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In its heyday, Garlands was considered one of the UK’s greatest gay clubs. It launched on Liverpool’s Eberle Street in 1993 and as the first queer venue to obtain a 6am license, it was a game-changer. Seven years after it opened, Garlands’ legendary parties spilled out onto the River Mersey.
It’s been 25 years since Garlands threw its first ‘Fairies Across the Mersey’ party on board the Royal Daffodil. It continued to to host its boat raves throughout the 2000s with different themes like ‘Ibiza White Party’ or ‘The Captain’s Cabin’. During the party, guests would be informed of the secret location of the after-party, which would keep the sesh going into the early hours of the morning. At the time, MixMag described the cruise as being ‘like some surreal disco roller coaster’.
The last time Garlands took to the water was in 2011. But for Liverpool Pride weekend 2026, it’s making a comeback. ‘Fairies On the Mersey’ is happening on the Daffodil on July 25.
The event is being led by John Lynch, who played a major part in the Garlands’ production, concepts, and overall creative direction, alongside Craig Cavanagh, a hospitality titan in Liverpool who began his career at the club, and Philip Olivier, who runs the Daffodil.
In a statement, Garland’s said: ‘For over two decades, Garlands has been Liverpool's original home of self-expression - the place where you could always be exactly who you are, surrounded by people who get it. The best crowd in the city, hands down.
‘Expect a night of the best funky house and house classics, the kind of music that takes you right back to when you were dancing on the Mersey with your people. This is what Garlands does best, and it's been too long coming.’
Garlands’ permanent venue shut for good in 2019 and, unfortunately, there’s no sign of that returning. Its former home on Eberle Street has been taken over by new ownership several times. It’s now home to Elysium, but that has also been shut for an extensive period of time following a fire.
You can join the waiting list for Garlands Fairies On the Mersey here.
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