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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Amy Browne & Jess Molyneux

MTV after parties and private Lady Gaga shows at lost city bar

For nearly 15 years, Liverpool's Newz Bar attracted a number of famous faces from Merseyside and beyond.

Launched in 2000 by businessmen Paul and Julian Flanagan, its glittering guest list included everyone from Lady Gaga and Ne-Yo, to various members of Girls Aloud and countless premier league footballers.

Newz Bar closed its doors in 2014 and the site has since been two different restaurants - and will soon become a branch of the US franchise Hooters.

Read More: Hidden TikTok Blitz beach that tells the story of lost Liverpool

But it is still remembered by all those who went there - including a number of local and international celebrities.

Here, we look back at a number of well-known names and moments in Newz Bar's history.

MTV awards after party

All eyes were on Liverpool in November 2008 when the city hosted the MTV European Music Awards.

Afterwards, the city turned into one giant after party, with A-listers sipping champagne at Liverpool’s most exclusive venues - including Newz bar.

US rock band The Killers stole the show at the EMAs with their performance of Human, then promptly headed for Newz Bar’s VIP area where bass player Mark Stoermer told the ECHO: "Liverpool is one of the greatest musical cities. We’ve played here before but never at the arena, it was awesome."

Singer Akon was in a nearby booth having splashed out £10,000 on 30 bottles of Dom Perignon Rose and Cristal champagne. Hollyoaks cast members Ricky Whittle and Sarah Jayne Dunn also attended.

Pussycat Dolls and Lady Gaga after show party

When the Pussycat Dolls performed at the Echo Arena, they were supported by Lady Gaga, who had only recently burst onto the music scene.

In February 2009, Newz hosted the star-studded after party and the image above captures the now Grammy-award winner leaving New Zealand House.

Lady Gaga held a one hour performance at the venue and had pre-requested a special custom-made microphone to fit her outfit.

Amongst the guests were Alex Curran and Sheree Murphy, as well as Pussycat Doll Jessica Sutta.

Singer Ne-Yo performs

American RnB superstar Ne-Yo sent party-goers into meltdown when he showed up at Newz Bar to perform a handful of hits in 2009.

Singing to fans from the bar’s staircase in 2009, he later headed up to the VIP lounge.

Afterwards, he was heard saying: "I've never seen a bar like this before. The crowd is unbelievable."

What do you miss most about the past? Attractions, lost venues or perhaps the way of life. Take a look at our nostalgia survey

MOBOs after party

Liverpool's Rebecca Ferguson and her friends headed to the Water Street venue after the 2012 MOBO Awards, held at the Echo Arena.

Olympic champion boxer and later Strictly-star Nicola Adams was also amongst the VIPs sipping champagne on the night.

The venue also laid on VIP booths after the award ceremony’s 2010 visit to the city.

What are your memories of Liverpool's nightlife from years gone by? Let us know in the comments section below.

Liverpool vs Essex Fashion Show

The Only Way Is Essex twins Adam and Simon Ryan hosted a battle of the fashionistas in September 2011.

Liverpool designers and boutiques went head-to-head with some of Essex’s best dressmakers, on the catwalk.

Britain’s Got Talent star Pippa Langhorne, famous for her opera-singing duet with dog Buddy, also performed for guests.

Prime Minister’s visit

When the then-PM Gordon Brown was in Liverpool for a meeting at the BT Convention Centre, he took the time to call into Newz Bar during a Labour Party private reception.

In January 2009, he arrived via a rear entrance, gave a speech to his supporters, then spent the night mingling before leaving just after 9pm.

David Moyes was also among the guests.

Celebs celebrate their birthdays at Newz bar

X Factor star Rebecca Ferguson at Newz Bar (Ian Fairbrother)

At one point, Newz Bar was the only place Liverpool’s movers and shakers wanted celebrate turning another year older.

Rebecca Ferguson hosted her 25th birthday bash there in 2011, while Atomic Kitten Liz McClarnon spent her 27th birthday sipping cocktails in the bar.

In 2005, actress Jennifer Ellison was treated to a surprise bash for her 22nd birthday, where tables were covered in rose petals, sparkling crystals and ice buckets containing magnums of Laurent Perrier Rose.

Back in 2004, a then-Alex Curran, now Gerrard, celebrated her 24th at the venue, where she arrived in red hot pants and Stella McCartney boots.

The Lily Centre charity fundraisers

Newz Bar hosted many charity events during its time, but the Lily Centre fundraisers were amongst the most star-studded.

In November 2007 Jamie Carragher, Coleen Rooney and then-Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez attended its Grand Charity Ball.

Earlier that year, Girls Aloud pals Nicola Roberts and a then-Cheryl Tweedy turned up for a fashion show organised to raise funds for the Scotland Road support group, run by women who have had breast cancer.

The bandmates were also pictured at Newz Bar after attending the 2003 Grand National at Aintree.

After Newz Bar closed its doors in 2014, businessman Riad Erraji moved in, transforming the site as trendy restaurant Amanzi.

Amanzi launched just before Christmas with a glamorous VIP opening party where the guest list included Alex Gerrard, Hollyoaks cast members Sophie Austin and Nikki Sanderson, former Desperate Scousewives star Amanda Harrington and Big Brother's Mark Byron.

But despite Amanzi briefly flourishing and becoming popular with city footballers, boxers and telly stars, it closed toward the end of 2015.

Join our Liverpool memories and history Facebook group here

In the summer of 2016, it was announced that the site was to reopen as District House and there was glittering launch party after Know Restaurants Water Street Limited invested £1m in transforming New Zealand House into a new restaurant and bar.

But by January 2017, it closed just six months after opening after owners Know Restaurants Water Street Limited (KRWSL) went into liquidation, seeing 30 workers lose their jobs as a result of the closure.

Fast-forward to this year, on February 15, the Liverpool ECHO reported how Hooters has been granted a licence to open a restaurant in the vacant New Zealand House on Water Street

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