Liverpool BID Company’s support for British Chess Championship proves crucial as the event brings more than 2,000 players to the city and boosts hotel occupancy
More than 2000 chess players and parents joined hundreds of enthusiasts as the British Chess Championship came to Liverpool this summer.
With a wraparound festival, organisers have praised the city’s business and wider community for supporting an event that has left a “lasting legacy” in the city.
This tournament and festival was supported by Liverpool BID Company, part of its programme of using the investment made by the city’s business community to drive footfall and activity in the city.
Through a subvention fund, which comes from Liverpool’s Accommodation BID and is designed to support the city’s visitor economy, support is able to attract major events to the city, encouraging visitors and overnight stays.
In partnership with Culture Liverpool, BID helped The English Chess Federation, the governing body of chess in England and the UK charity Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC), bring the British Chess Championships to Liverpool for two weeks.
Running from July 21 to August 10, the competition brought the UK’s top Grandmasters and hundreds of amateur players to the city from the UK and abroad.
The junior championships brought families to the city who require hotel rooms, restaurant meals and touristic activities, to the benefit of local businesses.
And the wraparound festival was designed to create “chess fever” in Liverpool. There were 18 different activities, from lectures to lessons to simultaneous displays staged in venues, such as Liverpool Central Library, the Walker Art Gallery and Liverpool One.
The festival brought a boost to the city, with footfall in the area up by +5.8% v 2024. Occupancy is at 72% around St Georges Hall from 31/07 to 09/08, +9.5% on 2024.
Malcolm Pein from the English Chess Federation said: “The two-week event was a great success, with record entries to the Championships.
“Many of these events leveraged the remarkable chess history in Liverpool which includes the world’s oldest active club, Liverpool Chess Club, founded in 1837.
The feedback from participants was excellent, as the tournament was held in the stunning surroundings of St George’s Hall with playing conditions that were perfect for competitive chess.
Timing of the tournament, ending in the first week of August, avoided the peak periods around football matches and so competitors were able to take advantage of reasonable hotel rates for the duration.
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Bill Addy, chief executive of Liverpool BID Company, added: “We are delighted to have supported this event and to see the hugely positive impact it has had on everyone involved.
“This is exactly why we support events like this through our subvention fund; it allows for real creativity to bring as many people as possible to Liverpool, gives a boost to our hospitality sector, and gives us a chance to build on a vibrant city offer.”