Royal Albert Dock will celebrate the 130th anniversary of its opening this month.
The Liverpool landmark has revealed a spectacular programme of large-scale photography, world-class contemporary dockside dining and community storytelling.
Officially opened by Prince Albert on July 30, 1846, the summer celebrations will begin on the evening of Thursday, July 30 with a new Dock Short Lates projection.
The Maritime Museum’s facade on the inner quay is set to be transformed into a giant open-air gallery with the help of acclaimed local photographer Mark McNulty.
Famed for doumenting the city’s music, nightlife and cultural renaissance since the 1980s, McNulty’s work will paint a cinematic history of the dock from 9.45pm to 11pm.
To complement the visual experience, Gusto Albert Dock will host a limited, one-night-only dining experience on July 30 with only 180 spaces available for the event.
The contemporary Italian restaurant has crafted a bespoke heritage menu with each dish weaving in subtle influences from the dock’s original 19th-century trade routes.
Exotic spices, citrus fruits, and rich rums that once arrived at the Mersey quayside on global merchant vessels will be incorporated to the culinary offerings.
After dinner, guests can head out to Gusto’s newly refurbished terrace, which will provide the perfect viewing platform to enjoy the projection.
The birthday night is the catalyst for a broader summer-long community campaign, where members of the public will be asked to share their personal photographs of the dock from across the decades, from nostalgic family days out in the ’80s to modern-day selfies on the colonnades.
A total of 180 images will be selected to feature in a permanent digital memory book and on a Dock Shorts projection for a grand finale at the end of September.
Royal Albert Dock’s estate manager Sean Morrison said: “The Royal Albert Dock is a magnificent piece of engineering, but what truly defines it is the generations of Liverpool people who have made it their own.
“For 180 years, these colonnades have been the backdrop to everything from casual first dates and family traditions to global cultural moments.
“We are thrilled to partner with a legendary local talent like Mark McNulty and our brilliant tenants like Gusto to celebrate our past, before we hand the storytelling over to the public ahead of our major finale in September.”
For more information, visit albertdock.com/dock-180