Our streets are quiet, our favourite places are in hibernation, but the scouse spirit is alive and kicking.
You know the score. This is a month for staying in, sticking together and supporting our NHS. Loads of great events, openings and gigs have been put on the back burner – but they’ll be back.
In the meantime, here are some ways you can bring the city to you…
Get the scran in
The time where we can all get together and hang out in our favourite independents will come again. Until then lots of them are doing everything they can to carry on giving you the food you love. From Hafla Halfla roasts to pizzas from Crust, and salt and pepper goodness from Wootan Scran, there’s still loads of great food up for grabs. Check out this directory (https://theguideliverpool.com/directory/) that we’ve put together with the guys at The Guide and Liverpool Bid that lists loads of places still delivering.
And get the beers
You’re going to need something to wash all that down with, but sit tight, some of your local favourites are delivering their liquid wares to your door. We’re enjoying following the Bunch lads on their weekly doorstep drops and you can get deliveries from the likes of Love Lane, Turncoat Gin, Craft Taproom, R&H Fine Wines, Pruno Wines, Top Rope, Black Lodge, Dead Crafty and loads more. So get the drinks in and get your mates on Zoom and pretend you’re having a conference – just don’t invite your boss by accident…
Fill your cupboard with local produce
If you want to give the supermarket a swerve there are loads of local favourites you can stock your shelves with. Get a carb hit delivered from the Bagelry or sourdough from Fika, Laura’s Little Bakery are dishing out brownies and cupcakes that will raise the spirits in an instant, the Gluten Free Pie Company are providing the pastry and you can get your hands on some goodies from Liverpool Cheese Company and pretend it’s Christmas. The Bread Shop on Aigburth Vale is perfect for your day to day items and also check out LIDS – an independent delivery service helping butchers, fruit and veg and more stay afloat right now.
Live Streaming
The whole world is coming together to offer those at staying at home something to keep them entertained. Whether it’s Chester Zoo doing a virual zoo tour and offering up close videos of Red Panda’s (we’re still not over it, really) or an old WW2 bunker in Liverpool streaming history lessons from the bunker. Staying in is the new going out.
Cooking Tutorials
Do you love the falafel at Maray (if you don’t, we’re not sure we can be friends…) Are you craving their drool-inducing hummus? Fear not! The incredible chefs are cooking up some tutorials so you can get stuck in and try and recreate some of the Maray favourites at home. We know for a fact ours won’t be as good as theirs but we’re looking forward to trying. Mowgli are also doing brilliant cooking tutorials, as are The Nakery and Gabby from Cucina Di Vincenzo. The lasagne tutorial should come with a XXX warning. Her instagram is Grabriellas_kitchen.
National Museums Liverpool virtual tours
Maybe you’re a regular to the museums, maybe you’ve not been since school, whichever camp you’re in you can get a culture hit from the comfort of your living room thanks to the new virtual tours. Take a look around the International Slavery Museum or get the fascinating World Cultures Gallery all to yourself.
Bongos in your living room
Tickets to Bongos Bingo can be like gold dust but now you can get a hit of the Bongo magic live streamed to your living room. It’s as random and ridiculous as everything Jonny and the crew do but it’s loads and loads of fun – over 100,000 have tuned in so far! And all the lads ask is that you make a donation to the NHS if you can afford to. It’s on Twitch every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Jimmy’s lockdown gigs
The show must go on for Jimmy’s – and everyone’s invited to the party. If you’re missing live music head over to Jimmy’s Instagram where the acts who should have been hitting up Bold Street will be putting on live isolation gigs.
White Wolf Yoga
Missing your downward dog? Need some tips on sun salutations? White Wolf Yoga have loads of free to view online yoga classes on their YouTube channel. Whether you’re new to the namaste party or a seasoned yogi, there’s never been a better time to find your zen. Find their YouTube channel here.
Dance yourself fit with MDI
Got cabin fever? Want to pick up some new moves? Want to switch your fitness routine up from Joe Wicks? Merseyside Dance Initiative are posting free dance tutorials and quick workouts on their YouTube channel. Go on, dance like no-ones watching… We’d also recommend checking out The ES Lifestyle, a lovely local lad Ethan Smith offering great home workout videos.
https://www.youtube.com/user/MDIStudio
Support Local Artists
The future of the freelancer or self-employed is a bit of a scary one, but with our support, we can rally together behind them. Whether it’s buying some local art, a wallet, a print or treating yourself to a new mug (we’re all inhaling tea and coffee anyway so might be worth it). Keep up to date with our page as we shout about local artists daily! Photo below is from Jess Hankinson, find more of her art here.
Buy Gift Vouchers
Think of it like this. The hospitality scene is one of the sectors to be hit the hardest during this pandemic and many are now offering gift vouchers. You get to support them, the restaurant gets the money and it can be used to pay rent or wages and once this is all over you get a date night pre-paid in advance. Win, win! We’re currently working on a list of all places offering vouchers but some that spring to mind are Botanical Garden, Vietnom, Maray, Belzan, Panoramic 34, Hafla Hafla, Baltic Market and more.
Delve into the city’s past
The British Film Institute has an interactive film map that lets you search for archive videos made in your area. Stick a postcode in and you’ll see any films from its archive that relate to that location. There are some incredible street scenes, footage from a Merseyside derby, the tall ships in the 80s and some amazing amateur shots of the overhead railway. https://player.bfi.org.uk/britain-on-film
photo by twitter.com/wallaseydays/
Mind Map TV
Mental health has always been a very passionate subject of ours. Now more than ever, people’s mental health will be suffering. The Mind Map – a local company offering counselling, training, journalism and more in relation to Mental health have launched their own schedule of content on their Instagram. Daily they will go live with different people to discuss mental health and we can’t recommend tuning in enough. We’d also recommend The Samaritans and CALM too.
Get prepped for the city’s future
It’s time for a shameless plug. We’ve lost a fair whack of people subscribing to our Independent Liverpool app over the past month. We get it, it’s a tricky time and lots of people need to tighten their belts. If you can keep subscribing or want to start a subscription, we’ll be forever grateful – as will all the independents we support. And it’ll be the best £1.99 you’ll ever spend. You can head here to find out more.
