Spring has sprung.
It can’t be April already, can it? Surely this is some form of April Fools? April, one day of merriment followed by a month of showers. Don’t let the promise of rain dampen your spirit, it’s the United Kingdom, you should be used to bad weather by now. We’ve comprised a list of things that you need to do this month, from gin festivals to pudding club, there’s something for everyone.
photo by Josh Evans
Come Drink The Bar Dry At Our Spring Gin Festival
Liverpool is a city full of spirit but this one you can actually drink. Raise a toast to Independent Liverpool’s first gin festival and expect gin, jazz and good times. On April 29th and 30th we’re inviting you down to our bank holiday bonanza full of juniper-goodness. Expect Merseyside’s finest gins with gin from all over the world in The Great Baltic Warehouse. There’ll be pop-up restaurants, disco DJs, gin masterclasses and Liverpool’s premier gin garden to enjoy it all in. Tickets here.
Over Indulge At The Easter Liverpool Food And Drink Festival
Foodies of Liverpool assemble; it’s the return of the food and drink festival in Sefton Park. Prepare to over-indulge on the best of Liverpool for just one weekend. There’s sushi making classes, archery, a gin market, prosecco tent and we’re even there selling our cards at a crazy low price. Read our blog on the 21 top reasons you can’t miss out, there’s even a cheeky 20% off code at the bottom.
Head To The Return Of The Granby Four Streets Market
The Granby Four Streets story is one that represents the whole city. It’s so moving and we are delighted to hear the much-loved Granby Four Streets Market returns this weekend on April 1st. Offering a fabulous array of stalls both new and old plus a great street party atmosphere, head on down and thank us later. The market will be held on the main high street of Granby Street in Toxteth featuring stalls selling bric-a-brac and second hand clothes to arts, crafts and henna painting. Expect pop-up cinemas and more. More here.
Get Dead Eggcited About Our Big News
Just a couple of days ago we broke the news about our most exciting venture ever. We are delighted to announce we’ve just got the keys to our own warehouse in Cains Brewery and we’ll be turning it into a food market. Say hello to Baltic Market – it will be open four days a week, be completely free to enter and will be the new place to go for foodies of Liverpool. It’ll be opening in summer 2017, we hope you’re as excited (and hungry!) as we are. More here.
Find Out Your Guilty Pleasures At Camp And Furnace
Dubbed as one of the best nights out you’ll ever have, Guilty Pleasures is a true one-off and on April 7th they’re bringing the party to Camp and Furnace. Immersive, unashamedly unapologetic and includes YOU in its quest to make your big night out great again. It’s a place where you can ditch the guilt and focus on the good, and revel in the pleasure of being part of something fabulous. Pop is a truly great thing and we should never feel ashamed. Tickets.
Smithdown Road Festival
Smithdown Road Festival is back and bigger than ever before. After packing out all the venues last year, the festival has added a huge outdoor space on Wavertree Park – aka The Mystery. There will be two circus big tops, with live music from the likes of Space, Dave McCabe, Natalie McCool and as well as a DJ set from the trunk of funk himself Mr Craig Charles and an Africa Oye stage take over. There’s going to be a boss kids area, amazing food from local restaurants and it’s all free. More here.
LEAF Pudding Club
LEAF Pudding Club celebrates the love of the sweet stuff, not just for one or two courses, but five homemade puddings and its back on the 25th April. Forget sweet tooth, try sweet mouth. It wouldn’t be a LEAF Pud Club without it all being washed down and topped off with a perfectly matched cup of tea. You had us at pudding. Tickets can be found here
Have A Drink Outside
Despite the lack of presence of the sun over in the good old United Kingdom, when the sun is out it illuminates beer gardens that almost feel covered in darkness the remainder of the year. If there’s anything better than blowing the dust off your shorts, heading to a beer garden with your friends and having a few drinks, we’re yet to experience it. Those nights that start with “shall we just go for one?” and end up being anything but. Read our full guide here. Always remember; drink responsibly with irresponsible people.
Blow Out The Birthday Candles For Bongo’s Bingo
Taking over The Olympia for three nights on Thursday 6th, Friday 7th and Saturday 8th April, Bongo’s Bingo’s second birthday weekend promises to be a spectacular celebration. Bongo’s Bingo has redefined the concept of a night out and have taken the world by storm but for their birthday, they’re going bigger than ever before. Special guests are Irish duo Boyzlife and iconic 90s band S Club, continuing the show’s heritage of booking iconic stars to perform at special select events – both groups will be starring on each of the three nights. Tickets here.
Dig Through Vinyl On World Record Store Day
Record Store Day comes but once a year but thanks to a dedicated few, it is a ritual that the people of Liverpool can rejoice in whenever they please. Held on the third Saturday of April each year to celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store, the day brings together fans, artists, and thousands of independent record stores across the world. We’re so lucky to have Jacaranda Records, Dig Vinyl, Probe Records, Probe, 3B and more. They’ve all got something special on, meaning you must visit them all!
Follow Your Art At Liverpool Print Fair
Visit the Bluecoat 8th April to find yourself the perfect one-of-a-kind print, handmade by independent artists showcasing at Liverpool Print Fair. Liverpool Print Fair is an affordable art fair gathering the very best artists and designers who print using traditional methods. The fair is a joint venture from The Print Social and the Blucoat Print Studio, and is a celebration of printmaking in a variety of forms including screen printing, linocut, etching, and woodcut. More here.
Treat Yourself At Free State Kitchen’s Spring Market
There’s going to be an absolute array of arts, crafts, cakes, cheese, records, jams, chutneys – the list goes on. There’s plenty opportunity for lovely Easter treats to be purchased for loved ones and yourself. Head on down with family and friends to check out some wonderful and unique wares and if you think about it, it’d be kinda rude not to get a burger from Free State Kitchen whilst there, wouldn’t it? More.
Go And Dance At Threshold Festival
Building upon 6 years of momentous celebration of grassroots creative culture in Liverpool. Threshold continues forward with more art, more theatre, more performance and MUCH more great music from the city and further afield. Did you know you can buy tickets at the box office on the day in local Liverpool pounds? Just load up the Colu app, get your free fiver (just as a thanks for being an independent supporting hero) and also get £2.50 off the ticket price. Think of all that beer you can get with that saved money. More here.
Put On Your Best 80’s Frock At Prom’s Spring Break Edition
Prom is back! Days are getting longer, the beer is getting colder so the guys at Prom are doing a Spring Break Party to end all Spring Break Parties! Expect: 80s Fancy Dress, Spring Cocktails, Prom King and Queen, Limbo Contest, Kissing Corner, Buffet & Punch. Oh and remember, what happens on Prom, stays on Prom. Tickets here.
Try Your Best At Liverpool’s Answer To Total Wipeout
Wacky World is the UK’s biggest indoor inflatable activity arena event and it’s coming to The Exhibition Centre. And it’s not just for kids. Yes, it’s a world for kids and big kids-at-heart with unique inflatable games, high energy activities and entertaining shows. February saw the debut of Wacky World with over 6500 adrenaline fuelled kids tackling an amazing interactive world. It was a total sell-out and a total wipe out and they’re back with over 20 activities to run, jump, squeeze and bounce over. More here.
Buy This Tote Bag And Help End Homelessness
Small bag. Big difference. We’ve teamed up with Wicker Wings, a Liverpool brand who design beautifully handmade wicker handbags to raise vital funds for The Whitechapel Centre. The collaboration merges two brands with what they’re good at and the results are pretty stunning. For the design of the tote bag we’ve chosen some of our favourite Liverpool landmarks. 50% of profits from every bag goes towards helping end homelessness, we want to thank you for being a part of that. Order here or head to Open Door on Allerton Road.
Grab A Slice Of The Action At Maguire’s Pizza
As many dish the meat and more in a valiant journey of veganism, the guys at Maguire’s are there to offer a victory slice. With many vegan options on offer and even vegan chorizo, this is one place you definitely need to visit. Punk Rock Pizza is the all singing, all dancing, anything goes slice-o-rama of hot toppings. How do you like your punk rock pizza? Tickets here.
Go To A Scandi-Inspired Pop-Up
SKAUS is a new Nordic-inspired pop-up taking the city by storm and on the 20th April they’re setting up in The Barn event space inside Three Piggies on Allerton Road. Expect a stunning Nordic inspired, seasonal April menu inside one of South Liverpool’s best loved new venues. There will be a vast selection of British ales to accompany your meal from the bar inside The Barn on the night. Tickets here.
Take On Unlimited Prosecco At Sound
Argh, pizza and prosecco – our two favourite P’s. Friday’s at Sound mean one thing: a delicious cheese-laden stone baked pizza and prosecco until you pop. What better way to celebrate after a hard week of graft? If you’re on a diet and/or watching what you drink, falling off the waggon in Sound has never felt so good. It’s £20pp and is on 5-7pm, head on down on Easter Friday.
Help Fundraise The Invisible Wind Factory
Kazimier Productions are raising funds for Invisible Wind Factory, the Kazimier’s large-scale venue/workshop/studio complex in the North Docks of Liverpool. Invisible Wind Factory invites you to a very special evening of food, entertainment and fundraising. The evening will consist of a 3 Course banquet, Bands and DJs, live auction of gifts and one-off Kazimier ‘experiences’, factory tours and a premiere of Invisible Wind Factory’s Film presenting the project’s long-term vision. Exciting. Tickets here.
Go To A Rick And Morty Quiz Night
WUBBA LUBBA DUB DUB! No-Wave Quiz Nights are back once again in Camp and Furnace with another long awaited quiz – RICK AND MORTY. Following on from our previous events that have included :: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Arrested Development, Home Alone vs Elf and Peep Show, expect another sell-out show with some surprises along the way. Max. 8 people per team. Fancy dress encouraged. Tickets are on sale from just £3 per person, grab them here.
Prepared To Be Scared At The Newsham Park ghost hunt
An overnight ghost hunt at Newsham Park Hospital with Haunted Happenings is the ultimate ghost hunting experience as the abandoned Newsham Park Hospital and Orphanage is the perfect setting. This sprawling Victorian grade II listed building in Liverpool is derelict but in the past has been used as an Orphanage, a Psychiatric Hospital and Old Person’s Nursing Home throughout its 138 year history. Boarded up and surrounded by perimeter fencing, Haunted Happenings have 99,000 sq ft of terrifying corridors and rooms to explore. Tickets
Spend The Afternoon At A Cosmic Jam
A garden party of cosmic proportions all in the name of helping raise money for North West Cancer Research. Featuring a stellar line up of DJs including No Fakin’, Mr Jonze, Pooky, Danny Fitzgerald, Autocycle, Radio Exotica, The Mixnots, Elliot Hutchinson and Andy James. Expect Funk, Soul, Jazz, Latin, Boogaloo and Hip Hop wax selections (it is Record Store Day after all!). It’s child friendly, too! More here.
Take Part In The Biggest Fattest Football Quiz
Audio, visual, music and bonus rounds with massive projections and interactive challenges. We have many prizes to give away, including £100 cash, two tickets to a premier league match and a rubbish trophy for the winning team. Plus, they have some random bonus round prizes and lots of stuff for ‘Full-kit plonkers’. Tickets here.
Sun Yourself At Finca’s First Birthday Fiesta
In April, it’s Cuban street food legends Finca’s first birthday and to celebrate they’re having a two-day FINCA Fiesta in Buyers Club’s brilliant outdoor garden space on Friday 14th and Saturday 15th April! There’ll be DJs, cocktails and of course, their Cuban street food to see you through the day and into the night. Get involved here.
Gala At EBGBS
On Easter Sunday, the 16th of April, EBGBS will transform for one night into a surreal enchanted garden full of despicable delights. Featuring mind altering performances from our in-house dance troupe, a dance floor of your favourite naughty pop hits, giveaways, treats & surprises a-plenty. Building on their entertainment/performance concept that has been mesmerising crowds since they launched in September, the Gala Ball will see EBGBS take it to a whole other level.
Head To A Vintage Fair
Granted, new is good and new is exciting but there’s something quite intriguing, something so special about buying a piece of fabric or thread with a history. Pillbox Vintage are going from strength to strength with their fairs that showcase the best of local talent. They’re back at The Shipping Forecast on 1st April from 12 onwards, head down and dig through the treasure trove of timeless.
