for Red October. Alfie and The Parole Officer to television‘s Holl_\'oaks. Grange Hill and Bread.
The city‘s main nightlife hub is Concert Square. where the party stretches across its cavemous theme pubs. and doesn’t start until late. More interesting (and so iiber-cool it‘s almost intimidating) is Alma de Cuba on Seel Street. a converted Polish church where you can quite literally break bread and drink wine at the altar. The place is overrun with beautiful people. but fortunately I happen upon Bond Street‘s Soul Cafe. A steaming bowl of Memphis Soul Stew. homely surroundings and Marvin Gaye‘s dulcit tones are more my bag. and the café is definitely recommended for whiling away a few early evening hours.
Despite myths about shellsuits and moustaches. Liverpudlians are clearly interested in fashion. I’m going to need to spruce up to fit in. so next moming l head for the Met Quarter. a recently opened upmarket shopping centre with chaise longues in the foyer and flagship branches ofArmani. Diesel
and Hugo Boss. On the morning of
my visit I see more security guards than actual shoppers. but forgive my relapse into stereotype: it is
early. The centre may be quiet for
now but the owners clearly anticipate a lot of money coming in over the next few years.
Not everything is shiny and new in Liverpool: the huge revamp of the World Museum. housed in a grand neo-classical building on William Brown Street. shows that the city also sees a future in its past.
An exhibition of world cultures. featuring treasures gifth from
foreign dignitaries and traded with far off lands is particularly
interesting. because Liverpool plays
proudly on this history of maritime trade and immigration. The city also intends to pay its dues to the darker side of its shipping heritage. with a dedicated International
Slavery Museum opening in'
August.
Also making its way through the pipeline is The Paradise Project. currently a vast construction site. which will give the city a skyline to
rival Berlin’s. linking the docks to i the city centre in time for the Capital
of Culture celebrations. A l().()()()-seat arena is taking shape by Albert Dock and the brand
new Museum of Liverpool at Pier ! Head should be ready by 2()l(). So
will it all be worth it‘.’ Well. I'm going to struggle to live this down. but Liverpool has certainly exceeded my expectations. It‘s an exciting place to be and it’s only going to get better.
For further information on Liverpool 08, see www.|iverpool08.com
From the architecture and the revamped historical Albert Dock to the thriving shopping, bar and restaurant scene, the city has lots to offer the visitor
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Getting there and around i There are direct flights to Liverpool * from Aberdeen and Inverness. Virgin Trains (www.virgintrains.co.uk) offer return train fares from Edinburgh and Glasgow to Lime Street station from 235. Once in Liverpool city centre, it's easy to get about on foot. Accommodation For clean, good value accommodation. Premier Travel Inn have two branches in the city. one in the centre and one by Albert Dock. See wwwpremiertravel inn.com for prices and information. If you want to splash out a little you could do worse than the Hope Street Hotel (www.hopestreethotel.co.uk), voted one of the world’s 50 coolest hotels. with rooms from £140. Activities Albert Dock, one of the first areas of Liverpool to undergo redevelopment. is home to the Tate Liverpool and the Merseyside Maritime Museum. plus a selection of cafes and style bars. The World Museum and renowned Walker Art Gallery are both on William Brown Street, which is right beside Lime Street station. Visit www.liverpoolmuseums. org.uk for more information on these and other galleries. See also www.fact.co.uk or www.0peneye. org.uk for details of upcoming exhibitions at two of Liverpool’s newer cultural ventures. For news and information on the programme of events being held to mark the city’s 800th bithday in the run up to g Capital of Culture year, see www.liverpool08.com
29 Mar-12 Apr 2007 THE LIST 95