Hard Days Night
Hotel
These two pictures of
Beatles artist, Shannon, are from the opening of the Hard
Days Night Hotel in Liverpool in 2008
For more info on Shannon,
visit http://www.theshannongallery.com
(2006 Press
Release)
THE ULTIMATE PLACE TO
STAY FOR BEATLES FANS
Beatles
fans everywhere are eagerly awaiting the opening of Hard
Day's Night Hotel, the world's first ever hotel dedicated
to the Beatles. The £17 million hotel - set to open
in Liverpool in Autumn 2007 - is located on the corner of
Mathew Street, just yards from the famous Cavern Club
where the Beatles first shot to fame.
A stunning refurbished
Grade II listed building, dating back to 1844, the Hard
Day's Night Hotel will incorporate the Beatles' story
into its design. Acclaimed Beatles artist, Shannon, has
been commissioned to create more than 110 pieces of
original artwork that will tell the unique story of the
Beatles.
Offering the luxury and
comfort of a four-star boutique hotel with a twist, Hard
Day's Night will span six storeys and will feature 110
bedrooms, including executive rooms and two penthouse
suites with panoramic views of Liverpool.The hotel will
also incorporate three magnificent rooms for private
entertaining, perfect for weddings, corporate events and
conferences. Visitors and locals can enjoy dinner at
either of the hotel's two restaurants, take in the
atmosphere at the bar and lounge or peruse the hotel's
own gallery and gift shop.
Jonathan Davies, Director
of Bowdena, the developers behind the Hard Day's Night
Hotel, said: "The hotel is a unique concept, which will
celebrate the Beatles legend in a subtle and creative
way. Thousands of Beatles fans visit Liverpool every year
to pay reverence to the band, what better place for them
to stay? It would have been too easy for us to create a
hotel swamped with memorabilia. Instead the understated
Beatles references will be weaved into the overall design
of the hotel, giving the place a unique twist."
Liverpool Vision chief
executive, Jim Gill said: "The city's hotel market has
experienced sustained growth over the last five years.
The Hard Day's Night Hotel will add something unique to
the Liverpool offer and it's pleasing that the hotel will
open in 2007, the city's 800th birthday." The Hard Day's
Night Hotel has been developed with the help of the team
behind The Cavern Club, who are of course no strangers to
the overwhelming interest in the Beatles
phenomena.
AT A GLANCE
• Opening autumn
2007
• The world's first Beatles-themed boutique
hotel
• Stunning Grade II listed building dating back to
1884, restored and extended
• 110 bedrooms, including standard, executive suites
and two penthouse suites with panoramic views across the
city
• Each room will tell a different part of the
Beatles story through original artwork by acclaimed
Beatles artist, Shannon
• Subtle references to the Beatles will be
incorporated into the design
• Three stunning rooms for private entertaining,
perfect for weddings, launches, corporate events and
conferences for 10 to 290 guests
• Two restaurants, bar, lounge, souvenir shop and
gallery
• The hotel will span six storeys
• Four star rating
• Great location, on the corner of Mathew Street,
home to the famous Cavern Club, where the Beatles first
shot to fame
• The development of the hotel is costing more than
£17 million
• Privately owned
• The original concept of a Beatles-themed hotel has
been developed with the help of the team behind the
Cavern Club
• Online reservations should be available early
2007
WHAT'S IN A
LOGO?
The Beatles were known
for placing subliminal messages in their lyrics and the
hotel's logo has a few hidden meanings of its own. It
depicts the opening chord of the 1964 track, Hard Day's
Night. As one of the most recognizable of all time, the
chord's notation has caused fierce debate among musicians
for decades. The dots illustrated in the logo represent
where a guitarist's fingers should be placed to play the
G7 suspended chord. Looking at the logo from a different
perspective, it could also denote the overhead Beatles
stage plan with Paul and George on the left, John on the
right and Ringo at the back.
Beatles fans who remember
the Hard Day's Night album cover will know that the
classic design features 20 squares, in the same way as
the logo for the Hard Day's Night Hotel. Jonathan Davies,
Director of Bowdena, the developers behind the Hard Day's
Night Hotel, came up with the idea for the logo. He said:
"I've just started playing the guitar and I suppose
seeing the notation of the chord must have provided some
inspiration. Shannon, the artist commissioned to produce
artwork for the hotel, then developed the concept of the
logo.""The logo is both classic and sharp and I think it
will illustrate to people that the unique Beatles theming
will provide a luxury boutique hotel with a
twist."
SHANNON
BIOGRAPHY
Acclaimed
Beatles artist, Shannon,
has been commissioned to create more than 110 pieces of
original artwork for the Hard Day's Night Beatles-themed
hotel. Sir Paul McCartney owns a Shannon portrait and her
work has been praised by John Lennon's sister Julia and
his first wife Cynthia. Ringo Starr is rumoured to have a
piece of Shannon's artwork in his studio, depicting him
and John together.
Bill Heckle, owner of
Liverpool's famous Cavern Club, described Shannon as "the
world's greatest Beatles artist". He was also the person
who introduced Shannon to the developers behind the Hard
Day's Night hotel.
Shannon has already
started work on the paintings for the Hard Day's Night
Hotel from her New Jersey (USA) studio. She said: "I've
been a Beatles fan for as long as I can remember and I
was completely overwhelmed when I was invited to work on
this project. I've been tasked with producing more than
110 paintings in just over a year so it's hard work but
I'm loving every minute of it!"
As well as producing
artwork for King Features Syndicate, the company behind
Betty Boop, Popeye and the original Beatles cartoons,
Shannon has produced movie posters and celebratory
postage stamps for Sylvester Stallone films such as Rocky
and Driven. Gwen Stefani (No Doubt), Steve Tyler
(Aerosmith), Billy Idol, Cheap Trick, Billy Bob Thornton
and Jon Voight are all fans of Shannon's work.
Find out more about the
Hard Day's Night Hotel at www.harddaysnighthotel.com
Cavern Club 50th
Anniversary
by Steve Barnes
18 January
2007
On Wednesday January 16th, 1957,
The Cavern Club, on Mathew Street (Liverpool City
Centre), opened its door to welcome fans of the local
Jazz scene.
On Tuesday January 16th 2007 at 12
Noon, Cavern City Tours co-directors Dave Jones and Julia
Baird (John Lennon's half sister) unveiled the exact
location of that door.
A photographic interpretation panel
of the original doorway, featuring the legendary doorman
Paddy Delaney, has been installed - providing a fantastic
photo opportunity for visitors to Mathew Street. For once
and for all, this new landmark clears up the confusion
surrounding the exact location of the original
entrance.
Satisfyingly, the original doorway
was on the site of the present club's fire escape -
something that the original never had.
Dave Jones explained the provenance
of the location by using a photograph taken looking out
of the original doorway onto Mathew Street. This shows a
brick missing from the wall opposite. That brick is still
missing.
Downstairs in the club, a short
time later, director Bill Heckle gave a press
conference to journalists from around the world. Russia,
Italy, Argentina, Holland and Spain were amongst the
countries that I could identify as old friends - as well
as The BBC UK and worldwide broadcast media.
Bill said: "We are very proud to
have owned the Cavern twice as long as any other previous
owner… and are committed to keeping the Cavern as it
was - a home of live music and a venue for new
bands to play. All thanks to those five young
lads."
"It is not a tourist trap. It's a
real, live, dirty, smelly club - as it always
was.
"He continued: "We are fortunate
that the birthday falls at the beginning of the year, as
it gives us a whole twelve months to present events. We
have been working for the last six to nine months to
secure the year's programme."
Bill confirmed that both Paul and
Ringo had been invited, but as this day was the Apple
Annual General Meeting it was unlikely that they will
attend.
Additionally, he revealed that a
book (for which Paul has written a foreword) will be
published - followed by a double CD celebrating 50 years
of The Cavern Club which will be released in the
autumn.
A series of legends concerts will
be performed by major artists, yet to be revealed - but
it has been confirmed that on June 9th Bo Diddley will
make a return visit.
At 1pm the party started when the
Merseyssipi Jazz Band began proceedings. This band was
the first to perform at the club and it still boasts two
original members. Over 30 more artists played with an
estimated finish time of 2AM the following morning.
However, when our photographer Jane Enenko left at 6AM,
it was still going.
Admission
to the party was strictly by invite only. For safety reasons the guest list
was almost entirely local press, business, music and
media people-- limited, I believe to only 500, most of
whom, it seemed, turned up.
Sadly this excluded many local
loyal customers of the club who were turned away at the
door - yet I believe four fans who had traveled from
Germany for the day did get in. The drinks were free for the
duration, yet everyone remained in control. The
atmosphere was magical and I felt privileged to be
there.
In every suitable location, live
broadcast and recorded interviews were taking place. I
came and went during the day - but spotted Geoff Baker,
Mike McCartney along with an old friend of mine, Bob
Young - Status Quo's co-writer. BBC Radio
Merseyside remained there all day.
In the original Cavern Club's final
days. I was fortunate to visit several times - though
it's now a distant memory. In those days it was nothing
special - but now, working in the tourism industry here
in Liverpool, it serves as a sort of a
qualification.I remember it as dark, cold and
very basic. Another thing I remember was, at that time
there was a drinking glass ban in Liverpool clubs, so
beer was served in plastic containers. So
after a few drinks at 17 years old, more beer ended
up on my outside than in. Although I remember getting
very, very drunk… I also got very, very
wet.
So that's it. The Cavern Club ends
it first 50 years as I end mine in May this year. I feel
sure that only one of us is going to make it to their
100th.
Coincidently this year sees the
City of Liverpool celebrate its 800th birthday. So once
again, The Cavern Club is in the right place at the right
time. There is a fantastic programme of events planned in
the city - many of which will be held at the
club.
My own personal contribution is the
one and only Happy Birthday Liverpool guestbook. If you are visiting our city this
year fill in the T-Shirt voucher section on the
front page of the site because I've got 800 official free
Beatles T-Shirts to give away to visitors to our From
Me To You Beatles store in the Cavern Walks Shopping
Mall above The Cavern Club.
Steve Barnes
Daytrippin' Liverpool Correspondent
www.Happybirthdayliverpool2007.co.uk
www.beatles64.co.uk From Me To You Beatlestore Home Page
www.rockoff.co.uk Rock n Roll textiles from
the 50's to today
A new Beatles Coffee Shop has
opened in St John's Wood Underground Station, just yards
from Abbey Road Studios and the famous zebra crossing.
The shop is owned by husband and wife Richard and Irina
Porter.
Richard has been a Beatles and rock
and roll tour guide for the past 15 years, and his tours
have been featured in TV Shows and newspapers around the
world. His wife Irina is an official London Blue Badge
tour guide.
Richard's tours visit all the major
Beatles sites in London including 3 Savile Row, where
they gave their last ever live performance on the roof,
the railway station that features in A Hard Day's Night,
and the apartment that Ringo Starr, Jimi Hendrix and John
Lennon and Yoko Ono all lived.
The place where everyone wants to
see is Abbey Road. Since The Beatles posed on the
predestrian crossing by Abbey Road Studios several
million Beatles fans have done the same -- many going
across barefoot as Paul McCartney did on the orginal
picture.
Richard met Irina when he was
running the London Beatles Fanclub and Irina was involved
in the Moscow Beatles Fanclub. Irina moved to London and
joined Richard in the running of the London Club. They
got married at the Marylebone Registery Office, where
Paul and Ringo also got married!
Richard and Irina bought the
Beatles Coffee Shop in October 2006. Richard Porter said
of the Coffee Shop, "In my time as a Beatles guide I have
taken over 100,000 people to Abbey Road. It is a dream
come true owning a shop so close to the Studios. I hope
The Coffee Shop will enhance Beatles fans' enjoyment in
visiting an area which is regarded as something of a
shrine." The shop sells hot and cold drinks, sandwiches
and pastries and a wide range of Beatles and Abbey Road
Studios merchandise.
www.beatlescoffeeshop.com
