Rishi Sunak announces plans for new Beatles attraction in Liverpool

Chanceller Rishi Sunak has announced plans for a Beatles attraction in Liverpool as part of the 2021 Budget announced today (October 27).

He has pledged £2m for preliminary work on the new attraction on the waterfront, but exact details of what it will be are still unknown.

It will form part of an £850m investment to protect museums, galleries, libraries and local culture.

Announcing the Budget in the House Of Commons today, Sunak said: “Levelling up is also about protecting our unique culture and heritage, the British Museum, Tate Liverpool.”

He added: “Thanks to the Culture Secretary [Nadine Dorries], over 100 regional museums and libraries will be renovated, restored, and revived.

“And she’s secured up to £2million to start work on a new Beatles attraction on the Liverpool waterfront.”

Oh! Darling. The government has Come Together to invest £2 million into a major new Beatles attraction. With a Little Help from My Friends at @hmtreasury and taxpayers support, we're getting the waterfront development in Liverpool going. That's something to Twist and Shout about. pic.twitter.com/kizHhhO6wp

— Rt Hon Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) October 27, 2021

Liverpool’s Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram told the Liverpool Echo: “The Beatles helped to firmly cement Liverpool on the map in the 60s. Their legacy still draws millions of visitors over half a century later, which adds millions of pounds to our economy every year.

“I’m really excited by the idea that Liverpool could be the home of such an exciting immersive experience, which I believe has the potential to do again what The Beatles once did – take us stratospheric.”

However, the announcement of the new Liverpool attraction, where a museum for the Fab Four already exists, has brought some backlash.

£2 Million in the budget for a new Beatles attraction, that nobody in Liverpool is aware of asking for.

My guess is that Labour’s abandoned road works on Lime Street will be turned into a Sea of Holes art installation. pic.twitter.com/y4wv855lNA

— Cllr Andrew Makinson 🔶 (@Andrewmakinson) October 27, 2021

Local councillor Andrew Makinson tweeted: “2 Million in the budget for a new Beatles attraction, that nobody in Liverpool is aware of asking for.”

Other announcements in today’s budget included: a 50% discount on business rates for those hit the hardest by Covid-19, in an effort to boost retail, hospitality and leisure sectors; a cancellation of planned duty on spirits, wine, cider and beer; tax relief on museums and galleries; and £1.7 billion of funding for towns and cities including Leeds and Doncaster.