‘Bleak North’ image in South

Feb 25 2008 by Ben Schofield, Liverpool Daily Post

JUST one in five southerners have visited Liverpool, a new survey has revealed.

And almost 5m southerners have never stepped foot anywhere in the north of England.

The lack of knowledge is leading to the continuation of negative stereotypes.

Two thirds of southerners think the north is “bleak” while half of northerners brandish those in the south “snobs”.

Katie Jordan, reception manager at Liverpool’s flagship Hard Day’s Night Hotel, said she hoped the figures would improve.

She said: “I’m quite surprised to be honest.

“Maybe it’s because if I was going on holiday in England, I’d go down south where it’s sunnier.

“Liverpool’s a fantastic city and is growing more popular all the time – those figures will change in the future.

“I suppose Liverpool was once seen as a business city but nowwe’re a tourist destination too.”

The survey also found fewer than one in 20 southerners have been to either Newcastle or Leeds.