The Casbah Coffee Club is a former music venue in the basement of former Beatle Pete Best’s childhood home. It is possible to visit the club for an authentic Beatles experience.
Pete’s mum, Mona Best, set up the cellar of their family home as a members-only club for her sons to meet with their friends and listen to music.
![The Beatles has their first gig at the Casbah Coffee Club in the basement of Pete Best’s childhood home in West Derby in suburban Liverpool. (Photo: Lipinski [CC BY-SA 3.0])](https://englandrover.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/casbah-coffee-club.jpg)
Other performers who have played at the club include Cilla Black, The Searchers and Gerry & The Pacemakers. The Beatles played their first gig here and they were also the last band to play at the Casbah.
Although it was a very popular music venue, it only operated for three years: from 1959 to 1962.
The Casbah is owned by Pete Best, the Beatles’ original drummer, and his brother Roag Aspinall-Best who also owns the Liverpool Beatles Museum on Mathew Street.
What to see at the Casbah Coffee Club
As the Casbah Coffee Club remained in the Best family, it has been largely kept in its original condition.
This is probably not for you if you only have a passing interest in the band, however, real fans of the Beatles will really enjoy a visit to the Casbah Coffee Club.
It is simply a much more authentic and intimate experience than most of Liverpool’s other Beatles-themed attractions. You don’t get the crowds that come with the other Beatles sights and often there are only a couple of other people visiting the club with you. Even better is the fact that you’re given a tour by people who have personal experience growing up with the band. In many instances, Pete Best’s brother Roag gives you a personal tour himself.
Visiting the Casbah Coffee Club
The Casbah Coffee Club is located on a tree-lined residential street in West Derby in Liverpool’s eastern suburbs. It is a long way from all the other Beatles sights and even the Magical Mystery Tour doesn’t come out here. The easiest way to get out here is by local bus route 15, which runs every 12 minutes and takes around half an hour from the city centre.
You can’t simply turn up at the Casbah Coffee Club as visits are by appointment only. You can book either by calling 07872 017 473 or through Pete Best’s website. However, when you do arrive you will be greeted by a guide with a personal connection to the band so it is a much more intimate experience than you would have if you simply visited a museum.
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One review
Ken Parkes
Casbah Coffee Club
Visited yesterday (10-11-24) as a 70th birthday present, any Beatle fan must visit the Casbah for its history and just to feel the place, Great guide who obviously knew the history of the building and what happend where and has first hand knowledge of the Best family ( Grandson, apologies, forgot his name) after the tour he gave us 20 mins or so just to walk around and read the items placed on the wall . Great visit and highly recommended.
11 November 2024