Exclusive club hidden behind Liverpool's Primark opening to public for free

Only a select group of people have set foot inside the club05:00, 23 Aug 2026One of the city's "best kept secrets" is opening its doors for free next month - when members usually pay thousands of pounds. Hidden in plain sight above one of Liverpool's busiest shopping streets, directly opposite Primark, sits the Athenaeum.‌It is the city’s oldest members-only club, set inside a beautiful historic building in the heart of the city centre on Church Alley. As part of the Heritage Open Days festival, the public is invited to go behind the doors and find out what keeps the club ticking. It is just one of 150 activities that will be completely free in Merseyside from Friday, September 11, to Sunday, September 20.‌Tucked away from the hustle and bustle, The Athenaeum opened in 1797, and only a sel