The historic move willprovide businesses and thepublic a direct point ofcontact with the police in theheart of Liverpool city centrefor the first time in morethan six years.

The Gold Zone team, whichconsists of 12 officers, willmake the move in March

into Britain’s first privatelyfunded police station,which will be situated on theQueen Square side ofSt Johns Shopping Centre.

As well as having aconvenient place toreport crimes, the enhancedlevel of service will alsomean quicker responses to

incidents such as lostchildren, shoplifting andanti-social behaviour.

Ged Gibbons, ChiefExecutive of City CentralBID, said: “Liverpool alreadyhas a 99% daytimesafety approval rating butthere is always roomfor improvement.

Hi and welcome to CityCentral Scene. This is yournew monthly newsletter forall businesses and employeesin the City Central BID.

This is your platform, so pleasetell us your news, eventsand promotions.

If you need a reason – here’stwo: you’ll be reaching morethan 10,000 people workingacross 630 businesses.

We’ll also be keeping youinformed of how we’re spendingyour BID levy to improve CityCentral for you, your businessand your customers.

Our AGM is on 26 Januarywhen we’ll be laying out plansfor 2011 which will see a specialfocus on the environment.Look out in the press and – ofcourse – the next issue of CityCentral Scene to get moredetails on this.

Finally thanks to all thosebusinesses who contributed andsupported the inaugural edition.

Here’s to a happy andprosperous New Year.

Ed Oliver, Chairman of CityCentral BID.

Police station for city centre

sceneJANUARY 2011The newsletter for businesses and employees in the City Central BID area

Win a luxuryspa prize

Get voting forthe city’s‘hospitality oscars’.

Cake makerCaroline rises tothe top tier.

City Centretransformsinto pantheonof legends.

Get the X Factortreatment courtesyof Sakinsu.

Inspector Greg Lambert with Ged Gibbons, Councillor Ann O’Byrne and St Johns Centre Director, Ian Ward outside the location for the new Police Station.

what’sinside

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In a landmark public-private sector agreement Merseyside Police has been provided afully fitted out base for free by retail giant Land Securities, with the rent paid for bybusinesses via City Central for the next three years.

“Having a directpoint of accesswith the police hasbeen a missing piecein the jigsaw andwe’re delighted thatwe and LandSecurities can helprectify this andfurther improve theappeal of Liverpoolcity centre.”

Ambassador Awards

Employee ofthe month

SpotlightLiverpool Greats

Welcometo scene

Is your colleaguean unsung hero?Do you work with someonewho goes that extra mileto make Liverpool a trulywelcoming city?We want to hear aboutthe unsung heroes andheroines of Liverpool’stourism industry.

Nominations for theAmbassador Awards are nowopen, which means you canvote for a colleague who youthink provides excellentcustomer service in the city. Councillor Wendy Simon,

Cabinet Member for Cultureand Tourism, said:

‘‘Liverpool has ahuge unsung armyof workers who dayin day out give theright impression ofa welcoming andfriendly city.’’The glitzy award ceremonytakes place on Wednesday 23 March and the event willbe hosted by Radio City DJand TV star Neil Fitzmaurice.

• Reception Staff• Waiter/Waitress • Family Friendly Staff• Young Person • Chef/Cook• Retail Assistant• Outstanding Customer Service

• Arts/Culture Staff

• Tourism Support -Transport andLeisure Staff

• Visitor/Event Assistant

• Bar Person of the Year

• Unseen Hero

IN BRIEF

Christmaswrapped up A huge thank you to all ofthe businesses whodonated prizes for the12 Days of Christmascampaign in conjunctionwith Radio City:110 Restaurant at CircusCasino, Anya’s Closet, AurielEvents, BHS, Boots, Café31, Cavern Club, Elle,Mattas International Foods,Liverpool Playhouse,Regis Salons, Rockafella’s,Samantha Chung, Sk:n,Tesco, Toni & Guy,The Fragrance Shop,The Perfume Shop,The Shakespeare, Trespass,Vero Moda and Jack & Jones.Congratulations toGillian Slater and family,from Runcorn, who wonthe competition.

City centreChristmas treesDid you know our Christmastrees are ‘chipped’ on site,taken away to be mulchedand used to create pathwaysacross Liverpool’s parks.

Shoppers Donate1,500 ToysOver 1,500 local childrenin Liverpool had a happierChristmas thanks to StJohns and Clayton SquareShopping Centres andArriva buses Christmastoy appeal.Liverpool TV star CraigPhilips launched the appealon 2 November and by16 December 1,500 toyswere personally delivered bySanta and Juice 107.6 FMDJs to children’s homes inNetherton and Knowsley ona specially converted Grottobus provided by Arriva.

The mother of two beat offnationwide competition tomake it to the final three at aglitzy awards ceremony inLondon’s Park Lane HiltonHotel at the end of last year.It was the first time The CakeShop entered the awards andit was no half-baked attempt.Owner Karen Johnson said:‘’The theme was ‘The Circus’so we looked at the history ofthem and from there Caroline

charted out a story on thecake from Barnum to Cirquedu Soleil.“I’ve never seen anyone whocan produce cakes likeCaroline. She’s such aperfectionist. Never a weekgoes by when we don’t have amillion thank you’s for thecakes she makes.”Caroline passed a RoyalIcing course with distinctionbefore joining The Cake Shop

16 years ago. Our very owncake maker to the stars alsoproduces many a cake forlocal celebrities, footballersand their wives.And now she’s the inauguralCity Central Employeeof the Month.

The mum of two, who hasreached the upper tier in herprofession, said: “This awardhas put the icing on the cake foran amazing year. Thank you.”

As January’s City CentralEmployee of the MonthCaroline has won:A night at the Holiday Innfor two; a £50 voucher forLa Tasca, Queen Square:and two tickets to theopening night of Oedipusat The Playhouse.Do you know acolleague who deservesto be February’s CityCentral Employee ofthe Month? If so email:citycentre.pr@liverpool.gov.ukand tell us why in no morethan 100 words or call uson 0151 233 2213.

A lady for all occasions...Caroline Occleston, CelebrationCake Maker of the Year finalist

Employee of the Month:Sweet Caroline

Name: John HoldenJob: New Gold Zone Sergeant

If you don’t recognise thisface already – then yousoon will.

This is the man in charge ofthe 12 police constables thatlook after the city centre.

Having joined MerseysidePolice 12 years ago, Johnhas worked his way up fromresponding to 999 calls,training as a detective,before being promoted toSergeant in 2007.

His recent promotion to GoldZone Sergeant will soon seehim based at St JohnsShopping Centre when thenew City Central funded copshop opens this March.

John said: “I am delighted tobe the Gold Zone sergeantfor the City Central area.I’ve worked in different rolesin the city centre for manyyears now so have a goodunderstanding of the issuesthat exist.

“We are readily availableto the public and ourpartners but with the newCop Shop it means we willbe even more accessible.”

To contact the Gold Zoneteam call: 0151-777 4045/6or 07540 643003.

The Cake Shop Liverpool in Central Shopping Centre rose to the occasion whenthey entered Senior Cake Artist, Caroline Occleston, into the Baking IndustryAward’s Celebration Cake Maker of the Year 2010.

A big hearted CityCentral welcome to:•Aldi, St Johns•Bijou Brigitte, Lord St•E-Casino, Ranelagh St•High & Mighty, Williamson St•Hooka, Button Street•Leaf, Bold St•Sakinsu Fish Spa, Bold StAnd on the movingaround front...Jessops are in Lord StOasis Bookshop are in Lord StWongs are now on Whitechapel

10%Discount

Say you work in City Centraland get 10% discountoff any celebration cake inthe Cake Shop, Liverpool.

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To nominate go to:www.citytalkfm/ambassadorawards

Or fill in a form which City Central can email you.To request a form email citycentre.pr@liverpool.gov.uk

Closing date for nominations is midnight Friday 4 February.

There are 12 categories:

Liverpool Embassyis just capital

SME’s arebeing invited todo business atthe heart of the

capital, in Liverpool’s newEmbassy in London.

A sponsorship package can bedownloaded atwww.liverpoolvision.co.ukgiving City Central businessesthe chance to promoteLiverpool’s business offer andhelp secure vital investment.

Building on the impact of thecity’s Pavilion at ShanghaiExpo, Liverpool Embassy aimsto sell the city nationally andinternationally.

Events incomeboosts BID levy

Over the last12 months CityCentral BID hastaken 380

bookings for commercialactivities (including productsampling), charitablecollections and publichealth/other awarenesscampaigns raising £68,205boosting the BID levy.

It was 50 yearsago today...

The Cavern ishosting a fablunchtimeconcert on

9 February to mark the 50thanniversary of The Beatles firstperformance at the MathewStreet venue. And you can bein the audience! The firstperson to call 0151-233 2213and say ‘Fab Four’will win a pairof tickets for the evening show.To book tickets for the historicday go to: www.cavernclub.org

Bold Street –back on-line

City Central isdelighted toreport that

www.visitboldstreet.orgis back on-line. Another Mediahave rebooted the unique‘interactive map’ website andare promising new featuresover the coming weeks.

IN BRIEF

As part of the forthcomingLiverpool Discovers public artevent, the ‘Spotlight aLiverpool Great’ programmewill consist of 22 works of artadorning lamposts as ahighlight of the trail.

The ‘Spotlight’ programme,sponsored by City Central,will see Whitechapel and

William Brown Streettransformed into a pantheonof Liverpool legends from7 February to 20 March.

The on-street ‘galleriesof greats’ will featurepeople such as Ken Dodd,John Lennon, BessieBraddock and legendaryflower seller Lizzie Christian.

Ged Gibbons, Chief Executiveof City Central, said: “We’redelighted to be supporting aproject that will inject a muchneeded blast of fun andcolour into the city centrenow the Christmas festivitiesare over.

“With so many fabulouscharacters to chose from itwill certainly get peopletalking about who we arecelebrating and who’s beenmissed out.”

Liverpool Discovers,devised by Wild In Artwhich delivered theGo Superlambananasand Go Penguins, willhighlight interesting,quirky and little-knownfacts about Liverpool as part

of a fun trail of 13 uniqueart installations around thecity centre.

For more info go to:www.liverpooldiscovers.com

Liverpool city centre is to beilluminated with a unique trail oforiginal art inspired by its greatestsons and daughters.

Lennon – legend in the spotlight

spotlightLiverpool Greats

Restaurants bite on Central Village

St Johns Shopping Centreneeds your lips...

With just one kiss you canseal a world record andhelp train British Red Cross

volunteers to save lives inMerseyside and aroundthe world.

We need to beat a record of2,302 lipstick imprints in

12 hours – a record heldby Istanbul, Turkey.

For a £1 donation you willalso learn how to give thekiss of life.

Come and join us onSaturday 12 Februarybetween 8am-8pm at StJohns Shopping Centre.

THE BIG RED KISS!

TWO of the UK’s leadingrestaurant chains havesigned up to be partof a £200m scheme inthe heart of Liverpoolcity centre.

Mexican restaurant Chiquitoand Frankie & Benny’s arethe latest in a string of newlettings at Central Village,which will transform six

acres of land behind CentralStation, Renshaw Street andBold Street.The news follows theannouncement that thescheme will create around3,000 jobs for the city overthe next three years.

Central Village will boastthree new hotels, offices,retail outlets, restaurants,

bars, cafes, a new publiccar park, residentialbuildings, six cinemascreens and landscapedpublic space, includinga boardwalk andwater feature.

Frankie & Benny’s andChiquito will occupy 4,400sq ft and 5,000 sq ftrespectively in the

Boardwalk building, whichwill also be home to the six-screen 3-D and DigitalOdeon cinema.

Both restaurants will provideoutside seating areas withinthe public plaza.

Ian Jones, director atMerepark, said:

“These lettingsshow that CentralVillage is anattractiveproposition, capableof bringing newrestaurant andleisure operatorsinto the city.”Liverpool’s largest currentregeneration scheme, it isclaimed it will contribute£100m to the city’seconomy when it iscompleted in 2013.

See the flythrough at:www.youtube.comand search for CentralVillage, Liverpool.

Computer generated image of Central Village development.

Pucker up and be part of the Guinness World Record Attempt!

City Central BID, c/o Rapid, Williamson Square, Liverpool L1 1EATel: 0151 233 2213 Fax: 0151 233 2218 www.citycentralbid.comEmail your latest news, views and pictures to: mike.doran@liverpool.gov.ukYou can now follow City Central on and

Send usyour views

TIMES CHANGE.None more so than in theretail world. This thoughtstruck me walking downBold Street the other day.You see, dear reader,I started my professional lifeat No.56, W.Creamer & Co,as a trainee furrier in 1962.Back then Bold St wasconsidered the heart of thefur trade in Liverpool – withmore than a dozen furriersoperating there at its peak.Indeed, the site occupied byWaterstone’s was Cripps an

haute couture fashionretailer. But within 20 yearsthe fur trade was obsoletewith fur declared not fun. Asa quirk of fate, today, 56 isnow the premisesof….Smiffy’s Serious Fun.To rewind further back in thehistory books Bold St, wouldyou believe, was classed as arural area not more than 200years ago (fruit orchardsused to grow there!). Only bythe time of Queen Victoriaascending the throne didshops, converted from

homes, pop up as the portand city started to rapidlyexpand. But our rural rootsare still there, if you lookclose enough. No 80 Bold St(Soho’s) for instance standsin an area that was occupiedby a dairy farm. It even soldwater from its well forhalfpenny a bucket. Pop inand you’ll see the well stillstanding today.Anyone who works on BoldStreet will no doubt enjoy itsFestival in September, whenthe road is pedestrianised.

There’s talk of fullpedestrianisation which, ifthat were to happen, wouldbe a full circle for a streetthat once boasted two carshowrooms, (where Subwayand Oxfam now stand), andbefore that where fruitpickers and animals oncefreely roamed.As I said. Times change.

Terry AllenCity Central CommunicationsOfficer and part-time qualifiedLiverpool City Guide.

Terry’stimes past

Josie pictured (centre) with Big Brother fans

LUXURY SPA PRIZETO BE WONFollow in X Factor finalistRebecca Ferguson’s footstepsand win the chance to sit backand enjoy a totally organicpedicure at the new SakinsuFoot Spa on Bold Street. On a visit to City Central justbefore Christmas, Rebeccatreated herself to the ultimatefoot therapy experience, wherethe Garra Rufa or ‘Doctor Fish’ goto work on your feet leaving themsilky smooth and revitalised.

Thanks to Sakinsuand exclusive toanyone working ina City Central

business, you have a chanceof winning two half hoursessions worth £80. All you have to do is answerthe following question:There are 16 spa systems(tanks), each containing 150litres of water, but how manyfish are in each tank?Is it a) 80 b) 90 c) 100Tell us the answer by phoning0151-233 2213 or emailcitycentre.pr@liverpool.gov.ukby mid-day on 14 February.

Celeb’s CornerZandra Rhodes flys inFashion designer ZandraRhodes flew in from the USlast month to meet fans andsign postcards for thelaunch of her new handbagcollection at BoudoirBoutique, Cavern Walks.

Big Brother WinnerJosie Gibson, this year’s BigBrother winner, made a guestappearance in St JohnsShopping Centre just beforeChristmas to launch ‘Josie’ hernew perfume which is exclusiveto The Perfume Shop.

TM

How to make the perfect ...scouseMaggie May’s Cafe Bar at90 Bold St, arguably the bestscouse house in Liverpool,give us their take on thistimeless winter warmer….Owner John Lea, a formership’s chef, gives us his quickand easy method:Serving 4-6 people.

Ingredients: 1/2 Pound ofstewed steak/1lb of carrots/1lb of swede/x2 largeonions (white)/5lb ofpotatoes/x2 oxo cubes/salt & pepper/water.Empty 2 pints of water into alarge pan.Cut your beef – (or desiredmeat – we use Welsh BlackBeef sourced from Clarkeson Allerton Rd) into smallerpieces, simmer until meat iscooked through.Add your carrots, swede and

your white onions finelychopped, add your x2 oxocubes and a dash of salt andpepper to suit your palate.Cook for 1 hour.In a separate pan – bringto the boil 5 lb of potatoes– peeled and cubed –cook until you can piercewith a fork.Drain spuds and add toyour base. Cook further for45 mins.Serve with some crustybread and butter, beetroot or

red cabbage and maybesome HP brown sauce?• City Central Scene can

exclusively reveal MaggieMays is to relaunch its‘Scouse in a can’ over thenext few months. As theysay ‘‘watch this space’’.

• Celebrity Slim Barsfree sampling27-29 January in Lord Street

• Playhouse Theatre:Henri Oguike DanceCompany, ButterflyDreaming Tour1 February at 7.30pm

• Cavern Club:The Beatles firstperformance – 50 years on9 February from noonto midnight

• Playhouse Theatre: Oedipusby Steven Berkoff,18 February - 12 March

• Alcohol Awareness CampaignChurch Street,4,5,12,18,19 & 26 February

• Liverpool Discovers –A Winter’s Trail14 February - 20 March

• Quakers breakfastcereal promotionWilliamson Square24 - 26 February

• Free entry to Quiz night withJamie Carragher CaféSports England, Stanley Streetat 7pm on 24 February.Signed merchandise and cafésports vouchers up for grabs.

Coming up...

10%Discount

Say you work in CityCentral and get 10% offMaggie May’s Scousethroughout February.

Liverpool’s FinestWedding FairMetquarter will host its first ever WeddingFair on Sat 26 and Sun 27 February.From flowers to bridal gowns andphotographers to elegantstationery, Metquarter will betransformed with over 80exhibitors offering everythingyou need to help you planyour big day!For all you budding brides outthere...this event is not to be missed!And the best part?It is absolutely FREE!

Star Event HHHHHHHHHHHH

Star Event HHHHHHHHHHHH

Terry in front of Smiffy’s, 56 Bold Street.