The venue has been closed for nearly 30 years
Danny Gutmann
19:18, 27 Jan 2026
The Wellington Rooms have been empty since 1997(Image: Liverpool Echo)
The Wellington Rooms in the city centre have been derelict for decades but urban explorer, Domonic Jackson, 32, managed to make his way into the the former Irish Centre and was left “overwhelmed” by his surroundings.
Since 1997, the Grade II-listed building has been closed to the public, but during a visit to Liverpool earlier this month Domonic managed to find a way into the property.
He told the ECHO: “It was very eerie being stood in there because reading the history of it and how long it has been there, it’s a weird feeling to explain.”
Casting his mind back, he was initially struck by the various JFK paraphernalia that was still dotted around the venue. He said: “As soon as I walked through, I headed towards the bar first and I was taking videos of the beer pumps. When I stepped out, there were the big John F Kennedy boards. Looking out of the room you can see a portrait of JFK straight across from the bar and as you come out of the bar, there’s red painted wood that looked fresh considering that how long it’s been there.”
The former bar area inside the Wellington Rooms(Image: Getty Images)
He added: “To think of that transition [it has been through] to it once being busy as a ballroom back in its heyday, and to feel the amount of people and events that would have happened in there, it is just mental to think that it is now just sat there [empty].”
Footage posted on social media of Domonic’s visit to the Wellington Rooms also show views from the the venues mezzanine that overlooks a grand stage where countless live performances took place over the years. Meanwhile, murals above the JFK bar feature paintings of Oscar Wilde and W.B Yeats. In another part of the venue a poster from years gone by advertises “The Session”, a “traditional Irish music” event that took place every Monday night.
Located on Mount Pleasant, the Wellington Rooms were built in the early 1800s and were used as the Liverpool Irish Centre from 1965 until its closure in 1997. Serving as a hub for the Irish community, the Wellington Rooms hosted ceilis [traditional Irish dances], music nights as well as various cultural events.
Old posters advertising activities remain on the walls of the Wellington Rooms(Image: Getty Images)
However, in 1999 it was put on the National Heritage at Risk Register and much needed repair work was carried out in 2018.
A Liverpool City Council spokesperson said: “Following urgent stabilisation works in 2018 to make the Wellington Rooms building wind and watertight and to address areas affected by dry rot, we’ve continued to work with heritage partners to protect the fabric of the site while exploring viable reuse options.”
The local authority added: “As part of our wider work on heritage assets, we are looking to obtain funding to commission a new, detailed condition survey to update the 2018 findings and inform the next steps, including engaging with potential development partners.”
The bar area of the John F. Kennedy bar complete with Guinness(Image: Liverpool Echo)
While there exists a community of urban explorers who investigate derelict buildings, this practice isn’t typically recommended. Properties in advanced states of decay can pose serious safety hazards, making exploration potentially dangerous.
Additionally, permission should normally be obtained before entering any building. Even abandoned properties remain under someone’s ownership.
Consequently, entering without authorisation may constitute unlawful trespassing. This is crucial to remember.