Member Article

Business is Booming at Albert Dock Liverpool

Albert Dock Liverpool has reported a 5% increase in visitor figures for 2013 - representing the fourth consecutive year on year growth at the Grade I Listed attraction!

During 2013 Albert Dock marked a milestone 25 years since it reopened to the public, the highlights being a birthday weekend celebration in the summer, the momentous return of ITV’s This Morning, which broadcast live from the Dock, its original home, in October, and the arrival of three exciting new businesses, The Smugglers Cove restaurant and bar (owned by leading restaurant operator, Living Ventures), Docklands Fish & Chips and independent coffee shop chain, Rubens.

It was also the year that property company, Arrowcroft, furthered its commitment to Albert Dock with the announcement of its new Dockside office concept, offering prospective tenants newly restyled office space located within the prestigious Colonnades; while personal injury law firm, Hampson Hughes, acquired the Edward Pavilion building in the summer, moving in all 270 of its staff.

Peter Cronin, director of development and marketing for Albert Dock Liverpool, said:

“This is extremely positive news for Albert Dock Liverpool – and an encouraging way to start 2014. Albert Dock is a remarkable venue with its culture and strong maritime history, but the strong figures demonstrate that we have such a unique offer which can attract high footfall.

“Last year was a very special year for Albert Dock as we celebrated the 25th anniversary since becoming a visitor attraction in its own right. A major highlight of the year-long calendar of celebration events was the return of ITV’s This Morning to its original home for a special one-off live show.”

Jeremy Roberts, chairman of the Albert Dock Tenants Business Association, commented:

“This is excellent news for the tenants, who work tirelessly to ensure that visitors and residents of Albert Dock have the very best experience in the venues. From the attractions and the gift shops, to the bars and restaurants, staff are very proud and willing to showcase Albert Dock in the best possible light and together we look forward to welcoming future visitors.”

Many of the Dock’s tenants, including some of the city’s finest restaurants, bars and attractions, have also witnessed strong figures to start 2014. Gusto Restaurant and Bar were 17% up like for like during December 2013, while What’s Cooking? have enjoyed increased business from both leisure and business tourists during 2013, with the venue seeing steady growth over the past two years with the same growth predicted over the next year.

The Beatles Story enjoyed its busiest day ever last year, on Saturday, July 27, recording a record breaking 1,996 people coming through its doors and into its exhibition - that’s 222 visitors from all over the world every hour.

Tate Liverpool remains the most visited gallery of modern art outside London with overseas visits having doubled since 2008. Its varied exhibition, event and education programmes continue to attract a wide range of visitors, with more families than ever before flocking to its family space, Art Dock, since it opened in 2012.

The Merseyside Maritime Museum’s, Titanic and Liverpool: the untold story exhibition, continues to be massively popular, with more than one million visits to that exhibition in 2013; while The Maritime Dining Rooms had more than 2,000 people attend Christmas parties there, making it its most successful festive season ever for party bookings.

For more information on Albert Dock Liverpool, visit www.albertdock.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Richards .