Civic Lunch

Please join the President and his distinguished guests for a delicious two course meal and celebrate the Athenaeum’s unique place in the life our great city.

The first Laws of the Athenaeum, drawn up in 1798, stated that the Mayor of Liverpool should be a member of the institution for ‘the time being’, meaning the term of his office. Since then, Mayors and Lord Mayors have often been our guests at dinners and lunches. Our ties to the city remain strong and cordial. Indeed, the council, formerly the corporation, is our landlord and our 1928 lease stipulates that we should pay the Lord Mayor a ground rent of one peppercorn on demand.

Over the years, the courtesy of honorary membership has been extended to other civic dignitaries. Our current Law 3 states that ‘The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, and the High Sheriff of Merseyside, for their periods of office, shall be invited to make use of the institution.’ Recent tradition dictates that all these dignitaries are invited annually to lunch at the Athenaeum.

This is an important feature of our calendar but one of which many members are unaware. This year, we have decided to change all that and open the event to all Proprietors, associate members, and their guests.

Dress code: lounge suits.

Tickets: £33.50

Event Schedule

12:30pm – Arrivals & welcome drink

1:00pm – Lunch