Sefton Council’s plans to revive Bootle’s hard-hit economy take a major step forward this Bank Holiday weekend with the first event at the town’s re-designed canal-side site.

Bootle Canalside site is one of a number of areas of exciting progress that forms part of an Area Action Plan to revive the town which is one of the hardest country’s towns hardest hit by the COVID pandemic and other issues.  Redevelopment of its Strand Shopping Centre is another element of the Action Plan.

And, the Council has submitted a £14.5 million Levelling Up Fund bid will see construction and launch of a new, hi-tech digital and Virtual Reality (VR) venue hosting a unique visitor attraction and providing places for technology enhanced ‘competitive socialising.’

Bootle’s “Flying Theatre” will use a robotic hydraulic platform to create the feeling of flying through the British Isles and a VR Time-Travel Tunnel will take visitors on a journey through the ‘History of Bootle and Liverpool’, including an experience of the Blitz.

Over the Bank Holiday, from Thursday 26^th to Tuesday 31^st August, Bootle Canalside will be opening its gates for the first time to host a weekend packed full of mouth-watering food, drinks and a whole host of activities and entertainment. Entry will be free at Sefton’s newest venue as it welcomes an eclectic mix of local traders to serving from bespoke, fitted shipping containers, which is a nod to Bootle’s docklands history.

Visitors to the event will be able to sample food from around the world , showcasing Sefton’s mix of culinary talent. And, local musicians, groups and artists will descend on the site to provide a mix of entertainment and activities for all the family.

The event will showcase the Canalside’s potential as a new feature of Bootle’s hospitality and night time economy. The pop-up event is a chance to test the site and gather community feedback as well as attracting visitors to Bootle from across Sefton and beyond. Details of traders and entertainment will be released in the run up to the Bank Holiday weekend, so watch this space and follow us on social media for the latest updates.

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council said:

“I am thrilled to see Bootle Canalside opening up for the August Bank Holiday to provide a five, fun-filled days of food, drink and entertainment from a range of Sefton’s talented local traders, artists and entertainers.

“Bootle Canalside is being developed to work for our community and kick-start the regeneration and recovery of one of the country’s towns hardest hit by the COVID pandemic and other issues.

“I cannot wait to see the site bustling with visitors and I hope this is the start of a new chapter of opportunity, regeneration and recovery in Bootle and I hope lots people head down to our latest venue and tell us what they think.”

Once completed, Bootle Canalside will include an urban garden, food, drink and leisure outlets and events spaces that adds a new element to Bootle’s local economy. It will bring activity to currently under-used land and will help to stimulate the local economy, transforming the look and feel of the town for residents, businesses and visitors and improving the quality of life for the community.

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