The club hosted early gigs by U2 and New Order and was a catalyst for a generation of Liverpool bands, including Teardrop Explodes, Echo & The Bunnymen and Wah Heat. The club was also used as a base and springboard for local operators like David Balfe, who ran Zoo Records in Liverpool before setting up Blur's first label Food.

The club will re-open in its original Matthew Street location later this year and owner and managing director John Lynch, musical ...