Need to knowA ‘booming’ seaside town with big plans, Pizza Hut’s Liverpool closure and Metro Mayor tax to be frozen for another year are among stories we have published today
Southport Pier is one of the projects being worked on in 2026(Image: Livepool Echo)
Here are five stories published by the Liverpool Echo you may have missed today.
1) ‘Booming’ seaside town about to get even better in 2026
A Merseyside hospitality group behind several successful establishments is set to deepen its commitment to Southport in 2026. Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group has revealed further ambitious plans that it believes will make the seaside town a “leading destination” within the UK. Over recent years, the group has played a key role in transforming the northern end of Lord Street into what is now known as Southport’s vibrant Northern Quarter. The brand said its approach focused on rescuing “under-utilised landmark heritage assets” and reimagining them as top-quality hospitality venues. READ HERE.
2) Pizza Hut to shut Liverpool restaurant with 18 staff affected
A fast food chain has confirmed it will be closing one of its Liverpool branches, with 18 staff members being impacted. Pizza Hut in Speke is set to shut, however, an exact date has yet to be determined. The branch sits alongside a host of other shops, including Argos, Boots, Cineworld, Costa and Five Guys, at the New Mersey Retail complex. A Pizza Hut spokesperson told the ECHO: “We can confirm that the dine-in Pizza Hut restaurant in Speke, Liverpool, is unfortunately expected to close following a landlord-led decision.” READ HERE.
3) Metro Mayor tax frozen for now but future rise not ruled out
The amount we pay to fund the Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor is to be frozen for the next 12 months. The start of the new year means local authorities across Merseyside including Steve Rotheram and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) are currently in the middle of their budget setting process for the next financial year. A Mayoral precept was introduced in 2018/19, part of the overall council tax paid by Liverpool City Region residents and used to fund City Region-wide services for which the Metro Mayor is responsible. This was frozen for six years at an annual charge of £19. Last year marked the first occasion Mr Rotheram and the CA asked households across the six local authority areas to pay more for what they get owing to a “challenge on budgets.” READ HERE.
4) Pub responds to nightclub claims as ‘bomb proof’ package goes through
A Merseyside “community pub” has rejected outright claims there are plans to turn it into a nightclub, telling a council “it is going to continue operating as is.” The Johnny Pye on Pye Road in Heswall, which has been open for nearly 30 years in the Wirral town, has been given permission to stay open until 2.30am on Fridays and Saturdays. Marston’s PLC, who are behind the pub, applied to Wirral Council to vary the pub’s licence. However the new application came before councillors because of complaints from two neighbours over noise nuisance and disturbance. At a licensing act sub-committee on January 16, councillors decided to grant the application with a number of conditions. READ HERE.
5) Pub responds to nightclub claims as ‘bomb proof’ package goes through
A Merseyside “community pub” has rejected outright claims there are plans to turn it into a nightclub, telling a council “it is going to continue operating as is”. The Johnny Pye on Pye Road in Heswall, which has been open for nearly 30 years in the Wirral town, has been given permission to stay open until 2.30am on Fridays and Saturdays. Marston’s PLC, who are behind the pub, applied to Wirral Council to vary the pub’s licence. However the new application came before councillors because of complaints from two neighbours over noise nuisance and disturbance. At a licensing act sub-committee on January 16, councillors decided to grant the application with a number of conditions. READ HERE.
Read all the latest headlines at Liverpool ECHO.
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