The iconic Casbah Coffee Club, known for being one of the earliest venues where the Beatles performed, is now being transformed into an Airbnb. The club, located in the cellar of a Liverpool home owned by Mona Best, the mother of original Beatles drummer Pete Best, will offer guests the opportunity to stay in Beatles-themed rooms filled with memorabilia from the band.
Pete Best, now 82 years old, reminisces about the band’s time at the Casbah, stating that “The Beatles played here, the Beatles partied here and the Beatles slept here.” The building, situated in the West Derby area of Liverpool, was purchased by Mona after winning an unlikely bet at the 1954 Epsom Derby. She pawned all her jewelry and placed the money on a horse named “Never Say Die,” winning the house in the process.
Mona’s knack for making bold decisions didn’t stop there. She transformed the cellar of the house into a music venue and acted as the club’s promoter when she opened the Casbah Coffee Club in 1959. This move made her the first female promoter in a male-dominated industry at the time.
The club quickly became a hub for up-and-coming bands, with the likes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney performing there with their group, the Quarrymen, before they became the Beatles. The band played at the Casbah more than 40 times, with Pete Best eventually joining as the drummer in 1960.
After the club closed in 1962, the British government granted it protected heritage status in 2006, and it reopened as a tourist attraction. Now, guests can immerse themselves in the Beatles’ history by staying in rooms named after band members like Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, Best, and Sutcliffe. The rooms are adorned with posters, guitars, and photographs, creating an authentic Beatles experience.
Notably, there is no room named after Ringo Starr, who replaced Pete as the band’s drummer in 1962. However, the Best brothers clarify that this decision was made to stay true to the original lineup of John, Paul, George, Pete, and Stuart Sutcliffe.
Pete believes that his mother would be proud of the legacy they have built at the Casbah Coffee Club. He expresses that she would be delighted to see the renovated house and the continuation of the Beatles’ legacy. The Airbnb offers guests a chance to step back in time and experience where the legendary band began their journey to superstardom.
