Stuck in Liverpool over Christmas I did several rather low quality local explores of which this was one.
I’m told it’s now on Facebook somewhere so is likely to get either burned down or sealed up again quite soon.
Background. The building was a cinema from 1975 - 1997, with several name changes, and then parts of it were used for all sorts of things - roller disco, bars, gym, children’s adventure centre, laser quest, paint balling.
However it’s probably best known as home to the 051 Club, a popular basement dance venue that was eventually shut down by magistrates in 2005.
I never went in the building when it was open but the whole place has been looking tatty for years, with rough sleepers, graffiti and the odd fire.
Visit. This one was unusual in that I hardly ever see people on explores, but bumped into two lots here.
The first was a group of teenagers burning plastic cups in the dance hall so I intimidated them out the door - can’t have trespassers in ‘my’ derp.
The second was a weaselly fellow sorting through rubbish by the light of a phone torch in one of the many stairwells.
Seeing my camera he initially said he too was an ‘urban explorer’, but eventually admitted that he was really there to find stuff to sell.
We ended up agreeing that there was actually nothing worth stealing in the entire dump and went our separate ways.
Outside it’s a triangular building with a tower at the front.
Interior pictures are ordered upwards.
Raving here in the 90’s - picture pinched from an article in the Echo https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpools-famous-051-club-sold-13266347.
One of at least two bars - the entire pub area is full of junk.
Two floors of paint balling grot.
Two floors of stripped gym with scattered equipment, rubbish and pigeons.
Some views from the roof, which is only slightly higher than the car park next door.
While it was interesting to finally see what lay behind the curtain walls, there was nothing obviously cinema-like left.
The bank of batteries may have dated from that era, but I think back-up power is needed for emergency signage in most public buildings.
There is a proposal to demolish both this place and the car park next door as part of plans for regeneration of the Mount Pleasant area.
I’m told it’s now on Facebook somewhere so is likely to get either burned down or sealed up again quite soon.
Background. The building was a cinema from 1975 - 1997, with several name changes, and then parts of it were used for all sorts of things - roller disco, bars, gym, children’s adventure centre, laser quest, paint balling.
However it’s probably best known as home to the 051 Club, a popular basement dance venue that was eventually shut down by magistrates in 2005.
I never went in the building when it was open but the whole place has been looking tatty for years, with rough sleepers, graffiti and the odd fire.
Visit. This one was unusual in that I hardly ever see people on explores, but bumped into two lots here.
The first was a group of teenagers burning plastic cups in the dance hall so I intimidated them out the door - can’t have trespassers in ‘my’ derp.
The second was a weaselly fellow sorting through rubbish by the light of a phone torch in one of the many stairwells.
Seeing my camera he initially said he too was an ‘urban explorer’, but eventually admitted that he was really there to find stuff to sell.
We ended up agreeing that there was actually nothing worth stealing in the entire dump and went our separate ways.
Outside it’s a triangular building with a tower at the front.
Interior pictures are ordered upwards.
Raving here in the 90’s - picture pinched from an article in the Echo https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpools-famous-051-club-sold-13266347.
One of at least two bars - the entire pub area is full of junk.
Two floors of paint balling grot.
Two floors of stripped gym with scattered equipment, rubbish and pigeons.
Some views from the roof, which is only slightly higher than the car park next door.
While it was interesting to finally see what lay behind the curtain walls, there was nothing obviously cinema-like left.
The bank of batteries may have dated from that era, but I think back-up power is needed for emergency signage in most public buildings.
There is a proposal to demolish both this place and the car park next door as part of plans for regeneration of the Mount Pleasant area.
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