03 September 2010

Liverpool adverts

I remember this advert from the early 90s fairly vividly, from widely-parodied ‘it’s not at all work, work, work’ to its stunning soundtrack, the wonderful Jan Hammer’s Crockett’s Theme, which manages to make filling up a sodding cash machine seem exciting and dangerous.

It’s notable for its shots of Liverpool and the Castle Street branch of NatWest, which is actually where I bank these days. Those impressive iron gates are still in place, even if the interior seems to have had something of a makeover.

It got me thinking - sure there’s your Boys From the Blackstuff and Bread and GBH - but are there any other examples of Liverpool seen on adverts? I can think of a Hovis one somewhere around Catharine Street and a National Lottery one around Water Street (?).

Not forgetting, of course, this Foxy Bingo thing, shot on Lark Lane. I walked past some of the decked-out shops the day before and went to bed chuffed with the knowledge that a new bakery was opening on the Lane.

Sadly, it was just a giant, lecherous, gambling Mancunian fox. C’est la Vie. eh?

• What other evidence exists of our lovely city in advertising? Surely there’s a Bread spoof, or something at Anfield, or something about The Beatles? Let us know below.

Your Comments

9 Comments so far

  1. The whole of this Hovis advert was filmed in Liverpool, not just in the Georgian Quarter (Percy Street was the location of the Suffragettes bit, and Falkner Street the first world war sequence).

    There’s also a Vodafone ad from the 90s(?) that shows the Pier Head and focuses on Pilgrim Street.

  2. This Ladbrokes ad no doubt took advantage of the empty weekend streets in the commercial district:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ODGv-VtjdU

    while the RAC use Liverpool and New Brighton to represent the whole of the UK:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiA8sWSCGYQ

  3. Robin says:

    I’d forgotten that Vodaphone ad, even more bizarre since that link points to my blog.

  4. Andy says:

    Milk, who could forget Accccccrington Stanley??

  5. Lydia says:

    There was also an Injury Lawyers for You advert with him-off-the-bill that was shot in Unity on Chapel Street (although they intercut it with skyline shots of London to make it look like it was filmed there).

    I’m almost ashamed that I know this.

  6. Lydia says:

    here’s a link for the IL4U advert

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS_zcPOzb1k

  7. Ursula Hardaker says:

    Sainsbury’s Jamie Oliver advert for Christmas 2009 was shot in Liverpool. The film crew had spent hours outside the Liver Building and were ready to shoot when the RLB fire alarms went off and nearly 2000 of us trooped outside to spoil the shot. The finished ad only had a fleeting glimpse of the Liver Buildings clock tower in the opening second.

  8. Peter says:

    1987 Coca Cola advert filmed in St George’s Hall: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4B7FTSlXBM


Share your view

Post a comment

New Amsterdam?

— A new album by Amsterdam's guitarist is, appropriately enough, more low country than high drama...

Notable & noticed
03 September 2010

Liverpool adverts

— I remember this advert from the early 90s fairly vividly, from widely-parodied ‘it’s not at all work, work, work’ to its stunning soundtrack, the wonderful...

01 September 2010

Liverpool’s Best on BBC 4

— Look, Sky, we can believe in better all we like, but we’re never going to get architectural historian Dr Jonathan Foyle salivating over Liverpool’s great...

Our picks

If Only! At the Bluecoat

Tales of the Unexpected as a night of endless possibilities returns - If Only...! at The Bluecoat.

Liverpool Premier for Phoenix Dance

Leeds' excellent Phoenix Dance Theatre premiere a new show - and an old favourite - in Liverpool next month.

Ten Non-Beatle Things To Do This Weekend

Ten things to do this Bank Holiday weekend. And not one tribute band in sight. Oh, ok, just one...

This is Green Liverpool

A street fete with a difference, and one to really celebrate too: get down to This is Green Liverpool tomorrow at The Bluecoat...
The best of Sevenstreets, directly to your inbox

© 2010 Sevenstreets.com | All rights reserved