Liverpool’s legendary Radio City tower, a fixture on the city’s skyline for over half a century, hosted its final live broadcast on Christmas Eve, marking the end of an era. The iconic structure, officially named St Johns Beacon, has been home to the radio station since 2000 and emblazoned with the instantly recognizable “Radio City 96.7” signage visible across the city. But as the last song faded out and the microphones were switched off for the last time, a profound sense of nostalgia swept over Liverpool.
The tower, originally built in 1969 as a luxury revolving restaurant visited by Queen Elizabeth II herself, was saved from dereliction when Radio City took over the space. It quickly became a hub for the city’s vibrant music scene, with nearly every major artist passing through its studios while in town to perform.
“It was great excitement when we actually moved to the tower,” recalls Molly Marshall, who managed the station’s office for many years. “Every pop star that played the arena, Liverpool Empire or filmed at Granada studios wanted to visit.”
However, not every celebrity was eager to make the ascent. Marshall revealed that “a lot of people you didn’t realise had a real fear of heights or a fear of lifts.” In one memorable incident, a member of the popular boy band Westlife refused to set foot in the elevator, forcing the station to drop a microphone down to reception while his bandmates were interviewed upstairs.
Unforgettable On-Air Moments
Broadcasting from such a unique location came with its share of unforgettable moments. Veteran radio DJ Pete Price vividly recalls being live on air in 2008 when an earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale struck:
“It was the most unbelievable experience ever. The tower would sway as much as seven inches in the wind…you would actually see the blinds move and your seat on wheels would move as well, it’s scary.”
– Pete Price, Radio DJ
Price’s long broadcasting career saw him break the news of Michael Jackson’s death from the tower, beating out major news outlets. On another occasion, the phone lines were blown as 19,000 people in a single hour tried to get through to speak to a psychic guest.
The Future of a Liverpool Icon
Earlier this year, Radio City rebranded to Hits Radio Liverpool, as part of a consolidation by parent company Bauer. The decision was made to relocate the station to a new ground-level studio, calling into question the future of the tower itself.
For now, the popular viewing gallery which has hosted “most of Merseyside” to take in panoramic views of the city, will remain open until the end of December. Beyond that, ideas have been put forward for repurposing the space, but no concrete plans have been settled. A 2020 proposal to construct a zipline from the tower to the central library was eventually vetoed.
“I think to everybody it will always remain the Radio City tower, whatever it becomes,” said Marshall. “Better to have loved and lost than never loved at all I guess … Rest easy Radio City, you can stand down now knowing you put a great shift in.”
As the future of this Liverpool icon hangs in the balance, one thing is certain – the memories made within the Radio City tower, and its decades-long legacy at the heart of the city’s music scene, will endure long after the last broadcast fades away. The end of an era, but a story that will forever be woven into the rich tapestry of Liverpool’s cultural history.
