The iconic building has a storied past and could soon become something entirely different An iconic Liverpool city centre building which could be home to a new cocktail bar has a storied past. The grand Lyceum building, found at the bottom of Bold Street, has been used as a post office, restaurants, bars, banks, a gentleman's club and the country's first subscription library in its more than 200 years of use. The ECHO reported this week that the Lyceum is the subject of an application to upgrade and change part of its use to a brand new dining venue.
Arc Inspirations Ltd wishes to repurpose three floors into a cocktail bar. Part of the building which backs on to Liverpool Central station , was taken on by One Under recently as it opened a new crazy golf site. It is owned by husband and wife team Angus and Vivienne Wright who also operate five Jungle Rumble and three One Under mini golf sites across the country.
In their statement as part of this new application, Arc set out their vision for the remainder of the building. It said: “This new proposed bar will ensure that this prominent, Grade II* listed building can be brought back into a productive economic use that will contribute to the vitality and viability of this part of the city centre.” The Lyceum was built more than 200 years ago and has had an array of uses during its history .
Designed by architect Thomas Harrison, it was constructed by William Slater as a library and a gentlemen's club. Completed in 1802, during its lifetime it has been subdivided and converted for a variety of uses, including a post office, restaurants and bars. The Lyceum was home to England’s first subscription library but fell into disrepair in the 1950s.
Around that time, the building was earmarked for demolition so that nearby Central Station could be extended - but was saved after people objected to the plans. The last use of the full building was by the Post Office, who bought it in 1984 and continued to use it until 2004. The Co-operative Bank then occupied the ground floor unit facing Church Street, it too moved to a new branch in nearby Parker Street in 2017, leaving the Lyceum without use.
Though it was linked with national chains like Nando's, the building remained empty. In 2018, the Bold Street building was on the market with Mason Owen for an undisclosed price - and the ECHO was granted a glimpse behind the imposing frontage to see what’s inside. Pictures taken inside the historic building showed ornate artwork painted on the walls, featuring gladiators and classical figures.
Inside the huge central atrium, you can see the Lyceum’s domed ceiling, which features a striking mural of ancient gods and cherubs. And upon entering the main banking hall at the time, old strong boxes could be seen in the walls. That same year, plans were submitted to Liverpool to house a Chinese restaurant in the Lyceum building.
Restaurant China Dina opened in November 2019 . Following the Chinese restaurant's closure last year, Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf made the building its home. Now, a cocktail bar could join it.
The bar would be spread across the lower ground, ground and mezzanine floor levels of the building, with a new mezzanine floor also proposed between lower ground and ground floor levels..
