I can now pass on details of Andrew Richardson’s really great-sounding walk and afternoon tea treat at the top of Liverpool’s West Tower.

We start by visiting the Apart-Hotel, formerly Lewis’s department store, to see the fabulous tiled murals and carved wooden panels depicting the History of Liverpool in the famous former fifth floor cafeteria. The murals, of food and crockery, are in Festival of Britain style by Carter’s of Poole. TileSoc members and Modernists drool over them! The former Lewis’s is rightly grade 2 listed. Then we’ll take a slow, meandering down-hill walk through the shopping and business areas, looking at 35 exceptional buildings in all styles, including American, but all within ‘our’ period. Herbert Rowse will be worshipped, naturally, and we’ll see a variety of fine C21 buildings, one still being built.

Finally, at 4pm, we’ll rise above it all to Panoramic 34, Britain’s highest restaurant (we ignore the Shard) on the 34th floor of the beautiful West Tower. Here we’ll enjoy the breathtaking views and take afternoon tea. If you can, bring binoculars! The cost for afternoon tea at The Panorama is £20 (pay on the day; no concessions), which may seem a lot for afternoon tea, but it is in the highest and smartest place in the city and we’ll have a set of good notes by Andrew plus all his research to enjoy. The Panoramic prefers ‘smart casual’ attire: I don’t have to tell smart Liverpudlians what that means (remember it could rain in early September) and I know that you will dazzle! Booking is essential, as due to its size, our group must not exceed 20 persons, and with five on the list already there are only 15 places left. Please email me, Aidan Turner-Bishop, as soon as you can to book.

We meet at 1.45pm (13.45) under the Epstein statue outside Lewis’s at the corner of Ranelagh and Renshaw Streets, Liverpool. This will be a true C20 NW treat so book early.

Aidan TB, C20 NW