Cavern Mecca

The building where the Cavern Mecca was once located.

Beatles relief once exhibited at Cavern Mecca (now exhibited at Cavern Club)

The Cavern Mecca was a Beatles museum in Liverpool.

The Cavern Mecca was the first Beatles Museum in Liverpool run by Liz and Jim Hughes. Liz died after a long illness on 26 June 2008.

References

• "Cavern Mecca". CavernMecca.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2011-09-11.
• Philip Battle (Jan 1982). "The other side of the coin…..A tribute to John Lennon and an interview with Jim Hughes (Manager of the Cavern Mecca and organiser of John Lennon Statue Appeal Fund)". BREAKOUT. No. 6. p. 22–23. {{cite magazine}}: ref stripmarker in |page= at position 12 (help)F

In 1974 I opened a shop called "Easy Reader" in Moorfields, Liverpool which specialised in second hand books and American Comics. I also issued a mail order catalogue selling Beatles Memorabilia. At this time there were few dealers selling Beatles Memorabilia and there was plenty of material available. I found that I was getting Beatles fans calling in the shop who were looking for any information about The Beatles as there was very little in the Tourist Information office. In 1977 a friend called Trevor Hughes (no relation) and I Jim Hughes opened a shop called The Magical Mystery Store in North John Street, Liverpool. I was specialising in Beatles Memorabila, American Comics and books. Trevor specialised in rare records. It was a large basement premises famous for it's connection with the Julia Wallace murder. It was a chess club frequented by the husband of Julia Wallace and it was here he received a phone asking him to call at an address in Menlove Avenue East to discuss an insurance policy. There was no Menlove Avenue East and it was thought this was Wallace's alibi for the murder of Julia Wallace. I don't know a great deal about the murder but quite a few books have been written about the murder. I only mention the Julia Wallace murder because we used to get people calling in to see the chess club as it had changed little since the murder. In about October 1979 my wife (Liz Hughes) and I decided to open a Beatles Museum and Information Centre in Mathew Street and call it Cavern Mecca. I know museum was a slight exageration because our funds were very little, well, none existent if the truth be known. We did apply for a grant from the city council but we were told "who the hell is interested in a Beatles museum, and Liverpool was famous long before The Beatles came on the scene" Around the same time there were two Liverpool lads trying to get a grant for a Beatles statue and there was a council meeting and if my memory serves me well one of the councillors stood up and said "The best place for a Beatles statue was at the bottom of the River Mersey as they had ruined Liverpool's name with their drug taking and general antics" So, Cavern Mecca had to be built with the aid of Beatles fans who gave many hours of their time to open the centre. Cavern Mecca opened it's doors on the 3rd January 1981. It wasn't a very glamourous venue but The Beatles fans loved it because it was in some ways like The Cavern Club which also had a seedy atmosphere and it was death trap if ever a fire had broken out there, but, the fans loved it. As well as running Cavern Mecca we also organised 4 Beatles Conventions in 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984. The conventions were well attended and they are still going strong and organised by Cavern City Tours. We decided to open a Fan Club to raise much needed funds and we issued 4 magazines a year. When Cavern Mecca closed in 1984 it had 2,000 members around the world. There is a lot more I could say but I think we achieved something for The Beatle fans but we were not business people, just 2 Beatle fans who felt the city should recognise what The Beatles had achieved and they put Liverpool on the map. In early 1984 we were offered a premises in the newly opened Cavern Walks. It was the opposite to the original Cavern Mecca and even though it had a great coffee bar, a video room and displays I think the fans preferred the old place. Later in 1984 Liz became very ill and her doctor told her she had to give up work and I had to become her full time carer. Liz was only expected to live for a few years but being such a strong personality she fought on until the 26th June 2008. Liz was the heart and soul of Cavern Mecca and she loved it, I, just stayed in the background buying memorabilia which I loved. Without Liz Cavern Mecca would never have existed and I applaud her for that. Jim Hughes, founder with Liz Hughes of Cavern Mecca.