Hits Radio Liverpool, formerly Radio City, is to leave its home at St John’s Beacon, aka Radio City Tower, after a quarter of a century,
Station owner Bauer Media Audio UK says it will not be renewing the lease on the space at the top of the iconic tower, which rises 453 ft above the city centre and is visible from miles around.
Built in 1969 and opened by Queen Elizabeth II, the Grade II-listed tower originally housed a revolving restaurant known as the Tower Restaurant. There was also a public observation deck on the roof.
The restaurant closed in 1979 due to health and safety issues but reopened as a ‘Buck Rogers’ space-themed restaurant in the early 1980s. However, this closed shortly afterwards and the tower remained empty for several years.
In 1998 Emap Radio, then owners of Radio City, decided to refurbish the tower and move the commercial station from its original home in Stanley Street. That move was completed in 2000 at a cost of £5m and the tower was renamed the Radio City Tower.
However, Bauer has decided not to renew the lease. The final shows from the tower will air on Tuesday, December 24.
Following this Greatest Hits Radio Breakfast will broadcast nationally from Bauer’s North West hub, while Hits Radio Liverpool Breakfast will continue to broadcast from another location in the city.
A spokesperson for Bauer said: “We are incredibly proud to have been part of the vibrant history of the Grade II-listed St Johns Beacon. This next step allows us to invest in facilities that better support our vision and evolving needs.”
Bauer Media Audio continues to lease the Radio City 96.7 signage and is currently engaging in consultation with the landlord and planning authorities over changing the sign to Hits Radio.
There are 558 stairs up to the top of the tower and two lift shafts, with lifts reaching the top in 30 seconds. It is structurally independent of St Johns shopping centre, with a foundation onto sandstone.
While the future of the tower remains uncertain, one thig we know for sure is that Liverpool Community Radio won’t be moving in. The community broadcaster took to social media with a pre-emptive post to quash any rumours, much to the delight of one of at least one member of staff:
Photograph: Radio City Liverpool. Taken by Chris Howells, September 2005.
