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Casbah Gains Heritage Status

The Casbah Coffee Club, a Liverpool basement where the legendary Beatles played some of their earliest shows, has gained a heritage status, Grade 2, by the British Government. The band played in the Casbah prior to the release of their first single "Love me do". The Casbah is located in the home of the first Beatle Drummer, Pete Best, and its new status will save it from a potential demolition as it contains original artwork and musical equipment which is of special architectural and historic interest.

Best`s Mother Mona brought the concept to Liverpool after reading about beat clubs and wanting one of her own. Performing as the Quarrymen, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison performed there in 1959 as the first gig of the newly opened Casbah. Best joined the band in 1960 and was part of the Beatles up until 1962, when the Beatles left the Casbah and Best was replaced by Ringo Starr.

The club is said to be in a remarkably well preserved condition, with wall and ceiling paintings of spiders, dragons, rainbows, and stars all painted by the band, with additional original artwork by Lennon`s first wife Cynthia.