Beatles building honoured by English heritage
The club where The Beatles played their first gig has been acknowledged as an English historical landmark and awarded protection from the threat of re-developers.
The Casbah Coffee club, set up in the home of original Beatles' drummer Pete Best, has been listed as a Grade II building.
The Liverpool foursome performed regularly there until it closed in 1962.
Bob Hawkins of the English heritage says: "The basement rooms are historically significant because they represent tangible evidence of The Beatles' formation, their growth in popularity and their enduring cultural influence.
"The club survives in a remarkably well-preserved condition since its closure in 1962, with wall and ceiling paintings of spiders, dragons, rainbows and stars by original band members along with 1960s musical equipment, amplifiers and original chairs."
