of Duke Street, at the edge of Chinatown. The rows of windows, set out in a distinct pattern across the whole of the expanse of the front of the building, would have brought vast amounts of light into its internal space, a demonstration of the wealth of ‘Europleasure International Ltd’. Today the windows of this dilapidated building are a poignant memory of a bygone bustling, business.
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penelope
‘Penelope’ is the grand centrepiece of Wolsenholme Square. It was commissioned by ‘Ropewalks’ and designed by Jorge Pardo, as part of the Biennial Festival in 2002. This piece of street furniture is monumental in scale; it is fun, yet robust enough to withstand the seasons. Pardo designed it by analysing how people use a space. By day ‘Penelope’ is set in a quiet backwater, this huge, impressive and highly colourful abstract sculpture provides an enjoyable visual experience to visitors of the square. At night, this tranquil square is transformed into a thriving club land, so, ‘Penelope’ comes alive, providing quirky lighting to this now vibrant, busy place; a real must see for sculture lovers.
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street art
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street art
If you’re looking for street art, then you’ve come to the right place. There is an abundance of walls scattered around Liverpool that are adorned with the finest street art there is. Toxteth, Garston and the city centre are where you’ll find the majority of the work. Explore, wander and discover all that Liverpool’s street art scene has to offer.
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MY FAVOURITE STREET ART
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Liverpool is a hub of creativity. There is always something going on. When planning a trip, ensure you take a look at what events are taking place. There could be something magical.
Sea Odyssey was a story of lost love and reunion acted out across the city. The 15-metre tall deep sea diver, his 9-metre tall niece and her dog were manipulated by cranes using ropes, pulleys and motors. The event took placeover a weekend to help commemorate the centenery of the sinking of RMS Titanic, the enactment was inspired by a letter written by a school girl in 1912 to her father who was working on the great liner and never returned home.
Make a note of anywhere that takes your fancy. Places you’ve enjoyed, or places you haven’t. Keep receipts. Take photographs. Remember, this is your own personal city guide, unique to you.
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notes
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Handpicked Liverpool takes you off the beaten track, to those hidden little spots that you just can’t find anywhere else. This is a guide book with a difference. We say ‘no’ to high street chains, and yes to places that are unique, magical and full of charm. It’s those little ramshackle pubs, hidden away down a side street, that are filled with locals and brimming with character that make Liverpool special. We’ve made it our mission to uncover these places and share them with you. Go and live like a local. Explore. Wander. Fill this book with notes and memories and make it unique to you. It’s your own personal city guide. Enjoy.
a handpicked britain book