Smithdown Social Arts Hub Exhibition
2024-09-12 08:00 - 2024-11-30 17:00 (Europe/London) | The Athenaeum Liverpool, Church Alley, Liverpool, L1 3DD, United Kingdom
We are delighted to announce the Institution will be collaborating with Smithdown Social Arts Hub in hosting a unique exhibition here at the Club between 12th September and 30th November.
Featuring approximately 60 pieces from local artists, the exhibition will be launched at a Private Viewing for Proprietors on 12th September, ahead of a public launch on Friday 13th September. We will then offer ticketed viewings to the public on Thursday and Friday evenings (subject to events taking place).
The exhibition will take place in Dining Room on the third floor and will be available for Proprietors to view throughout, save for when events are taking place.
From September 2nd until November 30th, we are pleased to be able to offer Dining Room services in the Newsroom, and we’re thrilled to expand our offering and service times throughout the exhibition. Between 12:00pm and 7:30pm members and guests will be able to dine off a specially curated menu which will change weekly. This will be in place each day we’re open, including Saturdays!
Members are encouraged to book tables in advance to help the team, though walk ins are of course accepted subject to availability. Tables booked before 12pm on the day of the booking can be booked for as late as 7:30pm, with the final opening for walk-ins being 7:00pm.
At the moment, Dining Room services as standard operate between 12:30pm and 2:00pm Tuesday-Friday, but we’re really excited to widen this offering in the Newsroom whilst the exhibition takes place.
Ahead of September, the popular summer buffet returns from Tuesday 6th August and will operate throughout August in the Newsroom. This will allow for much needed maintenance to take place on the dining room ceiling, which needs to be stripped back and replastered in placed following water ingress.
If you have any questions about this, please address them to the General Manager or the Club Secretary.

History Group - Geology of Liverpool
2024-09-17 14:30 - 16:30
Join us in the Library Reading Room for another meeting of the History Group.
Professor Jim Marshall will speak on The History of the Geology and Landscape of Liverpool.
Attendance of this talk is free to charge to members.

History Group: The History of Geology and Landscape of Liverpool
2024-09-17 17:30 - 19:30
The next meeting of our History Group will take place on Tuesday, September 17th, at 2.30pm when Professor Jim Marshall will give us an illustrated talk on The History of the Geology and Landscape of Liverpool. It has interesting links to the discussion on the talk on the environment given by Professor Chesters in February 2024.
This meeting is free to Athenaeum members and their guests.

Shareholders & Slavery
2024-09-18 18:30 - 23:00
We are delighted to welcome Laurence Westgaph to the Athenaeum to talk about the institution’s links to the transatlantic trade in enslaved people. Many of our early Proprietors benefitted, directly or indirectly, form this heinous trade.
Some of you will remember the fascinating and enlightening presentation Laurence gave over two years ago about this important subject. Since then, the Liverpool Black History Research Group has continued to research the topic and you will find further details of their findings on our website under the heading ‘The Athenaeum and Slavery’. It is a vast subject and the club continues to support LBHRG in its efforts to uncover more of this once hidden history.
Laurence and his colleagues will discuss the discoveries they have made and the next stage of their research.
Liverpool Black History Group (LBHRG) has been established for some 5 years and is led by Laurence Westgaph. It is a collective of volunteers who sit outside academia. Through its research, it seeks to highlight the importance of the slave economy to Liverpool’s growth in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and the city’s history as home to the oldest black community in Europe. Further information is available via www.LBHRG.com
The presentation will be followed by a three-course meal in the Dining Room. If you wish to attend the presentation but not the dinner, you may do so without charge but please book a place. We expect there to be a high demand for places, so please book early.
Tickets: £37.00

President's Farewell Party & Book Launch
2024-09-27 18:00 - 22:00
Proprietors Ron Jones and Paul Burns’s revised and updated iteration of The History of The Athenaeum is ready to launch—and what better way to welcome this publication into the world than with a swinging soirée in the Newsroom?
President Edward Ashton and Proprietor Neville Carrick produced a history of the club to celebrate our bicentenary in 1997. This has long been out of print and earlier this year, following a chat in the Newsroom, the current President and Ron Jones decided that we really need a history of the Athenaeum to sell to Proprietors and visitors. They have retained Carrick and Ashton’s original text but added a few more pages to bring it up to date, enhanced the illustrations and added some splendid new colour photos, taken by Ron. Both paperbacks and a limited hardback edition will be available to buy at the launch.
As this will be the last social function of the current Presidency, we have decided to throw a bit of a party, with a splendid Athenaeum buffet and live music from Proprietor Terry Crolley and our old friends Modjango, who will be playing both Gypsy Jazz and tunes to dance to.
All Proprietors, associate members and guests are welcome.
Tickets: £15.00

Event Schedule
6:00pm – Reception: Classical music played by Terry Crolley on the piano
6:30pm – Book Launch: The History of the Athenaeum 1797-2024
7:00pm – Buffet served
7:30pm – Modjango Jazz
9.30pm to 10.30pm – Bar service

Literature Group
2024-10-01 14:00 - 15:00
The Literature Group typically meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 2:00pm in the Reading Room.

Today’s meeting: POEMS FOR AN ECHOING BATHROOM !!
Go on, admit it, we’ve all cut loose in the bathroom with our favourite verses sending a shiver through the shower head and startling the loofah as the tiled acoustic makes us sound like Richard Burton or Judi Dench ! You know you did ! Poetry is meant to be spoken, declaimed even roared so why not bring in a favourite or a few to get the attention of the pigeons outside Primark ? There can be whispers, too : certainly one I have in mind is elegiac. No need to explain your selection, just take a breath, stand and deliver. [ No, I’m not reciting ” The Highwayman ” though it’s a great bathroom boomer. ]
This could be a lively end to the year of wonderful literary events organised by Paul Burns which have so enhanced our lives.

Athenaeum AGM 2024
2024-10-03 18:00 - 20:00
All Proprietors are welcome to attend the Athenaeum AGM 2024.
Please register your attendance with the Concierge desk.

History Group with Christina Clarke
2024-10-09 14:30 - 16:00
Mrs Christina Clarke who will give us an illustrated talk on Charkes Renee Macintosh, Scottish architect, designer, writer, artist and colourist. Members will remember Christina’s engrossing talk on the History of the Walker Art Gallery last March.
This talk may be of interest also to the members of the History of Art group, but is free of charge to all Members and their guests.
This is a joint meeting of the History Group & The History of Arts Group and will take place in the Reading Room.

Meet the President: Welcoming Professor George King
2024-10-10 18:30 - 23:00
Join us on Thursday 10th October to welcome Professor George King at his inaugural event as President of the Athenaeum.
Expect an enjoyable evening with fizz, food, music and perhaps a short speech or two.
Itinerary:
18:00-19:00 Drinks Reception
19:00 Food served
20:00 Entertainment
22:45 Last Orders at the Bar
Book your place now with via the Concierge Desk or through the Members’ Area.

Rogue Agent: By James Crossland (Book Launch)
2024-10-16 18:00 - 20:00
A SPECIAL BOOK LAUNCH FOR ROGUE AGENT BY JAMES CROSSLAND
IN LIVERPOOL’S ICONIC ATHENAEUM LIBRARY READING ROOM
WEDNESDAY 16TH OCTOBER 2024
6PM TO 8PM (INCLUDES TALK AND WINE RECEPTION)
** BOOK YOUR TICKET ON EVENTBRITE NOW **
ROGUE AGENT: THE THRILLING BIOGRAPHY OF ROBERT BRUCE LOCKHART, BRITAIN’S ‘AGENT’ IN MOSCOW
Sir Robert Bruce Lockhart (1887–1970) was an impressive figure: a diplomat, intelligence agent, conspirator, journalist and propagandist who played a key role in both world wars. He was a man who charmed his way into the confidences of everyone from Leon Trotsky to Anthony Eden. A man whom the influential press baron Lord Beaverbook claimed ‘could well have been prime minister’. And yet Lockhart died almost forgotten and near destitute, a Scottish footnote in the pages of history.
Rogue Agent is the first biography of this gifted yet habitually flawed maverick. It chronicles his many exploits, from his time as Britain’s ‘Agent’ in Moscow, and his role in a plot to bring down the communist regime, to leading the Political Warfare Executive, a secret body responsible for disinformation and propaganda in the Second World War.
Exploring Lockhart’s unorthodox thinking and contributions to the development of psychological warfare as well as his hedonistic lifestyle, late nights and many affairs that left him in a state of perpetual debt, Rogue Agent tells the thrilling story of this unconventional war hero.
Join James Crossland in conversation with Ian Skillicorn of the Liverpool Book Club for this special book launch event, which includes a live author interview and audience Q&A in the Athenaeum Library Reading Room, followed by a wine and canapés reception in the News Room.
There are only a few tickets left at the time of writing, book your place now via the Concierge.

Library & Archives Group - Meet the Curator
2024-10-17 17:30 - 18:30
Three months after taking over the position of Curator of the Athenaeum Library, Heather Thrift will speak about the collections we have, the treasures we hold, and her vision for the Athenaeum library of tomorrow.
Food will be available in the Newsroom before and after the talk, if you will be eating please make a reservation where possible to assist the team with Catering.

Autumn Social & Welcome Evening
2024-10-25 18:00 - 23:00
The last Friday of every month we hold a welcome evening for new members, this is a great opportunity for members to meet and importantly sign the historic 1809 share register if they have not done so yet after joining.
Join us from 6:00pm for complimentary fizz ahead of the register signing at 6:30pm. Canapes will be served from 7:00pm.
Book your places now free of charge via the Concierge or through the Members’ Area.

Athenaeum Film Nights: Hue and Cry, 1947
2024-10-30 18:30 - 22:00
As the nights begin the darken we commence the next series of Athenaeum film nights, showing a classic film each month between October and April.
Guests gather from 6:30pm ahead of a one course supper in the Newsroom at 7:00pm. The screening will begin at 8:00pm in the Wine Servery with sweets served at the interval.
This month’s showing is: Hue and Cry, 1947
A comedy-thriller about a gang of young boys who discover & try to foil a series of robberies, when the police refuse to take their concerns seriously. A tongue-in-cheek Ealing comedy featuring Harry Fowler and Alastair Sim.
Book your place now via the Concierge or through the Members’ Area.

The full series of films can be found below;
October 30th – Hue and Cry, 1947
November 21st – The Chiltern Hundreds, 1949
December 19th – How About You?, 2009
January 22nd – The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 1939
February 26th – The Passionate Friends, 1949
March 19th – Irish Film Night
April 16th – Rose Marie, 1936

Music & Dinner with Dr Nico de Villiers
2024-10-31 18:30 - 23:00
Join us on Thursday 31st October for an evening of Music & Dinner with Dr Nico de Villiers, who will be giving a presentation on the life and the works of Dutch-American composer Richard Hageman (1881-1966).
Dr de Villiers is Deputy Head of Vocal Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Director of The Richard Hageman Society, and notably head judge of the Sir David Maddison Opera Prize which is ran in collaboration between the Athenaeum and the RNCM.
The menu and ticket price will be announced shortly. Book your place now via the Concierge or through the Members’ Area.
Itinerary
6:30pm Arrivals
7:00pm Presentation
8:00pm Dinner
10:45pm Last Orders

Literature Group
2024-11-05 14:00 - 15:00
The Literature Group typically meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 2:00pm in the Reading Room.

Today’s meeting: The Letters of Machiavelli, with Dr Chris O’Neill

American Democracy: How it works and will it survive?: With Dr Cheryl Hudson
2024-11-05 18:00 - 19:00
On the night of the US Presidential Election, we’re delighted to be joined by lecturer in US History at Liverpool University, Dr Cheryl Hudson, who will be giving a talk on the elections and detailing how it works, including the make up of the electoral college system. A fascinating subject at a pertinent time, we anticipate supply will outstrip demand for this free talk which will take place in the Reading Room, book your places now via the Members’ Area or with the Concierge.
Food will be available in the Newsroom before and after the talk, though we ask members to make a reservation in advance to assist the team.

Remembrance Sunday Lunch
2024-11-10 12:30 - 16:00
Following the various civic ceremonies across the City Region, a traditional Sunday Lunch will take place to mark Remembrance Sunday.
Guests will gather in the Newsroom from 12:30pm ahead of the call for lunch at 1:00pm.
Ticket includes two-course traditional Roast Dinner, with all the trimmings. The full menu will be posted in due course.
Book your place now via the Members’ Area or through the Concierge.
£50.00 per person.

The Music of Gershwin, with Sarah Chidlow & David Roscoe
2024-11-13 18:30 - 23:00
Words and Music That Transcend Time
George and Ira Gershwin will always be remembered as the songwriting team whose voice was synonymous with the sounds and style of the Jazz Age. But from 1924 until George’s death in 1937, the brothers wrote almost exclusively with each other, composing over two dozen scores for Broadway and Hollywood. Together, George and Ira Gershwin wrote the music for many shows and films. Some of their more famous works include “The Man I Love”, “Fascinating Rhythm”, “Someone to Watch Over Me”, “I Got Rhythm”, and “They Can’t Take That Away from Me”. In 1931, the brothers collaborated on the score for the Broadway show, “Of Thee I Sing,” which became the first musical to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Their now-classic folk opera, PORGY AND BESS (co-written with DuBose Heyward), is constantly revived in opera houses and theatres throughout the world.
To bring some special pieces of the Gershwin brothers music alive for this event we have local singer Sarah Chidlow. Sarah began singing at the age of 11 years old in a small local theatre group, and has performed in many productions with the Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust (BOST). Sarah will be joined by Past President David Roscoe who will present and tell the story or the words and music that have transcended time.
Book your place now via the Members’ Area or through the Concierge.

MENU
Main Course
Boudin of Chicken, Chorizo & Sun Blush Tomato Mousseline, Risotto Milanaise, Olive Oil
Risotto Milanaise, Roast Butternut, Walnut Pesto, Sauce Verte (V)
Dessert
Orange Pannacotta, Ginger Crumb, Poached Rhubarb

EVENT SCHEDULE
18:30 – Arrivals
19:00 – 1st Performance
20:00 – Supper
21:30 – 2nd Performance
22:15 – Fin
22:45 – Last Orders

History Group: Greenhouse Architecture Run Mad - The Life and Legacy of Peter Ellis
2024-11-14 14:30 - 16:30
Join us for another meeting of the Athenaeum History Group. We will be joined by Proprietor Dr Graham Jones, who will speak about the life and legacy of Peter Ellis.
This talk is free of charge to Athenaeum members and their guests.

History Group
2024-11-14 14:30 - 16:30
Proprietor Graham Jones will give a talk on Greenhouse Architecture Gone Mad: The Life and Legacy of Peter Ellis. This has links to Graham’s earlier talk and book on Walking on Water Street.
This talk is free of charge to Members and their guests.

Athena Dining Evening
2024-11-15 18:30 - 23:00
Named after the Club’s patron, the Goddess of wisdom and war ‘Athena’, the Athena Dining Evening is a quarterly spectacle for Proprietors to enjoy fine food, elegant service, good company, in the magnificent surroundings of the Committee Room.
There are very limited number of places available for this premium event, do book early via the Concierge or through the Members’ Area to avoid disappointment.
Look out for the menu being published very shortly.

Event Schedule
Welcome Drinks & Canapés – 6:30pm in the Library Reading Room
Guests guided to Committee Room – 7pm
Dinner Served – 7:05pm
Newsroom Open after dinner – 10pm to 11pm

Athenaeum Film Nights: The Chiltern Hundreds, 1949
2024-11-21 18:30 - 22:00
As the nights begin the darken we commence the next series of Athenaeum film nights, showing a classic film each month between October and April.
Guests gather from 6:30pm ahead of a one course supper in the Newsroom at 7:00pm. The screening will begin at 8:00pm in the Reading Room with sweets served at the interval.
This month’s showing is: The Chiltern Hundreds, 1949
A delightful satire on political campaigning, this comedy revolves around Viscount Pym, who resolves to run for office as a Conservative MP to keep up the family tradition – in reality, he’s using it all as a ploy to marry his American sweetheart before she goes back to America. The perfect plan – until it isn’t.
Book your place now via the Concierge or through the Members’ Area.
The full series of films can be found below;
October 30th – Hue & Cry, 1947
November 21st – The Chiltern Hundreds, 1949
December 19th – How About You?, 2009
January 22nd – The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 1939
February 26th – The Passionate Friends, 1949
March 19th – Irish Film Night!
April 16th – Rose Marie, 1936

The Library Dinner 2024
2024-11-22 18:30 - 23:00
The first formal event of the
Presidential Year
The Library Dinner
6:30pm in the Newsroom
£80.00 per ticket, inclusive of donation to the Library, three course dinner with reception and table wine or non-alcoholic alternative.

The Library Dinner showcases the importance of our library to the Athenaeum’s past, present and future. It is the first of the three formal events scheduled for this Presidential year, ahead of Burns Night and the Annual Dinner.

At the 2024 Library Dinner we will be joined by Proprietor Rabbi Moshe Ariel Abel for an important lecture on an artefact held in our collection

‘What is a Jewish Torah? Dine with a rabbi and an Athenaeum incunabulum:The Viennese Katz: Scroll’.

The very scroll will be on display at the event, and £20.00 of the ticket price is a donation to the Library to fund the carbon dating of the scroll. Book your place now to hear about this fascinating item and to of course support your Library.
Please note that this is a ‘black tie’ event – a chance to dress up – and gentlemen should wear dinner suits with bow ties.

Book your place now via the Members’ Area or through the Concierge.

Menu

Starter
Individual Tarlet of Leek, Garden Peas and Cheddar Cheese
Main
Confit of Duck & Toasted Barley Cassoulet, Gratin Potato, Sugarsnap Peas, Red Wine Jus
Dessert
Chocolate Truffle Torte, Cherry Coulis, Crumbled White Chocolate

America Thanksgiving Lunch
2024-11-28 12:30 - 16:00
Details to follow in due course.

New Members Welcome Evening
2024-11-29 18:00 - 23:00
On the last Friday of the month we typically hold a welcome evening for new members. These informal social events are great way for members -both new and longstanding- to meet, and importantly is an opportunity for newer members sign the historic 1809 share register if they have not done so yet after joining.
Join us from 6:00pm for complimentary fizz ahead of the register signing at 6:30pm. Canapes will be served from 7:00pm.
Food will be available in the Newsroom by reservation, including a number of communal club tables members and guests can join.
Book your places now free of charge via the Concierge or through the Members’ Area.

The Charleston Chat
2024-11-30 12:00 - 13:30
CHARLESTON CHAT…Come and join us as the Thanksgiving weekend continues.
Proprietors Linda Iley, Ann Hughes, Fay Carter and Cynthia King will give an informal, illustrated feedback on their adventure during an affiliation visit to the Charleston Library Society in South Carolina, USA.
Classic American Cocktails will be available to purchase in the Newsroom from 12:00pm ahead of the talk in the Reading Room at 12:30pm.
Book your tickets to this free talk now via the Members’ Area or through the Concierge.
Food will be available post talk in the Newsroom by prior reservation.

Joint History & Literature Group Meeting
2024-12-03 14:00 - 15:00
This is a joint meeting of the History and Literature Groups.
This meeting will feature Ms Diana Goodier, who will give another talk on The Vikings’ presence in the Merseyside region…
This talk is free of charge to members and their guests.

Tim Rowett's Curious Collection of Phenomenal Paraphernalia
2024-12-04 18:30 - 22:00
For fifty years Tim Rowett has been scouring the world’s toy and gift fairs on the lookout for amazing toys and quirky items. Tim has charmed millions online with his collection under the title Grand Illusions.
Tim will demonstrate and entertain us with a delightful selection of tantalising toys, optical illusions, puzzles and unexpected physics.
Following dinner, there will be ample opportunity to see and play with items from his collection.
Book your place now via the Members’ Area or through the Concierge.
Tickets will sell out fast!

Schedule
6:30pm—Arrivals
7:00pm—Presentation
8:00pm—Dinner
9:30pm—The Newsroom will be open, opportunity to see items from Tim’s collection

£40.00 per ticket, inclusive of two-course dinner with reception drink, table wine or non-alcoholic alternative.

Athenaeum Carol Concert
2024-12-13 18:00 - 23:00
The Liverpool Chamber Choir will return at the ever-popular Carol Evening.
We will be gathering in the Newsroom from 6:30pm before supper (including mulled wine and mince pies) at 7:00pm in the Dining Room. The carol concert will commence in the Reading Room from 8:15pm before guests retiring back to the Newsroom for a night cap!
Details of the menu and ticket price will be published shortly.
Book your place now via the Members’ Area or through the Concierge.

Christmas Informal Dining
2024-12-18 18:00 - 23:00
Christmas Informal Dining: Wednesday 18th December, service from 6:00pm until 8:00pm
The last restaurant dining opportunity of the year is the ever-popular Christmas Informal Dining.
The Dining Room will be open from 6:30pm with slots available until 8:00pm. There is limited space for each slot so book fast to get your preferred dining time. If you wish to join the club table, a 7:30pm dining slot has been reserved.
A delectable a la carte menu will be available for guests to choose from on the evening.
Book your place now via the Members’ Area or through the Concierge.
