Archive for January, 2008

John Lennon’s sister will open a new Beatles exhibition in Liverpool. Julia Baird will be at Liverpool Central Library tonight, along with a number of other distinguished guests, including Tony Barrow, former press officer for the group, and Beatles historian and author Mark Lewisohn.

Another Hard Days Night tells the story of the Beatles return to Liverpool in 1964 to attend the northern premier of their first feature film A Hard Days Night at the Odeon Cinema. The exhibition will be open to the public January 17 to February 17.

Visit North West is now taking bookings for the much-anticipated Hard Days Night Hotel in Liverpool. The Beatles-themed hotel opens on February 1 2008. Early booking is highly recommended.

Liverpool’s year-long reign as European Capital of Culture kicks off tonight with the People’s Opening ceremony at St George’s Hall. Performers will include Ringo Starr, Dave Stewart, The Wombats, and more than 600 local people including guitarists, choirs and schoolchildren. The event starts at 8.08 pm and is expected to attract a crowd of around 30,000.

Yorkshire based entertainment company the Brook Group has submitted its plans for the former Odeon cinema in Chester. They involve a mixed-use entertainment venue with shops, restaurant, bar, and cinema.

The Odeon closed in July 2007. Local MP Christine Russell has been spearheading a campaign to reopen the venue as a cinema.

Manchester United has announced record profits and turnover for the year to June 2007. Gross turnover reached £245 million, a record for a British football club, while profit rose to just under £60 million. Major factors contributing to the increase in revenues were the increase in stadium capacity to 76,000, higher ticket prices, and a lucrative sponsorship deal with AIG.

Showzam, Blackpool’s first annual festival of circus, will run from February 8 to 24. Performances include Probably the World’s Greatest Magic Show (February 8 to 10, Opera House, Winter Gardens), the Insect Circus (February 9 to 10, Pleasure Beach, free admission), the Whoopee Carnival Ball (February 8 to 10, Blackpool Tower Ballroom), the World Junior Magician Championships (February 19, Opera House, Winter Gardens), and the International Circus Carnival (February 16 -24, Blackpool Tower Circus).