People flocked to Liverpool city centre to celebrate the new year.
Whether they were heading to restaurants, bars, pubs or parties, people braved the elements to mark the night as 2023 came to an end. Pouring rain couldn’t dampen spirits as the year ended in style, with the city looking stunning under lights and people dressing up for the occasion.
2023 saw Liverpool shine as it hosted the Eurovision Song Contest. Standing in for Ukraine, the city was bathed in sunshine for two weeks in May as people embraced an electric party atmosphere – one which was particularly vibrant in the EuroVillage on the Pier Head.
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The entire operation was such a success that Eurovision boss Martin Österdahl wanted Liverpool to “host every year”. If only.
Eurovision was just the tip of the iceberg of a bumper year for culture in the city. The song contest was swiftly followed by On the Waterfront, which saw a number of acts – including Scouser Jamie Webster – play to huge crowds on the Pier Head. It will be back in 2024.
The city has also had its busiest ever year for filming, with 301 productions choosing to shoot within the Liverpool City Region in the past 12 months. That includes the second series of ‘Time’ and ‘The Responder’, Taylor Swift’s (more on her later) pop promo for ‘I Can See You (Taylor’s Version)’ and Paramount+ prequel series ‘Sexy Beast’.
As well as shooting across the city centre and Liverpool’s suburbs, ‘Sexy Beast’ was the first long term tenant in The Depot – Edge Lane’s film studios. Those studios also played host to a theatrical production of Macbeth, starring Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma, which is soon heading to Edinburgh, London and Washington DC.
Liverpool is now the UK’s second most filmed city – trailing only to London. Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram hopes this means that the city can become the ‘Hollywood of the North’.
At the heart of that ambition is the Littlewoods building and 2023 saw work begin on that project – at long last. Work began in December, starting the process of turning the former football pools headquarters into two more film studios, forming the crux of a TV and film campus that would also include The Depot. Mr Rotheram’s ambition is that the film industry would become a major employer in the region.
The year in sport saw Everton preserve their ever-present Premier League status with a dramatic final day victory over Bournemouth back in May. The club will hope to once again pull away from the bottom three in the new year while Liverpool set their sights on the title.
Woolton heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson won her second World Championship while doubles player Neal Skupski claimed his third Wimbledon title.
In politics, the city once again hosted the Labour Party’s annual conference. By the time Keir Starmer’s party returns to ACC Liverpool for its conference next year, it may well be in power.
Looking to 2024, Anfield will host Taylor Swift for three nights next summer in what is a huge coup for the city. She will not be the only music icon to grace the stadium, however, as Pink will play two shows at the home of the Reds in June.
Jet2 will commence operations from Liverpool John Lennon Airport in March, in what CEO John Irving called a “massive” moment. The airline will fly from Speke to 20 destinations – six of which will be new to the airport.
By the end of the year, Everton’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock should be completed, ahead of a 2025 move. It means that next year will see the Blues begin their final year at Goodison – the club’s home for over 130 years.
After a big year for Liverpool, another exciting one begins.
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William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
