Hits Radio to Leave St John’s Beacon

Hits Radio Liverpool will be leaving its longtime home at St John’s Beacon after 25 years. Bauer Media Audio UK, the station's owner, announced that it will not renew the lease for the space at the top of the iconic 453-foot tower, which has been a prominent feature of the city skyline.

The Grade II-listed tower, opened in 1969 by Queen Elizabeth II, originally featured a revolving restaurant known as the ‘Tower Restaurant’ and included a public observation deck. However, the restaurant closed in 1979 due to health and safety concerns, later reopening as a space-themed venue called the ‘Buck Rogers’ restaurant in the early 1980s, which also shut down shortly after.

In 1998, Emap Radio, the then-owners of Radio City, undertook a £5 million refurbishment of the tower, moving the commercial station from its original location on Stanley Street. This renovation was completed in 2000, and the tower was subsequently renamed the Radio City Tower. Despite its rich history, Bauer Media has opted not to extend the lease, with the final broadcasts from the tower scheduled for Tuesday, December 24.

After the closure, Greatest Hits Radio Breakfast will transition to broadcast nationally from Bauer's North West hub, while Hits Radio Liverpool Breakfast will continue from a different location in the city. A spokesperson for Bauer stated, “We are incredibly proud to have been part of the vibrant history of the Grade II-listed St Johns Beacon. This next step enables us to invest in facilities that better support our vision and evolving needs.”

Bauer Media Audio will retain the lease for the Radio City 96.7 signage and is currently in discussions with the landlord and planning authorities regarding a potential change to the sign to reflect Hits Radio. The tower features 558 stairs leading to the top, alongside two lift shafts that allow lifts to reach the summit in just 30 seconds. It stands independently from the St Johns shopping centre, with its foundation resting on sandstone.