The Neptune curtain fell for the final time in 2005 to enable renovation works to commence. Now in 2008, our year as Capital of Culture in case you had forgotten, this city centre cultural gem remains closed despite £805.000 being allocated by Liverpool City Council for its refurb.

It’s all due to a financial stand off regarding the rental value and lease terms between LCC and Hanover Estates Management who hold the lease but rent it back to the council…

The city executive argue that this is a corporate issue rather than political however Labour culture spokesman Cllr Steve Rotherham said the situation is “symptomatic” of the council’s “who is going to blink first” style of negotiation.

Save the Neptune Campaign, chaired by Dean Sullivan, (Brookside) is a recently formed lobby group set up to monitor and ensure that the Council realise their obligations to preserve this grade II listed building as a live performance venue and return it to the community who have valued it so much in the past.

You can add your support along with Dame Judi Dench, Paul O’Grady and Claire Sweeny by emailing the campaign at savetheneptune@blueyonder.co.uk Your email will go a long way in demonstrating to LCC the scale of support for the Neptune.