The Athenaeum

Liverpool Wedding Reception Venue

Liverpool Wedding Photographer | City Centre Wedding Photography

The Athenaeum is the perfect place to host weddings, private events, or business functions — and everything can be tailored to suit exactly what you need. You’ll also have the option of exclusive use of the building, making the whole place your own for the day. Right in the heart of Liverpool, The Athenaeum is a one-of-a-kind venue, blending beautiful classical architecture, elegant interiors, and over 225 years of history. It’s the ideal setting for a celebration or event with a difference. The team will work with you to make sure everything runs smoothly, so your guests enjoy a truly memorable experience from start to finish.

The Athenaeum and its team have plenty of experience working with Royalty and other high-profile guests, so you can expect a discreet, professional service from start to finish. They take pride in making sure everything runs smoothly and privately, no matter the occasion. If you’re looking to host an event with real distinction, right in the heart of Liverpool city centre, The Athenaeum sets the standard for first-class service in a setting full of history and character. Perfect for your Liverpool City Centre wedding.

So why The Athenaeum is the Perfect Wedding Reception Venue for you?

If you’re looking for a wedding reception venue that’s unique, full of history, and right in the heart of Liverpool, The Athenaeum ticks every box.

For over 225 years, The Athenaeum has been a hidden gem in the city centre — known for its beautiful architecture, elegant interiors, and relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. It’s not your average wedding venue — it’s somewhere with real character and history, offering something a bit different for your big day. You’ll have access to some of Liverpool’s most stunning rooms — from the famous Newsroom, with its historic charm and grand surroundings, to the more intimate Committee Room, perfect for private dining or smaller gatherings. The Dining Room is also ideal for a relaxed, high-quality meal with friends and family, with menus built around fresh, seasonal produce. The Athenaeum is available for exclusive hire, so the entire building can be yours for the day — giving you and your guests complete privacy to celebrate in style. Whether you’re planning a traditional reception, a relaxed drinks gathering, or an unforgettable dinner, the space can be tailored to suit your plans. The team here has experience working with high-profile guests, so you can expect discreet, professional service throughout — with every detail taken care of to make your day run smoothly.

And because The Athenaeum is tucked away in the city centre, you’re right on the doorstep of Liverpool’s best hotels, transport links, and landmarks — perfect for your guests and photos. It’s a venue with history, character, and atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else — making your wedding reception something truly memorable.

Wedding Photographs at The Athenaeum

If you’re looking for wedding photographs with real character, The Athenaeum is the perfect backdrop. The building is full of beautiful, historic spaces that are ideal for relaxed, natural photos — no cheesy poses, just genuine moments in surroundings that do the talking. The famous Newsroom, with its grand interiors and historic details, is one of the most photogenic rooms in Liverpool. The Library, with its glass mezzanine and rows of old books, adds atmosphere and charm, while the Committee Room offers something a little more intimate and traditional. You’re also right in the heart of Liverpool city centre, so it’s easy to step outside for photos in and around nearby landmarks like Bluecoat Chambers, or even the cobbled streets tucked away behind Church Alley. The mix of classical architecture, historic interiors, and a city centre location means you’ll have a brilliant variety of backdrops for your wedding photos — all without needing to travel far. And because the building can be exclusively yours for the day, your photographer can capture everything in a calm, private setting, without interruptions.

History of The Athenaeum

Towards the end of the 18th century, England was locked in a long, expensive war with France. As the country’s biggest port on the western seaboard, Liverpool played a key role in that effort. For Liverpool’s merchants and professionals to keep business running smoothly — and for the city itself to continue growing — access to reliable commercial and political information was essential. Back then, the main way to get news was through newspapers and periodicals, usually read in coffee houses. But these places were often noisy, busy, and far from ideal for anyone wanting to concentrate. It soon became clear that Liverpool needed somewhere more comfortable where people could sit, read, and talk — and that’s how the idea for a club was born. In 1797, a group of Liverpool’s leading citizens sent out a document titled Outlines of a Plan for a Library and Newsroomto potential supporters. In typical no-nonsense 18th-century style, the opening line read:

"It has often been a matter of surprise to many inhabitants of this place, and still more to strangers, that in a town of such commercial and national importance as Liverpool, the conveniences and accommodation for the acquisition of knowledge, both local and general, both ancient and modern, should be so imperfect as they most confessedly are."

The timing couldn’t have been better. Liverpool’s rise as a major port in the 18th century had been remarkable. By 1792, the city handled around 17% of all trade passing through English ports. The population grew from just 25,000 in 1760 to 77,000 by 1801, bringing with it not only merchants and ship owners, but an expanding class of professionals — lawyers, doctors, clergy, and the like. The new club aimed to supply a steady flow of newspapers from both town and country, the best periodicals of the day, and pamphlets covering everything from politics to commerce. But the vision went beyond news — the founders wanted the club to provide books for learning, discussion, and entertainment. They felt Liverpool’s existing library, set up in 1758, wasn’t quite hitting the mark. Interestingly, this idea didn’t come from London, where most clubs were either political or focused on gambling. More serious clubs like the London Athenaeum and Garrick Club only arrived years later. Liverpool was ahead of the curve. By January 1st, 1799, the new building was ready enough to open its newsroom, with the library following on May 1st, 1800. The club was based on Church Street, near Clayton Square and St. Peter’s Church. The founders chose the name Athenaeum, after the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athene (hence the slightly unusual spelling). The club stayed on that original site for nearly 150 years, but by the late 1920s, Liverpool was changing. The council needed to widen Church Street to cope with growing traffic, which meant St. Peter’s Church and the Athenaeum building were earmarked for demolition.

After lengthy negotiations, the Athenaeum secured a long lease on a new building in nearby Church Alley. They brought in an architect to design the interior to reflect the style of the original building, and by 1928, the Athenaeum had a new home. You can still see a brass cross set into Church Street marking the spot where the altar of St. Peter’s once stood — the Athenaeum now sits on the churchyard.

The Athenaeum has always been a haven in the heart of Liverpool — a place for conversation, ideas, and the sharing of knowledge, away from the hustle of the city. Over 225 years later, that ethos remains the same, and today the club continues to offer a welcoming, elegant space just a stone’s throw from the Bluecoat in Church Alley. Alongside its famous Newsroom — still the most impressive space of its kind in Liverpool — the Athenaeum houses a highly respected library, an inviting dining room, and smaller rooms for meetings and events. It’s open weekdays from 10:00am to 11:00pm, and Saturdays from 10:00am to 8:30pm. Sundays are closed unless booked for special occasions like weddings (yes, the club is licensed for them). The building is available to hire for private events, though there’s no overnight accommodation — but members get access to discounted rates at nearby hotels. The club’s membership — known as Proprietors — has always been diverse, drawn from all walks of life, both in Liverpool and beyond. Early Proprietors were involved in the national campaign to abolish slavery, although ongoing research is examining the more complex history of the club’s connections to the trade of enslaved people and the full story of its abolitionist links. You can find more details on that research elsewhere. Today’s Proprietors include clergy, lawyers, doctors, academics, business leaders, military members, and many others. At the heart of the Athenaeum is its extraordinary library — one of the finest proprietary libraries in the country. In 1848, Washington Irving visited Liverpool and described the Athenaeum in his Sketchbook:

"One of the first places to which a stranger is taken in Liverpool is the Athenaeum; it contains a good library and a spacious reading room and is the great literary resource of the place."

That “good library” has grown into something remarkable. With its vast collection of books, maps, prints, and charts, the Athenaeum now holds one of the most important regional history resources in the UK. While the library is primarily for the use of Proprietors, access can be arranged for researchers by agreement with the Committee. The Athenaeum may be over two centuries old, but it remains as relevant as ever — proud of its heritage, open to new ideas, and committed to avoiding the stuffy atmosphere often associated with private clubs.

The Athenaeum Today

Liverpool’s hidden gem, right in the heart of the city centre. For over two centuries, the club has provided a welcoming, laid-back space for members and their guests to catch up with old friends or make new connections. The Club today includes, The Newsroom, The Library, The Dining Room, The Committee Room with modern facilities throughout

The Newsroom

This is without doubt one of Liverpool’s most beautiful and historic spaces — and the perfect spot to unwind, meet friends, or entertain guests. The Newsroom serves freshly prepared food and drinks throughout the day, with a full bar, quality coffee, and a fantastic menu, all delivered with warm, personal service. They’ve got the daily papers, a wide selection of magazines, and a calm, comfortable atmosphere — whether you fancy reading, relaxing, or catching up with good company.

The Library

The heart of The Athenaeum is its famous library — known not just in Liverpool, but much further afield. The reading room itself has been described as “one of the handsomest rooms in Europe” and regularly features as a location for TV and film. The library holds around 60,000 books across two floors, including a unique glass mezzanine. You’ll also find rare books and the renowned Roscoe collection in the Newsroom and Committee Room.

It’s an incredible resource for anyone interested in history, literature, or simply spending time in a truly special space.

The Dining Room

Tucked away on the top floor of the building, The Dining Room is one of the city centre’s best-kept secrets when it comes to eating out. Whether you’re after classic favourites or something more adventurous, the menu is always built around top-quality ingredients and fresh produce.

We’re proud of the standards we’ve set in the Dining Room — it’s the perfect place for a relaxed lunch with friends, or a great choice for a business meeting over excellent food, all in an intimate, peaceful setting.

The Committee Room

The Committee Room is one of Liverpool’s most elegant spaces for meetings, private dining, or special events. Every new member joining the Club since 1928 has had their membership approved within these four walls — they’ve seen plenty of history. Today, the room regularly hosts board meetings for organisations from across the city and beyond. It also makes a brilliant setting for small private dinners, with top-class food served in surroundings full of character and tradition.