Cavern Fans Can Look Forward to Rare Beatles Memorabilia and Untold Stories in Major New Exhibition

Fans of The Cavern Club are set to get an unprecedented look inside the venue’s remarkable 70-year history when a major new exhibition opens at the Museum of Liverpool in January 2027. 

Created in partnership with The Cavern Club, 70 Years of The Cavern Club will celebrate the venue’s milestone anniversary with more than 200 artefacts, photographs, instruments and personal items that tell the story of the world’s most famous music club. 

Opening on 16 January 2027, exactly 70 years after The Cavern first opened its doors, the exhibition will take visitors on a journey from the club’s origins as a jazz cellar beneath Mathew Street to its status today as a global music landmark and one of Liverpool’s most visited attractions. 

Among the standout items on display will be John Lennon’s brown suede jacket, worn during the recording of With The Beatles in 1963 and on the band’s groundbreaking 1964 North American tour. Fans will also have the rare chance to see Paul McCartney’s original dressing table from The Cavern, used backstage during the club’s early years. 

The exhibition will feature a host of other treasures from the Cavern archive, including Gerry Marsden’s acoustic guitar, original gig posters and flyers, and rare photographs capturing the performers, audiences and personalities who helped shape the club’s legacy. 

Beatles enthusiasts will be particularly intrigued by a letter written by George Harrison from Hamburg to legendary Cavern DJ Bob Wooler, offering a fascinating glimpse into the band’s formative years before worldwide fame. Visitors will also be able to view the running orders of early performances and items belonging to former Cavern owner Ray McFall, whose support for Liverpool’s emerging beat groups helped spark the Merseybeat movement. 

Another highlight is a unique contract signed by a 15-year-old Stevie Wonder ahead of his appearance at The Cavern in January 1966, underlining the venue’s long-standing reputation for discovering and showcasing emerging talent. 

At the heart of the exhibition will be a recreation of the iconic Cavern stage, designed to immerse visitors in the atmosphere that has attracted generations of music lovers. The installation will celebrate not only the legendary artists who performed there, but also the fans, staff and promoters who have played a role in the venue’s enduring success. 

Karen O’Rourke, Curator of Sport, Music and Performance at the Museum of Liverpool, said the exhibition aims to tell a much broader story than many fans may know. 

“This exhibition is our chance to tell that fuller story of the Cavern: the rise, the fall, the emotion, the people and its life today. We want visitors to leave our exhibition feeling The Cavern Club the way generations from across the globe have felt it, not only as a historic place, but as a living, breathing part of our amazing city.” 

While much of the exhibition focuses on the club’s rich history, it will also highlight the Cavern’s continuing role in shaping live music today. Visitors will discover how the venue remains a launchpad for new artists more than seven decades after opening, with contemporary performers following in the footsteps of The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Cilla Black and countless others. 

Cavern Club Director Jon Keats said the exhibition is not only about preserving the club’s history but inspiring future generations of musicians. 

“70 Years of The Cavern Club is a reminder that our story is not only about preserving musical history, but also about inspiring its future. We continue to welcome and showcase talented performers from around the world to play on our famous stage.” 

Running until 31 October 2027, 70 Years of The Cavern Club promises to be a must-see attraction for Beatles fans, music lovers and anyone interested in Liverpool’s unique cultural heritage. 

Further details about special events and activities linked to the exhibition will be announced in the coming months. Tickets go on general sale from 14 September, with priority booking available now to National Museums Liverpool members. For more information visit  www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/cavern-club-70