Project – Partial repairs and decorations to the façade of grade II listed theatre
Value – £250,000
Duration – 6 months
Complete – December 2024

The current Liverpool Empire opened in March 1925. The theatre was listed as a Grade II listed building on 16th October 1990. The Liverpool Empire theatre is the largest two-tier theatre in the UK, siting on the site formerly occupied by the ‘New Prince of Wales Theatre and Opera House’.

As part of ATGE’s estate management a series of condition surveys have been carried out. The structural survey found a number of high priority issues with the façade that needed to be addressed.

As most of the high priority items are located to the lower section of the building the scope focused on undertaking these repairs along with some lower priority, maintenance and cosmetic repairs at the same time. Some localised high level high priority repair is also proposed from access equipment.

ARK23 acted as Employer’s Agent and conducted a competitive tender and project managed the works. The project commenced on commenced on 7th October and completed on 19th December. The scope of works include:
• Specialist cleaning to the stonework
• Repairs to cracks and decorative scrolls
• Repointing of joints
• Repairs and re-decoration of masonry
• Repairs and decorations to the windows
• Specialist coating to the stonework
• Introduction of a lead capping to protect the canopy.

The project was completed ahead of the theatre’s 100th anniversary.