While some of the venues are gone for good, others are coming back with a rebrand later in the year
Go Outdoors is shutting its Liverpool city centre express store on Saturday, January 10
Liverpool city centre is set to say goodbye to five different venues this month. January will see a number of restaurants, shops and a long-standing Concert Square venue serve their last ever set of customers.
While some of the establishments are rebranding with a fresh start and new concept, others are closing their doors for good. 2025 was a challenging year for many, marked by new pressures and ongoing uncertainty.
The cost of living crisis continued to take its toll, with people and businesses across the country struggling, and the hospitality sector being hit particularly hard. It seems these problems aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, with more businesses being hit this month.
Below, we take a look at the shops, restaurants, bars and clubs we’re losing in the next few weeks.
Hooters
Hooters on Water Street in Liverpool city centre
The director of Liverpool Hooters confirmed to the ECHO that its Water Street venue will close this year. The brand opened the world’s biggest restaurant inside New Zealand House back in November 2022.
Since then, the company has had a turbulent rollercoaster of a journey for one reason or another, including staff complaining their tips and service charge were being kept by the company to pay bills, and in light of this, the team behind it believe a fresh start is needed.
Director Barry Morris said the franchisee eatery will be no more come Sunday, January 11, and instead a new business will open at the venue some time in 2026. Barry, who took over after the original operator went into administration, will remain at its helm.
Barry hopes a new concept will put all these issues to bed as he looks to transition the current Hooters venue into a “more refined sports bar and restaurant”. He said “further details” will be shared soon in what is a “new chapter on Water Street”.
He told the ECHO: “After a very difficult year for the business, including the loss of key signage and the disruption around Liverpool parade day, I stepped in to take over day-to-day control in an effort to stabilise the venue.
“As a Scouse family man, I want the venue to better reflect Liverpool — its people, its culture, and its love of sport and hospitality.
“I believe now is the right time to move away from the Hooters brand and create a more inclusive concept that locals can be proud of.”
Barry hopes a new concept will put all these issues to bed as he looks to transition the current Hooters venue into a “more refined sports bar and restaurant”. He said “further details” will be shared soon in what is a “new chapter on Water Street”.
Poundland
Another Poundland in Merseyside is set to close
Poundland confirmed it would be shutting further UK stores by February as part of its closure programme – including one in Liverpool on Thursday, January 15. The discount retailer already trimmed the size of its chain throughout 2025, as it hoped to turn around its performance and secure its future on Britain’s high streets.
Back in June, Poundland announced its plans to permanently close 68 shops following the sale of the brand by Pepco Group to Peach Bidco, a subsidiary of private equity firm Gordon Brothers, for £1.
The shops that are due to close, including Lord Streets, are holding clearance sales, with reductions of up to 40% and with items marked down in price until they are sold.
Merseyside branches which have already closed include shops in Southport and Wallasey, which both closed in August 2025. A Poundland in Liverpool’s Belle Vale Shopping Centre closed in May.
Go Outdoors Express
Go Outdoors is shutting its Liverpool city centre express store
Go Outdoors Express is set to close its city centre store, with posters having gone up in the windows of the Ranelagh Street venue, telling customers that “everything must go”.
Go Outdoors Express, just down from Liverpool Central station, stocks footwear, camping and cycling equipment, as well as fishing tackle. Also lining the shelves you will find everything you need to start your climbing, running, horse riding and watersports journeys.
The venue is home to brands like Peter Storm, Berghaus, North Ridge, Nikwax, Regatta, Craghoppers, Hi-Gear, OEX and Scarpa.
The express store opened in November 22. It is located in the building that previously housed a Millets and is a smaller format shop.
The larger superstore in Merseyside is located on Rimrose Road in Bootle and opened in May 2015. The smaller of the two will close on Saturday, January 10, with 30% off in-store. The posters plastered in the store windows add: “Closing down. All stock must go.”
Albert’s Schenke
Alberts Schenke Restaurant (right) ,on Hanover Street.(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
The Liverpool city centre restaurant is gearing up to serve its last set of customers. This year will see Albert’s Schenke, found on the corner of Hanover Street and Duke Street, close its doors for the last time.
The restaurant and bar concept opened over half a decade ago in the former Hub Alehouse and Kitchen space. The brand comes from the Mission Mars team, the same group behind other award-winning venues dotted across the city, including Albert’s Schloss and Rudy‘s Neapolitan Pizza.
Named after Prince Albert, the Anglo-Bavarian prince and husband of Queen Victoria, Albert’s Schenke has brought a “Bier Halle and Cook Haus” to the city for six years now.
However, it will be replaced by Schiller’s Hall come February 2026. Posters inside the venue have informed customers of the closure and subsequent rebrand, reading: “Farewell Albert’s Schenke, Hello Schiller’s Hall.”
Modo
Modo Concert Square (Image: Liverpool ECHO)
The owners of popular Concert Square venue Modo have announced they will be closing its doors later this week, with a new concept set to replace it. The owners of the venue, Baa Bar Ltd, have confirmed it will close on January 5 for a number of weeks before reopening under a different name and concept, vowing to “bring fresh energy and a new direction to one of the city’s most iconic social spaces”.
Opening their doors for the first time in 1997, Modo was one of the first venues to open in Concert Square. It came after Liverpool council joined forces with Merseyside-based property developers Urban Splash to turn derelict warehouses in the area into loft apartments, café bars and an office space.
In its first incarnation, the venue originally had a number of concepts under one roof, including a noodle bar, a burlesque bar called Rocomodo, The Kiosk, a coffee bar, a sandwich bar, newsagents and a florist, as well as a separate hospitality suite for group bookings.
Earlier this week, Modo hosted its final New Year’s Eve celebrations with DJs including Les Calvert, Mick McGaw and Ben Anderson on the decks, before the night was rounded off with a fireworks display.