Penny Lane: Made famous by The Beatles, kept alive by community

Local TV

The Fab Four’s legacy is worth around a hundred million pounds to the city’s economy — supporting local jobs and businesses.

Transcript

00:00Made famous by the Beatles, Penny Lane is one of those names that instantly brings a tune to your head.

00:07But here in the suburbs of South Liverpool, it's much more than just a song.

00:12For the people who live and work here, this street is part of their story

00:15and it's still changing lives and livelihoods decades after the Fab Four sang about it.

00:21Every year, hundreds of thousands of fans make the pilgrimage here.

00:24It's estimated the Beatles legacy brings in around £100 million to the city region's economy each year,

00:31supporting nearly two and a half thousand jobs.

00:34And for many, Penny Lane is where that journey begins.

00:37What's special about this area is how it balances global fame with real community spirit.

00:42These ordinary places suddenly feel extraordinary

00:45because they've been immortalised in one of the most recognisable songs in the world.

00:50Penny Lane Development Trust, which has become the beating heart of the community,

00:55was set up back in 2003 with a vision to make Penny Lane a vibrant space

01:00that celebrates its past while looking after its people today.

01:04Inside, there's a real mix of activities going on,

01:07everything from art workshops and music lessons to health and wellbeing sessions.

01:11It's also a gathering point for Beatles fans from across the globe.

01:14More than 27,000 visitors a year come through its gates.

01:18And what's lovely is that they're not just coming to see the Beatles' memorabilia,

01:23they're meeting the locals, learning about Liverpool's history

01:26and supporting small businesses nearby.

01:29A little further up the road is the Dovedale Towers,

01:32or as we know it locally, the Dovey.

01:34The building itself has lived many lives.

01:37It began as the grand home of a wealthy ship owner,

01:39later becoming an orphanage and at one point even served as a Russian embassy and art gallery.

01:44In 1969, for a brief but memorable spell,

01:48a young Freddie Mercury lived in a flat upstairs while performing with local band Ibex.

01:53And then, of course, there's the Penny Lane Wine Bar.

01:56These days, it's a lively spot, serving up food, drinks and plenty of nostalgia,

02:00but the site itself has a quirky backstory.

02:02It once housed the GP surgery of John Lennon and Paul McCartney's families.

02:06Just up the road, St Barnabas Church is where a young Paul McCartney once sang in the choir,

02:13long before the fame, the albums or the global tours.

02:16Now, if you know the song, you'll remember this line,

02:19behind the shelter in the middle of a roundabout.

02:22Well, here it is.

02:23The shelter's still here though these days,

02:25it's a bit quieter than the song might suggest.

02:27There isn't a banker with a motor car,

02:29actually there might be,

02:30but there are plenty of fans stopping by for selfies.

02:33And when you've had your feel of Beatles nostalgia,

02:36there's somewhere calmer just a few minutes away.

02:38Green Bank Park is one of Liverpool's most lovely green spaces with a lake,

02:42an old English walled garden and tree-lined paths.

02:46If you fancy a break, the Watering Can Cafe in the park

02:49serves coffee, cakes and local food.

02:52A very peaceful spot to unwind in.

02:55Penny Lane may have been written nearly 60 years ago,

02:57but its spirit is as strong as ever.

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