A street turned into a “warzone”, what people want from a historic square, a horror birthday party, and beautiful pictures from two communities
A street turned into a “warzone”, what people want from a historic square, a horror birthday party, and beautiful pictures from two communities
22:49, 26 Apr 2026
Four unmissable ECHO Premium stories from today
1) The popular Liverpool street that becomes a ‘warzone’ at night
For years, Allerton Road has been regarded as a model high street: a place full of independent businesses and a growing food and drink scene. It’s the kind of suburban hub people feel invested in, built up over time and protected by a strong sense of local identity.
On a sunny Thursday morning, the street is thriving, with people drifting between stores, stopping to chat to neighbours, or catching up over a cup of coffee. That’s why the arrival of a major fast food chain earlier this year struck such a nerve.
When the clock strikes 3pm, many locals say the atmosphere changes, with gangs of teenagers arriving on bikes and gathering in numbers that feel, to some, intimidating enough to send people back to the safety of their homes.
Plans to turn the former bank building on the corner of Allerton Road and Garthdale Road into a KFC sparked a swift and vocal backlash. Within weeks, 2,500 residents had signed a petition opposing the move, with concerns ranging from litter and noise to fears about anti-social behaviour and the impact on younger people in the area.
Read in full HERE.
2) Historic Liverpool square was once home to a much-loved fountain, now people want it back
Williamson Square is one of the city’s oldest public squares, dating back to 1745. A place many people now use as just a shortcut to Queen Square Station and Lime Street, but the heart of the square was once home to the iconic fountain. Installed in 2004, the fountain still holds fond memories for a generation who, as children, loved running through its jets on summer days.
At the time, the £1.1m water feature was the first public fountain to be created in Liverpool in 30 years and was part of a £5.75m transformation of the square.
Visitors to the square were once delighted by the feature, which featured a double arch of water rising to 12ft directly from the pavement. At night, the fountain would also be illuminated in a blaze of changing colours.
However, the fountain has been out of action for more than a decade due to various issues, including flooding and needing repairs.
Read in full HERE.
3) Liver Building birthday party was ‘so bad’ it ended up in court
A 60th birthday party held at Liverpool’s Royal Liver Building was “so bad” it ended up in court. Brad Richardson, 46, spent almost £8,000 on a party for friend Christina Hughes. But he ended up taking hosts Liver Suite to court after the “unacceptable” party.
Brad, from Walton, said he was “sold a dream” which started to crumble within minutes when he found out the bar had no draught lager. He has now been awarded a refund by default after operators Venue RLB Ltd failed to show at court.
The firm said it was unaware of the hearing and disputes a number of allegations made by Brad. The firm says it has submitted an application to have the case heard again.
The ECHO understands Venue RLB Ltd’s claim was struck out in February but Brad says he is yet to receive the £8,355.80 he was awarded.
Read in full HERE.
4) Pictures show life in West Derby and Tuebrook through the years
Liverpool has seen lots of change through the years. Fortunately, courtesy of archive Mirrorpix, the ECHO can take a trip down memory lane and look back at our communities and see what life was like way back when. This week, we’ve delved into our photo archives to take a look at West Derby and Tuebrook from the 1960s until the 2000s.
From former football players at Melwood and Bellefield, to former dinner ladies loved by school children, these photographs provide a time capsule of life in the town.
Take a look at the photographs below and let us know if they bring back any memories.
Read in full HERE.
