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The Jacaranda, reputedly the first venue to host the Beatles, is re-opening next month after a two-year closure.

Appearing as Long John & the Silver Beatles before changing their name, the Beatles helped to establish the club in Slater Street as the musical hub of Liverpool.

Now its owners are hoping to replicate the success with a new generation of local musicians, even relaunching their famous open mic nights.

Graham Stanley, managing director of the Jacaranda said he hopes to strike a balance between keeping the history alive and bringing it into the 21st century.

He added: “The venue has evolved and changed over the years since its opening as a coffee shop in ’58, each new generation experiencing the Jacaranda in a different way to the last.”

Mr Stanley and his team are even offering local musicians the opportunity to rehearse there for free, in exchange for a gig- just like original owner Allan Williams did for the Beatles.

He said: “Providing rehearsal space in exchange for live performances is our biggest tip of the hat to the Beatles and the Jacs heritage,hopefully it will allow new acts the same chance to form, grow and develop.

“You wonder where the Beatles would be if Allan Williams hadn’t given them their first break and a space to rehearse that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to afford.”

Current owner Graham Clarke bought the venue from Mr Williams 18 years-ago, and has been renovating the much-loved venue for eight months.

Despite the extensive renovation, Mr Stanley insists the “history of the Jac is almost as important as its future”, so has kept the famous basement vault booths.

He explained: “The features that made the Jac an iconic watering hole was something we couldn’t allow to be lost.

“The booths are an integral part of maintaining the atmosphere that was originally created over 50 years ago. There’s something special about the two booths in the basement as anyone who’s ever spent a night in the Jac has at some point ended up in one.”

The mural painted by John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe has been restored to its former glory, and the jukebox was considered so important that they’ve bought an additional one for the basement.

Stanley admitted the club “lost its way” back in 2011 when it closed due to a period of poor trading, and said it was “one of the hardest decisions we’d ever made.”

Now Mr Stanley and his team are hoping for a repeat of the success of the 60s, bringing the Jacaranda to a whole new generation.