The Slipper Baths Cafe- Byrne Avenue Baths

Aim: Byrne Avenue Baths is reopening in September 21. This funding will allow us to open “The Slipper Baths Cafe” at the same time.

Byrne Avenue Trust was set up to rescue, restore and re-open Byrne Avenue Baths in the heart of Rock Ferry, Wirral.  We have undertaken the first phase of a substantial restoration/renovation and this much loved building will be opening to the public in September 2021 as a Sports and Community Centre, 90 years after the Foundation Stone was first laid.

The aims of Byrne Avenue Trust are simply: Community; Health; Heritage.

We aim to provide a range of sporting opportunities, community activities and social events for our local community whilst preserving and promoting the history and heritage of this beautiful building. Sports will include football, badminton, table tennis, netball, walking football and Zumba. There will be healthy activities for everyone, including those who may not have been active for a while.

Covid may have delayed us, but it hasn't beaten us. We are on track to open in September.

Images of the Sports hall before and after the ceiling restoration.

The Slipper Baths Cafe

While parts of the building will reopen in September, we don't yet have all the funding to open the cafe. With your help we are looking to open our “Slipper Baths Cafe" in October 21. The cafe is situated in the old Gents Slipper Baths, a place where local residents used to come and pay a couple of pence to take a hot bath, because local houses didn’t have any such facilities. You were given a towel but had to bring your own bubble bath! Four of the original slipper Baths are still intact and will be a great feature of the cafe and will be on public view.

Site of the Slipper Baths Cafe.

How much do we need?

We have already raised the money to undertake work on the Sports Hall, community room, new kitchen and office and to refurbish the toilets -  the overall cost of phase one being over £600,000. Now we are asking our supporters and the community to help us raise the last  funding  to get “The Slipper Baths Cafe” open  - just £20,000. We are so close to being able to provide a comfortable space to relax after sport or to wait while your children play with their teams.

The money will pay for a new floor, lighting and electrics, to spruce the place up with new paint and to fit a unique cafe counter using wood that we have recycled from the original 1930s sports hall floor. That floor is being restored and relaid but needs new backing boards so the originals are being used to make the counter!

Three ways to get involved

Please support us in the following ways.

1. Pledge money in return for a variety of rewards. You will see them on this page and they're our way of saying thank you for your support.

2. Spread the word. We need to reach as many people as possible and tell them about this fantastic community project so share the page on your social media pages.

3. Can you help with rewards? Are you a local business who could donate a limited edition reward ? It could be cakes, afternoon tea, or goodie bags the choice is yours. Please get in touch and play a part in what we're doing with rewards. This is a community effort.

This project successfully funded on 31st August 2021