File:The Beatles Experience, Liverpool 40.jpg

The cavern was the basement cellar of an
old fruit warehouse, which during the
Second World War had been used as an
air raid shelter, then later as an egg
packing station. The warehouse was one
of many on a small, cobbled back street
called Mathew Street, in the middle of
Liverpool's commercial district.




  In 1957, a young businessman called
Alan Sytner had been working in Paris
where he visited a club called Le Caveau
de la Huchette. Impressed by its moody,
bohemian atmosphere, he decided he
would like to open a similar club in England.
Alan returned to Liverpool where he
discovered No.10 Mathew Street. He
opened it as a club on the 16th June, 1957.

  A keen jazz fan, Alan employed the
most popular local jazz bands to perform
and soon the Cavern became one of the
liveliest nightspots in town, frequented
mostly by students and avant-garde
characters. In 1959, the club was bought
by Ray McFall.

  One evening in January 1960, a jazz
festival was organised with star bands such
as Acker Bilk's topping the bill. Some local
bands were also booked, among them
Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. They were
warned that it was a jazz night only, but
after a couple of sedate, pleasant numbers
Rory broke into a real rocker, ‘A Whole Lot
of Shakin’ Foin’ On’. The regular clientele
complained and said they wanted their
beloved jazz back.

However, as the weeks went by Ray McFall
found that the beat groups were bringing
in more custom than the jazz. Ray also
noticed that young office workers were
spending their lunch hours hanging around
music stores such as Hessy’s. This gave
him the idea to put on lunchtime sessions
at the Cavern

Because of the number of groups
appearing in the city, the Cavern had no
difficulty in attracting bands and all the
top names of the Merseybeat era
performed at the club.

 On 21st March 1961, the Beatles appeared
for the first time at the Cavern.