The rebirth of Exchange Flags

Dear readers — we hope you spent the long Easter weekend as god intended: in Exchange Flags bothering the pigeons. This is exactly what Post-regular Dave Lloyd got up to, and he’s written all about it in today’s newsletter, in which he asks the question — What if Exchange Flags was actually really good? That’s answered after your regularly scheduled briefing.

Do be a total stranger!

Join legendary photographer Francesco Mellina and The Post team at Café Tabac on 14th April. Francesco will unveil a treasure trove of rare images from his exhibition A Total Stranger, chronicling Pete Burns and Dead or Alive in their most experimental years.

Come have a drink, bring burning questions and cherished memories.

Book your spot now - you don't want to miss this!

Your Post briefing

Former Manchester City footballer Joey Barton has denied assaulting a man outside Huyton and Prescot Golf Club. Appearing via video link from Liverpool Prison yesterday, Barton pled not-guilty to the assault on former football manager Kevin Lynch, which is alleged to have occured on 8 March. At an earlier court hearing, it was revealed that Barton — along with his co-defendant, Gary O-Grady — had been out drinking with Lynch at the golf club prior to the attack, which has left Lynch with serious injuries to his eye. A trial date has been set for 1 September, and is expected to last a week. 

And over in West Derby Muirhead, the Greens have launched their campaign for councillor Colette Goulding to resign. Last month, The Post revealed that the former deputy CEO of disgraced poverty charity Big Help Project had managed to keep her position as councillor by attending her first committee meeting in six months. Currently, she holds the record of worst attendance of all 84 councillors in Liverpool, attending just two of 14 meetings. Now, the Green Party has announced Mike Bates, a local teacher, as their representative for the area. “Local people in West Derby Muirhead deserve proper representation but they are not getting that,” he said. “Whether there is a by-election or not, I’ll continue supporting my local community, talking to neighbours about what they need and being their contact for local issues, doing what their councillor should be doing.” He joins Lib Dem campaigner Kayleigh Halpin in calling for Goulding’s resignation from her post.

The rebirth of Exchange Flags

It's Easter weekend in Liverpool. Fat-walleted passengers have just disembarked from the Viking cruise ship and are bouncing off the city streets like charged particles with strollers. There’s a decent bustle of shoppers along Lord Street, and hen parties are staggering around Mathew Street. 

In the city’s most historic square, Exchange Flags, all is quiet. A pigeon lands on Nelson's impressive bicep, and another flies off, seemingly in disgust. A hardy couple looks on, enjoying Aperol Spritzes on the decking of Fazenda.

Such are the thrills of a Saturday afternoon in Liverpool’s historic heart. If it wasn’t for the sandstone dam of the Town Hall, the city’s resurgent food quarter would trace an unbroken line from the Queen Victoria monument in Derby Square, through Exchange Flags, to the Radisson at the end of Old Hall Street. In any other city, a grand square at the heart of it all would be the main attraction. Here, it acts like a palate cleanser. 

Technically, Exchange Flags isn’t a square. It’s more of a U-shaped crucible, with the stone plug of the Town Hall corking one end, effectively sealing off the space from the hubbub of Castle Street. All roads led here once – it’s the place from where the city’s original seven streets fanned out. 

The best city squares are spaces infused with energy and a sense that something might happen at any moment. Muster stations charged with the electricity of collective purpose. You’d be hard pressed to find any of that here. 

At least not yet. But things are changing – and this overlooked stone crucible might yet become the most important space in the city. With major refurbishment finally given the green light, big name new additions to the area, and talk of more free public events, the pieces are, for the first time in a long time, falling into place.