Back in the noughties, Newz Bar was where all the celebs wanted to hang out - and so did we.
One of the city-centre's best known bars, the Water Street venue quickly became an integral part of the entertainment scene, regularly attracting local A-listers and those visiting the city.
It’s glittering guest list included everyone from Lady Gaga and Ne-Yo, to Coleen Rooney, various members of Girls Aloud and countless premier league footballers.
Read More: Years of Merseyside's grassroots sports celebrated in Memory Lane special
Newz Bar closed its doors in 2014, but is still remembered as a "legendary" Liverpool institution that "had it all."
It's now been 22 years ago since businessmen Paul and Julian Flanagan launched Newz Bar in New Zealand House and the site has since been two different restaurants - and will soon become a branch of the US franchise Hooters.
The Flanagan brothers invested £1m transforming a former office equipment shop into the trendy city centre brasserie style bar.
The venue opened in 2000 and proved to be a huge success, becoming the place to be for the city’s glitterati and visiting celebs during the noughties.
City starlets Jennifer Ellison and Alex Curran were regular faces on Saturday nights, along with Hollyoaks actors and a legion of Premier League footballers.
Carolyn Hughes did the PR for Living Room and Mosquito at the time and shared many celebrity clients with Newz Bar, seeing guests party between the venues.
She told the ECHO: "Newz Bar was definitely one of Liverpool’s highest profile and most successful bars. It was a fabulous space and hosted many an after party and launch events.
"They also played host to Downtown Liverpool in Business ‘Sexy Networking’ events. These events definitely put networking events onto the map.
"From celebrities, to footballers, models to WAGS, weekend party-goers to corporate entertaining - Newz Bar had it all."
Over the years, Newz Bar was undoubtedly at the centre of many memories. But Carolyn said she still remembers one particular moment today.
She said: "I was actually in the Newz Bar the day the planes went into the Twin Towers in New York.
"It was surreal – I was having lunch with John Kilgallon from Harrington Street Chambers and as the Newz Bar had big TV screens all around. We both thought it was a movie trailer at first.
"Then the realisation of what we were watching kicked in."
In 2004, a then-Alex Curran, now Alex Gerrard, celebrated her 24th birthday at the venue, sporting red hot pants and Stella McCartney boots.
The following year, 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.
In 2007, Harvey from So Solid Crew and Liverpool footballer Emile Heskey were also spotted there.
In the mid noughties, Newz Bar continued to attract celebrities from Merseyside and beyond, such as US band The Killers who spent the night in the bar’s VIP area after the 2008 MTV European Music Awards.
In 2009, American RnB superstar Ne-Yo sent party-goers into meltdown when he showed up at Newz Bar to perform a handful of hits and Lady GaGa wowed, performing a set of five songs at the venue after supporting The Pussycat Dolls at the Echo Arena.
What are your memories of Newz Bar? Let us know in the comments section below.
That same year, the bar was picked to host a speech by the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who addressed an audience of Labour Party activists, city business leaders and public sector figures.
Frank McKenna, Chief Executive of Downtown in Business, said: "The Newz Bar was a regular haunt for me back in the day, and Downtown in Business utilised the facility on many occasions.
"Most memorably we hosted an event with the Prime Minister Gordon Brown in the venue. We packed the place out, and Gordon addressed a few hundred Scousers from the infamous Newz Bar balcony.
"David Moyes was among the guests, and it was a really great night. Downtown also celebrated its third or fourth anniversary there too – and we did a couple of photo shoots in the Newz too.
"Great memories, great times."
But later in the year the bar ran into licensing problems, after a spate of violence.
The ECHO previously reported how there were reports of fights, and on one occasion a former Liverpool FC trainee was stabbed.
The owners beefed up security, installing a knife arch, and managed to hold on to their license.
In 2011, the bar hosted a Liverpool v Essex Fashion Show, while Atomic Kitten Liz McClarnon spent her 27th birthday sipping cocktails in the bar.
The following year, stars such as Rebecca Ferguson headed straight to Newz after the 2012 MOBO Awards.
But in 2014, Newz Bar closed its door - and now only memories and photos of it remain.
Carolyn said she thinks the city misses venues like Newz Bar and Living Room, which were places "you could go for lunch and still be there at midnight."
She said: "They made the most of the space and hosted everything from fashion shows, to premieres. They were a complete destination venue and built up a vast, loyal and regular clientele.
"I know many people who met at Newz Bar and married and so many people have celebrated special occasions there, made life-changing decisions there, sealed some of the city’s biggest business deals there.
"It is legendary on the Liverpool social scene and those type of venues are very much missed in the city."
For those who frequented the bar at the time, the fond, funny and best memories live on.
@The_Broski_Boot tweeted: "My sister in law on her birthday night out trying to get with an Everton player while her boyfriend looked on.
"The boyfriend went over and took back the £300 shoes he had bought her for her birthday off her feet, took them outside and threw them under oncoming traffic."
@DGTotalPhoto tweeted: "Played a gig in there once. Was a battle of the bands type thing and we were a grunge band on with three pretentious indie outfits… we didn’t go down well."
@mrmcchrystal wrote: "Some girl came up to me thinking I was Thomas Graverson."
@mrgrumpyyyy said: "Pretending to be a Liverpool youth player to blag birds."
And @LesleyField5 posted: "Going in through the back door ALL THE TIME."
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.
The popular haunt for celebrities re-opened its doors with around 400 VIP guests in attendance after undergoing a multi-million pound transformation into a "truly special restaurant."
At the time Mr Erraji told The ECHO: "We’re really pleased to be breathing life back into the former Newz Bar, which was once at the heart of Liverpool’s nightlife."
The interior was dripping with state-of-the-art chandeliers where customers could choose from a menu including a 16oz Chateaubriand steak for £59.95 and pricey cocktails.
The restaurant urged diners to "leave the world behind and prepare to have your senses ignited" and in its time it attracted more famous faces such as Danielle Lloyd and brothers Ryan and Adam Thomas.
But despite Amanzi briefly flourishing and becoming popular with city footballers, boxers and telly stars, it closed toward the end of 2015.
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.
District House featured space for 600, seating for 400 and served food and drinks from morning through to the night.
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.
What do you miss most about the past? Attractions, lost venues or perhaps the way of life. Take a look at our nostalgia survey
At the time, Andy Duckworth from the company said: "We have had to make the decision to end our management of District House, we have had a great run and regret that we have had to take this action.
"As the management contract between ourselves and the lease holders for District House has come to an end, we cannot say whether the restaurant will be reopening in 2017.
"We have informed customers who are affected by the decision and are working with our friends in the hospitality industry to find suitable alternative venues."
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
Members of Liverpool council’s licensing authority sub-committee gave their approval to applicant Beauvoir Developments Limited to move ahead with proposals to bring a second branch of the US franchise to the city.
Join our Liverpool memories and history Facebook group here.
It was given the go-ahead despite concerns from ward members and residents and the venue has been granted permission to operate on Water Street from 11am to 1am Sunday to Thursday and until 2am on weekends.
Karl Barry, licensing consultant speaking on behalf of applicant Rachael Moss of Beauvoir, told the committee that the application was for a "fully fledged restaurant with bar" that would be "family orientated during the day" and would seek to attract more female customers.
He acknowledged that the application had been "controversial" but would represent a "prosperous business that will be beneficial to the area."
Speaking on behalf of residents who had sent written objections, Cllr Maria Toolan said the application would bring an "increase in crime and disorder" around Water Street, while Cllr Nick Small said situating the restaurant there was the wrong location and it would be better suited in Mathew Street, Concert Square or Victoria Street.
The committee also heard from residents in nearby properties who said they were “justifiably concerned” about noise levels rising and people concerned more with drinking than eating.
Merseyside Police did not object to the proposals.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
