Salt and Tar in Bootle was seen as the first step in the regeneration of the Strand area and now months after it hosted legend Sir Tom Jones, the music venue secures another £585,000. Tony McDonough reports
Performances by Sir Tom Jones and Status Quo in the summer cemented Salt and Tar’s reputation as a major Liverpool city region music venue.
Salt and Tar opened in Bootle Strand in spring 2023 and was seen as the first step towards the regeneration of the town centre. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority backed the venue with £2.1m and now it is set to approve further funding.
CA leaders will be asked to approve a £2m funding package for four projects across Bootle and Seaforth, one of which is the Sefton Council-owned Salt and Tar which will receive £585,000.
More than 11,000 people attended Bootle Weekender the 3,000-capacity outdoor venue at Bootle Canalside in just four days in summer to enjoy acts including Sir Tom Jones, Status Quo and local favourites Red Rum Club. It was sponsored by local manufacturer Warwick North West.
This additional funding will enable improvements to secure the venue’s future as a long-term cultural asset and allow ‘wider aspirations’ for the multi-use events space. Work is expected to start following the 2025 events programme.
Salt and Tar is part of the wider Bootle Strand regeneration project which centres on Bootle Strand Shopping centre, which is owned by the council. This scheme has secured £20m of Government cash.
Other projects include up to £785,000 for the refurbishment of St George’s House, up to £580,000 for improvements to Sefton Community Learning Centre on Cambridge Road, and up to £50,000 to support the Bootle Strand Commodity Trading School.
St George’s House is an office block set within the Strand shopping centre that requires renovation before it can be brought back into use. Sefton Council is proposing to undertake these renovations unlocking 8,000 sq ft of office space.
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The council then plans to relocate some staff from its existing offices on Balliol Road into the refurbished space. A start on site is targeted for spring 2025 with completion later that year.
Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “We’re really pleased to see this funding being earmarked for Sefton and it shows the confidence in what we’re doing here.
“It will help us to continue some of the great work taking place to support the local economy and improve facilities to make best use of them for the local community.”