File:Cavern Club provenance (2007-03-07 11.46.18 by David Poblador i Garcia).jpg

The Cavern was opened in January 1957 as a
jazz club. It also featured skiffle groups and in
July 1957 the Quarry Men made their first
appearance here. Although the skiffle craze was
short lived, most of the groups developed into
Rock 'n' Roll bands. However, it wasn't until 25th
May 1960 that the Cavern opened its doors to
beat groups. The first beat night here featured
Rory Storm and The Hurricanes with Ringo at the
drums. Ironically at this time, The Beatles weren't
considered as serious contenders on the music
scene and had only just taken up professional
status.
   Their first appearance here was at a lunchtime
session on 21st February 1961; their last
appearance was on 3rd August 1963. During this
period The Beatles performed here a staggering
275 times, according to Mark Lewisohn who
recently thoroughly researched the subject. It was
during these performances that The Beatles
established themselves as the City's premier, Rock
Combo. The introduction of lunch time sessions
here provided a whole new audience and many
believed their sessions to be the best (people
would queue the length of the street). It was
during one such session in November 1961 that
Brian Epstein first saw The Beatles and one month
later he became their manager.
   The club possessed few home comforts, but its
low ceiling and interlocking arches together with
the pounding beat of the bands, produced a
magical atmosphere. The club closed briefly in
1966 and re-opened with a new look disco and
licensed bar. It closed its doors for the last time in
May 1973.
   The warehouse above street level was then
demolished and the Cavern Club below was
partly knocked down and filled in. In the early
1980s the site was excavated thus exposing the
famous archways which had remained intact.
 The whole site was redeveloped  
and the Cavern was rebuilt to    
the same dimensions               CAVERN
utilising the original           
Cavern brincks. The club          CITY
continues to be a thriving       
live music venues and             TOURS
Disco and is now owned by        
Cavern City Tours Ltd.