Some of the UK's best known comedians are on the bill for a brand new comedy festival this May

THE 1st ever Comedy Weekender will take place at the new Salt and Tar event space, in Bootle, over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, from:- Friday, 26 May to Sunday, 28 May 2023. Top TV names to look out for inside a heated and seated marquee include:- Jason Byrne, Jo Caulfield, Chris McCausland and more.  Tickets for the events start from £5 and are available from:- SeeTickets.Com.

The festival is being brought to Bootle by Big Comedy, which organises the spectacular Southport Comedy Festival every October.

Director Brendan Riley said:- "Big Comedy is delighted to be working with Sefton Council to bring this exciting new comedy festival, with a superb line up of top comedians, to Bootle this Spring Bank Holiday weekend. Salt and Tar is a fantastic new venue and we have had great feedback from people since this event was announced. We are keeping costs deliberately low and affordable to encourage people across the Liverpool City Region to turn off their tellies and come out to enjoy some of the best and most recognised comedians on the circuit. There are lots of big names coming, who you will recognise from shows such as Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and many more. Salt and Tar is right next to The Strand Shopping Centre, which everyone knows, so it's really easy to get to via train for anyone travelling in from Liverpool, Crosby, Southport or elsewhere in the Region. This is going to be an amazing event, we are looking forward to seeing everyone there. It has massive potential to build into a real fixture for the Region."

Blind Liverpool comedian Chris McCausland, whose hilarious double act with Lee Lack presenting the BAFTAS, in 2022, went viral, will feature alongside Patrick Monahan and Nina Gilligan, in the curtain raising:- 'Comedy Night,' on:- Friday, 26 May 2023.

Bingo Nights UK will bring their Disco Bingo show on:- Saturday, 27 May 2023, which will have the entire room up and dancing, hosted by Comedian and Presenter Brendan Riley, while raising money for charity.

Saturday, 27 May 2023, and Sunday, 28 May  2023 sees family friendly fun come to:- 'Salt and Tar,' with comedy bingo featuring- 'Britain's Got Talent' star Steve Royle, and Martin "Bigpig" Mor presenting:- 'Funny Stuff For Happy People.'

Jason Byrne, Jo Caulfield and Scott Bennett will appear on:- Sunday, 28 May 2023, to round off the weekend.

'Salt and Tar's' emerging 2023 events programme also includes a:- 'Music Festival,' to be held over 2 weekends in July. 'Red Rum Club' will be among bands appearing at the festival, which has already sold out online.

A full programme for the coming year includes:- a Food and Drink Festival, outdoor cinema screenings, community events and live music, markets and beer festivals.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills said:- "I'm pleased to see this important step forward in developing this impressive new brand for the area and the beginnings of an exciting programme for 2023."

The new Salt and Tar brand refers to Bootle's rich industrial heritage, with the Brotherton's Tar Distillery, on Hawthorne Road, and the area's historic link to the salt trade. The growing Salt and Tar events programme is part of Sefton Council's work to revitalise The Strand and wider Bootle Town Centre economy. Tickets for the Comedy Weekender festival are available online at:- SeeTickets.Com.
 

Wayfarers Arcade want to hear from you

WAYFARERS has been at the heart of Southport shopping since 1898 and it has been integral to many people's lives since the day it 1st opened.

The arcade draws visitors from far and wide to view the beautiful architecture and enjoy the individual shops and the relaxed ambience.

Ahead of his time, the arcade was the idea of John Humphrey Plummer, a Victorian entrepreneur. His concept was to build a shopping area that could be enjoyed in all weather conditions, a vision that was to become the norm in towns and cities throughout the world.

To celebrate being 125 years old this year, Wayfarers would like to hear from you. So, if you or members of your family or friends have or had connections with Wayfarers or perhaps just love the building or individual shops past and present then we want to hear from you.

We are eager to see any Wayfarers pictures you have and to hear your anecdotes and reminiscences about what the arcade has meant to you over the years so the information can be incorporated into the celebrations.

Centre Manager Yvonne Burns says:- "To mark the 125 year milestone we are planning to make the next 12 months a year of celebration. We want to include everyone who has a story to tell about the arcade so please get in touch by emailing your stories and pictures to Yvonne@WayfarersArcade.Co.UK."