Enter the Dragon! Celebrations at Chinatown with Culture Liverpool

LIVERPOOL 1 is set to become the UK's 1st retail destination to unveil 2 brand new schemes to improve accessibility for all visitors.

With roughly 58,000 households in LiverpoolCity Region having at least 1 disabled member, which represents almost 40% of all households across the Region, the new tools; Sociability and Waymap; piloted from 28 August 2024, are aiming to support visitors both ahead of their visit and once they are at Liverpool ONE.

Sociability helps disabled people find accessible places. On this initial pilot the majority of stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues at Liverpool 1 have been visited to assess their accessibility features and create an online accessibility directory of the venues.

The online accessibility directory provides useful and reliable information, including:- information on toilets and access to stores, allowing visitors to filter results based on their specific needs, such as seating availability and accessible toilet provisions.

Matt Pierri, Founder & CEO at Sociability, said:- "We're thrilled to partner with Liverpool 1 to make it easier than ever for disabled people to find accessible places to eat, shop and socialise. Sociability takes away the stress and anxiety of planning an accessible day out; helping more disabled people to enjoy all that Liverpool 1 has to offer, and to spend more time with the people they love, in the places they want to visit."

Launching alongside Sociability will be Waymap, which is the 1st navigation app of its kind to work indoors, outdoors and even deep underground, without GPS. With step-by-step guidance and a level of accuracy that ensures that all users; including:- those with visual impairments; are able to confidently navigate any venue, Waymap will empower users to explore Liverpool 1 with independence.

Built primarily for blind and partially sighted people by a team which includes:- members of the visually impaired community, the application also includes:- a step-free access option, to additionally assist visitors with reduced mobility.

Dr Tom Pey, CEO and Founder of Waymap, who is also blind, said:- "We're incredibly proud to be working alongside Liverpool 1 helping to ensure that all visitors, especially those with visual impairments, can navigate Liverpool 1 independently and confidently."

Visitors are encouraged to download the Sociability and Waymap apps before their next visit to Liverpool 1 to experience the new features firsthand.

Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director at Liverpool 1 said:- "We are on a journey working with partners, experts and visitors with accessibility needs, to make Liverpool 1 and the City Centre as welcoming as possible. Liverpool 1 is a destination that has something for everyone, and we are committed to supporting our local communities and everyone having the best possible experience while they visit. The pilot with Sociability and Waymap is making significant steps forward to achieve this goal. We are encouraging feedback back from visitors on their experience using these new tools and together continue to enhance visitor welcome."

For more information about Liverpool 1 visit:- Liverpool-ONE.Com.

The reason behind Southport's historic bookshop closure

THE historic Broadhursts, in Southport, Merseyside, was the oldest independent bookshop in the North West of England and possibly the UK. Sadly, on 31 August 2024 the shop announced that it has to announce its permanent closure.

The shop was an amazing place to visit for both tourists and locals alike, with famous names including A-List celebrities often visiting this unique shop. Located on Market Street, in Southport's Town Center, the shop had 3 floors packed full of books, and over the winter it was heated with coal and wood log fires, giving it an amazing feel, and smell, that you can not get within modern bookshops.

It was not just the atmosphere that was amazing, you could find nearly anything on any topic you wanted. Sometimes more than you can within a library! It had a varied selection of books of upwards of 50,000 titles on all subjects, stacked on shelves, tables and even on the floors, within 8 rooms, not including the ground floor! It had signed, inscribed, and limited editions by popular authors, for literature collectors of all ages. Some of them by signed by authors who had run book signing at the shop. Classic and modern 1st editions, private press books, along with:- 18th, 19th and 20th Century prints and maps, plus lots more things connected to all things literature. It even had comics and magazines, within a dedicated room!

With the passing of the shop's former owner Laurie Hardman, is family took over the shop and have tried to keep it going, but recently they had devastating news. When the closure was first announced, the family could not into the details of the closure. They made a simple post saying:- "We are incredibly sad to announce the permanent closure of Broadhursts. All the booksellers have been made redundant, and the shop will no longer be open for trading with immediate effect. To claim refunds on deposits and Broadhursts vouchers, please email:- Litereria@AOL.Com." This led to many customers offering to help keep the shop open, though running a crowdfund, but sadly the reason for its closure was not that simple.

In an updated statement the current owners have said:- "The correct reason behind our the closure is that the property does not meet current electrical safety standards, with much wiring dating back to the 1930's. Sadly, we were unable to gain the legally required electrical safety certification that is needed to remain open. CK Broadhurst will continue trading in new and antiquarian books on a new online platform, whilst discussions concerning options for the Market Street site continue. As a member of the family, this is devastating for us all, however it is lack of maintenance, and health and safety issues dating back decades, has put us into this predicament. It was not the sudden change of ownership or a lack of sales."

The family has added:- "Thank you for your kind comments about what the shop has meant to you all. For all of us, as owners and as booksellers, are devastated by the situation we are now in."