To the Liverpool City Council we the citizens of the city of Liverpool ask that you give Cumberland Street (L1 6BU) the much needed revamp it deserves.

Cumberland Street is the heart of Liverpool’s gay scene and is an overlooked street in the city centre due to looking like an alley way. This Street has thousands of people walking past it from Victoria Street and Dale Street each week (which have both seen revamps themselves in recent years) with most people not looking twice at this filthy looking passage.

Cumberland Street currently has two businesses operating within, The Masquerade Bar and The Poste House, who have teamed up to create this petition because we are sick of how ragged the street looks.

The Poste House (23 Cumberland Street)
A 200 year old pub is known for being saved by its customers after they marched down to the city hall, because the city had plans to knock down this little old pub in 2001 to create apartments.

The Masquerade Bar (10 Cumberland Street)
For over 25 years has been a LGBTQ+ landmark in Liverpool's gay quarter. It is known for its famous entertainment, drag acts, street parties, and it’s legacy of Phil and Jeff (previous Masquerade bar owners)

For years both these diamond in the rough bars have been the bars to be at during massive events such as Liverpool pride and most recent event, Eurovision, thanks to the Masquerades amazing entertainment, which only helps contribute more towards Liverpools economy. With a new revamped street, we would expect more footfall onto Cumberland Street creating more revenue and even opening up the possibility for more venues to open up in the empty spaces that were once amazing venues like our own, creating more safe spaces and jobs within the LGBTQ+ Community.

Cumberland Street has seen many famous and rumoured infamous people welcomed to this Street by both bars giving it its very popular history, such as; Oasis, The Beatles, Rylan Clark, Goggle Box’s Jenny and Lee, Prince Philip, Hitler, Jack the Ripper, Bob Dylan, Debbie Harry, and Chrissy Rock, to name a few.

Cumberland Street has also seen its fair share of other businesses come and go; Lomax, Roxie’s, Angels, Out, Profile, Cumberland Tavern and so many more.

As you can see from the photos below not much has changed in the last 57 years, nothing for the better anyway. Photo on the left was taken in 1966 and photo on the right was taken this year.

This petition is to ask the Liverpool city council to take a look at this street which contains so much history and fame and do something about it. The street needs to be brightened up to look attractive and pleasing to current and new visitors. Both Dale Street and Victoria Street have a high footfall with the welcome of new hotels and businesses, so coming from that, we want people whilst going past the street to feel welcome to walk up and down and experience the great venues that we have at the heart of the Pride Quarter. We suggest ripping up the current road and pavements, relaying it all to the same level, and possibly pedestrianising it. To brighten the area up and make it more attractive, welcoming and safer, we want the council to put hanging basket flower arrangements, festoon lights from the top to the bottom of the street, and archway signs on each end, like the ones seen on Matthew Street but saying the “Pride Quarter, Cumberland Street”. We want the council to implement LGBTQ+ features such as rainbow crossings at both ends as seen in other cities around the world. We also would like cameras on each end of the road to make customers and residents feel safer, this also means that Merseyside Police wouldn’t have to rely on us bars for any incidents that happen. Looking at brightening the road, and ensuring it is looked after would also deter any incidents from happening in the area. Finally, the Poste House not so long ago celebrated its 200th year, and we feel it’s appropriate to ask the council for some sort of recognition by inserting a plaque for tourist and pub lovers.

This petition will run for 6 months and will end on  17/11/23.