A NEW shopping centre is to be built on the site of the Aintree Institute – a venue where the Beatles once played.

Now Liverpool developers, Austin Sefton Investments, have been granted planning permission to build a shopping centre – given the name The Aintree I – with total space of up to 9,800 sq ft with flexibility for smaller units.

In addition to the 40 full and part-time jobs, one of the scheme’s biggest attractions is the 18 parking spaces. Austin Sefton is a joint venture between Ethel Austin Properties and the Sefton Group.

The Beatles played at the Institute more than 30 times in 1961-2 and the venue was immortalised in the famous Scaffold song, Thank U Very Much.

However, more recently, the site in Longmoor Lane had fallen into a state of disrepair.

The architects for the scheme are Duke Street-based Owen Ellis Partnership. Mason Owen and Wild Commercial Property are the joint agents.

Stephen Ames, a director of Austin Sefton, said: “There is already a long established retail centre in Walton Vale and a successful Tesco Express immediately opposite the site.

“We are looking to bring on board quality retailers and expect demand to be high.

“The Aintree Institute has a famous history, having played host to The Beatles at the beginning of the 60s. We are excited at the prospect of breathing new life and jobs into an area with considerable potential.”

Last year, The Sefton Group unveiled a £2.25m retail centre in Seacombe, Wirral, which is expected to create more than 50 jobs. Tesco Express became the anchor tenant opening a 4,000sq ft food supermarket.

The Aintree Institute was one of several venues that made up the network of ballrooms favoured by up and coming bands such as The Beatles.

Brian Kelly, of Beekay Promotions, booked the band to play at the Institute and Litherland Town Hall under the name “The Dynamic Beatles”.

tonymcdonough