I think it’s easy for people to look at Liverpool and see it for its history of football and the Beatles, it’s more than that, it feels like it’s own thing, to be a Scouser, everyone knows what it means. Defined by a uniquely “Scouse identity”. That friendly confidence and sense of community, to talk and get on whereas most other places I have been in the UK it’s a myth to even ask “how’s it going?” to someone you don’t know.

It felt to me, like a welcoming place, people go out of their way to talk to you and remember your order in the chippy, the coffee shop or the boozer. Pint of the “usual” is a welcome voice in my ears ushering me in to the Grapes to land a Guinness between the line and the harp in one swig. I may also find myself in The Dispensary or The Red Lion a good few nights a week and there is always a homely feel, a pub’s pub. A place of comfort where the beers are affordable, the tiles date back many years, stained glass on the windows, peculiar art on the walls and an array of pub snacks, or English Tapas as I know them. Scampi fries (always) or salt and vinegar crisps opened out on the table to be shared, peanuts in many varieties, Czech and German lagers you have never heard of but now will not settle for anything less, and in one case, A Gazza documentary playing on the TV in the corner of the pub at 1 in the morning while baby Guinness shots are lashed.

A club scene with a rich history of the days of Cream, Paradox and Quadrant Park, the blissful raving 90s and early 2000’s that for young people now is lived through their parents eyes, a party paradise. Now the city looks quite different, and the Baltic Triangle is the place to be from Kitchen Street to Camp and Furnace, it’s paving the way for youth culture and creativity reminiscent of a time where whistles were blown and greasy haired teens stumbled out of nightclubs at 6am in sweet harmony, waking up the next day in cold sweats to pick up a copy of Musik magazine. From DJ’s like Dennis Sulta, Erol Alkan and Mella Dee headlining at 24 Kitchen Street to resident monthly nights from Sonic Yootha, it feels like the community is here and they have brought the rave with it.