Tobacco Warehouse, Liverpool
Maja Lorkowska, Exhibitions Editor
Standing quayside at Stanley Dock some way outside the city centre, Tobacco Warehouse is a Grade II listed building and the world’s largest brick built warehouse comprising 1.5 million square feet. It was built in 1898-1901 and designed by architect A. G. Lyster and at the height of Liverpool’s success as a trading port it stored imported rum and played a large part in the city’s colonial economy. There were 42 docks in Liverpool between 1715-1929, making it the UK’s second largest port and with so much activity, it was one of the busiest in the world.
Tobacco Warehouse is an enormous building and while it’s no longer serving its original purpose, it makes for a fantastic venue for multiple purposes. It’s currently being converted into luxury flats but with such an abundance of space there is also room for other activities: the Warehouse is one of the main venues of the 2023 Liverpool Biennial.
