It has been immortalised in the music industryThe old Speke Airport terminal building now converted to the Liverpool Marriott Hotel South, 00sThe old Speke Airport terminal building when it was converted to the Liverpool Marriott Hotel South, 00s(Image: TRINITY MIRROR COPYRIGHT/REACH CONTENT ARCHIVE)

A historic Liverpool building which now operates as a hotel is recognisable to fans worldwide. Constructed on the grounds of Speke Hall, the old speke airport began operating in 1933 and has a fascinating history.

In recent years, it has been the Marriott Liverpool South Hotel and now the Crowne Plaza Liverpool John Lennon Airport Hotel, but as an airport it originally served crossings over the Irish Sea. It was then leased to the Air Ministry and Speke Airport became an important RAF site during the Second World War, known as RAF Speke.

It had a factory next door which produced Bristol Blenheim light bombers and Handley Page Halifax heavy bombers. But following the war, the airport returned to civil operations.

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The site was developed by the council in the 1960s – but has been immortalised by two of the world’s biggest bands. Many will know the old Speke Airport is associated with The Beatles early days, featuring in plenty of photographs and newsreel clips as the band travelled the world and returned home to their adoring fans.

And though they are one of Manchester’s finest and proudest exports, Oasis also have a number of links to our city – including the old Speke Airport, the Liverpool ECHO previously reported. The band’s track ‘Don’t Go Away’ featured on Oasis’ 1997 studio album ‘Be Here Now’, which became the fastest-selling album in UK chart history.

The viewing balcony of the old airport terminal The viewing balcony of the old airport terminal in Speke(Image: Photo courtesy of Liverpool John Lennon Airport)

Having released the lengthy anthems ‘D’You Know What I Mean?’ and ‘Stand by Me’ as singles in the second half of 1997, ‘Don’t Go Away’ became the album’s third single in early 1998. However, it was only released in Japan and as a promotional single in North America.

The ECHO previously reported how Oasis spent a lot of time in Liverpool in their early years, working with Bootle band The Real People on their demo and early recordings.

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr leaving the aircraft at Liverpool Airport for the Northern Premiere of "A Hard Day's Night" in 1964John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr leaving the aircraft at Liverpool Airport for the Northern Premiere of A Hard Day’s Night in 1964(Image: mirrorpix)

It is a lament about losing somebody close to you and includes the lyrics: “And as the day was dawning, my plane flew away, with all the things caught in my mind.”

‘Don’t Go Away’ can trace its origins back to that time. The almost five-minute song was written around the time of the band’s Liverpool sessions.

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Those lyrics also lead us to the track’s other link with our city. The single’s artwork features the old Speke Airport terminal.

The art-deco building features on the cover with the statement ‘Welcome to Merseyside’ visible on the terminal, while a 1940s Avro-Lancastrian plane sits in the foreground. Beyond the song’s mention of a plane flying away, you would assume the band made their artwork choice in part due to their much-publicised love of The Beatles.

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As Noel and Liam Gallager are back together, taking their reunion Live ’25 tour around the world this summer, the ECHO has recently looked back at the band’s early days in our city.

This includes recording at Liverpool’s Northern Docks and around Lark Lane, as well as their friendship with Bootle group The Real People and Peter ‘Digsy’ Deary, who lent his nickname to the song ‘Digsy’s Dinner’. Liverpool’s Head of UNESCO City of Music, Kevin McManus also recalled his time with the Manchester band in Liverpool, looking back on organising their first gig in the city and meeting the then budding stars.

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As for the history of the old Speke Airport – the modern terminal was built in 1989 and eventually became what is now Liverpool John Lennon Airport. The old Speke Airport lay derelict for many years before becoming a Marriott hotel in 2001.

It continues to operate as a hotel, now owned by Crowne Plaza, and serves the nearby modern airport. But music fans from across the world continue to recognise the site and its past lives to this day.