Cavern Club to be exported round the world

Liverpool Echo :: 25 August 2003

The club hailed as the birthplace of the Beatles could soon be replicated in cities across the globe.

The company behind The Cavern Club has revealed plans to open identical venues in Australia, Spain, America and Brazil.

Bill Heckle, chairman of Cavern City Tours, told the Liverpool Echo they are hoping to develop the new clubs as quickly as possible.

He said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to spread the name of the Beatles and the Cavern Club around the world."

The news comes as hundreds of thousands of Beatles fans celebrate the lives of John, Paul, George and Ringo at Liverpool's Mathew Street festival this weekend.

Cavern City Tours, based in Liverpool, hope to open replica clubs in Adelaide, Sao Paulo, Rio, Marbella, Miami and New York.

Bill Heckle said companies had also expressed interest in Mexico and Argentina. In each of the new venues the name, images, logos and merchandise would be exactly the same as the original Liverpool version.

Mr Heckle said if all goes well, the Rio venue could be open in six to nine months. He added: "We are also talking about bands from Liverpool going on tour to all the new venues."