John Stone and Shiverpool
What is your business?
Shiverpool is a nationally acclaimed, Liverpool-owned attraction that specialises in delivering reenactments of truly grisly, terrifying and hugely entertaining accounts of Liverpool’s past. Whether the tales are told in the graveyard of the Anglican cathedral or on the corner of the Sweeting Street, Shiverpool’s mix of dark humour and street theatre provide the perfect way to see the city and be scared at the same time. Based at the Albert Dock, we currently run 2 tours, the Hope Street Shivers and the Auld City Shivers, which is based in and around the business part of the city. We also provide corporate hospitality and team building services – there’s nothing better than being scared for bringing a team closer together!
Why did you start it?
I have always had a passion to start my own company and previous jobs enabled me to see how much hard work you have to be put in to achieve your goals. After a few trips to Edinburgh and York, I was given a sample of the ghost tours they offer. It was then that I realised there was a huge gap in the North West for a similar offering and so, the Shiverpool Ghost Tours were launched in 2005. I set the company up alongside my sister Alex who had recently finished a literature degree. We had the perfect combination of skills and a real passion for making our business succeed in the run up to 2008.
What makes you unique?
Shiverpool is the only ghost tour in the North West to have been fully endorsed by both the Culture Company and The Mersey Partnership. We are not just about telling spooky stories either. The recently launched Auld City Tour caters for corporate events and hospitality. It truly is a night out both staff and colleagues will remember for a long time. The Auld City Tour can cater for up to forty people and the likes of Sirolli North Liverpool and MSIF have recently enjoyed “one of their best nights out”.
We also work very closely with acting graduates who come on board to work with us, giving them some much needed experience within the acting field.
You will have to go on the tour to realize how unique we really are! We dare you!
What did you do before?
My background before Shiverpool was quite diverse. I was heavily involved with direct sales which have given me the ability to look for opportunities. In addition, I also gained experience in the strategic development of a national charity that supported local social entrepreneur initiatives. My background has worked tremendously well for me and with my sister Alex’s skills in creative writing and local history; you could say Shiverpool was a match made heaven, but we prefer saying hell.
What are your plans to make the most of Capital of Culture?
Shiverpool will be offering a full spectrum of tours for everyone who either lives in the city, or is visiting. Obviously we will be continuing with the Hope Street Shivers and Auld City tours, but there will be more tours coming on board later this year. This city has so much heritage and history that we can develop key stage activities that will be extremely interesting yet fun. To date, we have taken over 25,000 people on our tours and this year alone we have seen more than a 20% increase in demand.
Not only that, but we plan to make this years Halloween Shiverpool’s best ever. We will be celebrating our 3rd birthday and have had a number of corporate bookings already – I wonder if these people realize what they have let themselves in for!
Do you have any tips?
To follow your dreams, no matter how dark they are! To have a belief in what you want to achieve and do everything that you can to turn it into fruition.
Shiverpool invite you to ‘scare a friend for free.’ Simply quote the reference ‘My Auld City & 08 businessconnect’ when buying for two people, the third can be scared at no extra cost.
Contact Shiverpool on 0151-709-2030 Email: bookings@shiverpool.co.uk
