The tower’s time as a radio studio came to an end in December
Liverpool’s iconic Radio City Tower, St Johns Beacon(Image: Liverpool Echo/Colin Lane)
An “exciting” future for St Johns Beacon has been teased as its time as a radio studio has come to an end. The final shows from the beacon aired on Christmas Eve as Bauer Media, the company which owns Hits Radio Liverpool (formerly known as Radio City), decided not to renew its lease on the city centre landmark and moved out.
The tower had been the home of the station since its 2000 move from studios on Stanley Street but the exit from the tower was the latest of many recent changes. Radio City, which was established in 1974, aired an increased amount of networked programming and Bauer changed the station’s name to Hits Radio Liverpool in April.
December 24’s Hits Radio Liverpool and Greatest Hits breakfast shows were the last to be broadcast live from the tower. Bauer said in October that the Greatest Hits Radio Breakfast will broadcast nationally from its North West hub while the Hits Radio Liverpool Breakfast will continue to broadcast from the city.
Bauer’s tenancy for the building came to an end on December 31 and the beacon is now closed. However, Bauer continues to lease the Radio City 96.7 sign and is currently engaging in consultation with the landlord and relevant planning authorities over changing the sign to Hits Radio.
As for what’s next for the tower itself, a hint arrived on social media yesterday (January 1). On X (formerly Twitter), St Johns Beacon said: “As one chapter ends, another begins. As Radio City’s tenancy ends, the time is right for St Johns Beacon to have a breather whilst it undergoes a much-needed makeover ahead of an exciting new venture, details of which will be announced right here in due course.”
Current Bauer staff and former Radio City employees have been saying their goodbyes in recent days. Simon Ross, who spent a long time on Radio City and now presents Greatest Hits Radio Breakfast, posted on X (formerly Twitter) on December 30 saying: “Heading down for my final little look around the tower, my place of work for 20 years. So many happy memories and good times.”
Former presenter Pete Price went into the tower on December 30 to collect his Liverpool citizen of honour plaque, which had been on the wall. Posting on X, he said: “Goodbye Radio City Tower you have been such an important part of my life. All those nights looking over those remarkable views of our city, the Wirral and North Wales made my job a total pleasure – I never took it for granted.
“Working for Radio City, especially broadcasting from the Tower, was surreal and shaped who I am today. Goodbye old friend, thanks for the memories and friends I’ve made.”