Quiggins

"Quiggins" was home to many small 'alternative' stores that used to be housed within three linked adjacent warehouse buildings on a site between School Lane, Peters Lane and College Lane in the city centre of Liverpool, England. Originally established as an antiques business, with parts of the building rented out to other antique traders, it later diversified into providing space for specialist and alternative stores where many of the stall holders were local artists and craftsmen. It was also the home of "Q Radio" and the popular Brook Café provided a late night venue for live alternative music.

The business's first location was on Renshaw Street opened in 1986, where it adopted the name of the long established (1911 Kelly's Directory at that location!) Quiggins architectural supplies & ironmongers which had formerly owned the premises and whose sign still adorned the shop front. The business soon outgrew the building and in 1988 it moved to a larger location on School Lane where Quiggins soon became a significant part of Liverpool's cultural scene, within a building next to the Bluecoat Centre and only two blocks from the busiest pedestrian traffic on Merseyside seen as an ideal place to trade and congregate.

As part of its Capital of Culture bid, Liverpool City Council drew up the Bluecoat Triangle plan, later to become the Paradise Street Development Scheme, to boost the retail and cultural areas in the city centre, one aspect of which was the proposed acquisition of the building containing Quiggins Centre. Many local residents and businesses lodged objections to these proposals and a well publicised four year public relations and political campaign was launched against the plans spearheaded by Peter Tierney, (owner & founder) and supporters. These included a protest march, a petition with over a hundred and fifty thousand signatures presented to Parliament, letter writing and media events, etc. As well as being an integral part of the Liverpool cultural scene it also offered refuge to many young people who sought other young people with similar interests. A lot of the cities new music comes from the friendships made at Quiggins and when the place was closed down Liverpool lost a piece of history.A Public Inquiry was held in Sept. to Nov. 2003 at which 50 objectors to the scheme were heard, Quiggins being prominent among them. Noted barrister specialising in planning issues, Robert McCracken QC led for Quiggins, David Elvin QC for Liverpool Council and Grosvenor Estates. However the Planning Inspector, Derek Mumford upheld the proposed CPOs and on 18 May,2004, the development scheme was approved by John Prescott, the British Deputy Prime Minister. This resulted in the issuance of CPOs against several businesses in the development area, including that of Quiggins. A further vigorous campaign was launched by the owners of Quiggins, and their supporters to appeal these orders commenced in the Spring of 2006, however last ditch negotiations between the partners and with the developer, Grosvenor Estates in June 2006, apparently led to an undisclosed agreement and a withdrawal of the challenge, which was later to be ravaged by Grosvenor.

The CPO was then executed, which submerged Quiggins into a menial compensation claim of £1.2M before legal costs and tax. on 1 July, 2006 Quiggins closed its doors for the last time at the School Lane site. By early 2007 the buildings had been demolished except for the retained ornate facade at the corner of School Lane (Palatine Building). The site currently awaits redevelopment to boutiques and flats as part of the Grosvenor scheme.

"'In early 2006 Quiggins moved back to Renshaw Street (it's original birthplace). It now occupies the beautiful Grade II Listed Building known as Grand Central Hall. It is a building of unique character which reflects the spirit of Quiggins.

Peter Tierney is no longer connected to Quiggins at Grand Central Hall. It is now owned and managed by a private business"'

ee also

*Liverpool
*The Paradise Project
*Grosvenor Group
*Affleck's Palace - a similar centre in Manchester

External links

* [http://www.quiggins.com/ Quiggins Official Website]

* [http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:8uAjJ3TIrvAJ:www.liverpoolpsda.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/BBE5B3E9-CF73-4B73-8648-575C297E2DAA/508/cpodecision.DOC+planning+inspector+paradise+liverpool&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&client=safari] Minister's letter approving CPOs 18 May 2004.

* [http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=16868787%26method=full%26siteid=50061%26headline=%2dguerilla%2dwarfare%2d%2dproposed%2dto%2dsave%2diconic%2dcity%2dstore-name_page.html] 'Guerilla warfare proposed to save iconic city store'. icLiverpool. 27 March 2006.

* [http://www.liverpoolpsda.co.uk/ProjectDetails/DetailedProjectPlans/site1.htm] PSDA. Paradise Project. Peters Lane.

* [http://www.bigdig.liverpool.gov.uk/projects/current/schoolla.asp] Paradise Project. School Lane Shopping Arcade.

* [http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17313650&method=full&siteid=50061&headline=it-s-farewell-to-quiggins--name_page.html icLiverpool 'It's farewell to Quiggins'. icLiverpool. 30 June 2006.]