Sir Paul McCartney immortalised the banker who ‘never wears a mac’ in the song Penny Lane and the bank the banker likely worked in is now transformed into a new food, drink, floristry and retail venue. Tony McDonough reports

A new food, drink, floristry and retail venue is about to open in a former Liverpool bank at the heart of Beatles folklore.

In 1966 Sir Paul McCartney wrote Penny Lane, one of the Fab Four’s best-loved songs. He immortalised the banker who ‘never wears a mac’ and the ‘shelter in the middle of the roundabout’ where a ‘pretty nurse’ sold ‘poppies in a tray’.

Facing that shelter in Smithdown Place is the former Liverpool Savings Bank, built in the 1930s and later operated by TSB. Long empty, the building has now been transformed by hospitality entrepreneurs Laura McCumiskey and Anna Forster.

Opening on Saturday, May 16, twenty is described as a “new independent lifestyle destination”. It will combine food, drink, floristry and independent retail, all under one roof.

Open from 8:30am until ‘late’, customers can expect an ‘immersive, sensory experience’. Offering carefully curated natural wines, seasonal small plates, year-round floristry, twenty will offer a rotating collection of brands.

“For us, it’s about moving from transaction to connection,” said Laura McCumiskey. “If you want people to come back to the high street, you have to give them a reason to stay.

Laura, founder of Laura’s Deli & Wine in Mossley Hill, co-developed the twenty concept after seeing both the limitations of traditional retail and the increasing pressure on independent businesses.

“We wanted to create something that supports other independents as well as our own businesses,” she added. “A space where quality, experience and community come first.

Anna Forster, founder of Mary Mary Florals, brings floristry to the space as part of the overall experience. She said: “When something is made with care, people feel it straight away. That’s what we’re building here, something that feels real and connected.”

She added: “The building hadn’t been touched in years, aside from sticking plaster jobs. The renovation was huge. We hit a million and one different issues because it’s a former bank and a round room, which is beautiful until you try and put a shelf up.”

Throughout the 12 month renovation project, the site has gathered a lot of interest and twenty took to social media to invite people to share their memories of the building, which has stood as a familiar presence for more than 90 years.

This unearthed a collection of personal stories spanning generations, from first bank accounts to everyday moments.

One local resident, Jess McQueen, said: “I started my career at 20 Smithdown Place when I was 17, I’m 31 now, working as a cashier on Saturdays. My mum worked for Lloyds TSB for over 25 years.

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“There was a quick deposit box by the secure door. I used to write silly messages and draw pictures on the envelopes, posting them for the cashier to find the next day. Smithdown Place holds such a special place in my heart.”

Twenty is also set to host a series of workshops, panel talks, flower markets, tastings and live music experiences in the coming months.