Tobacco Warehouse

Built in 1898-1901 and designed by architect A. G. Lyster, Tobacco Warehouse is the world’s largest brick built warehouse, standing quayside at Stanley Dock, Liverpool, opposite the smaller North Warehouse, now home to the award winning Titanic Hotel.

Stanley Dock, 21a Regent Road Stanley, Liverpool L3 0BA

Wednesday - Sunday 10am - 6pm

Designed by Jesse Hartley and opened in 4thAugust 1848, Stanley Dock is the only inland Liverpool dock, with others being built on the foreshore. Between 1715 and 1929 forty-two docks were built in Liverpool, which made it the second largest port in the UK and one of the busiest in the world.

The cultural influences that the port brought to Liverpool have helped shape it, socially, artistically and architecturally: the unique and large dimensions of Tobacco Warehouse were dictated by the vast size of the tobacco bails it was built to house, creating 1.6 million sq ft (148,644 sq m) of space.

Tobacco Warehouse is currently being restored and sympathetically converted to provide 550 large Manhattan loft style apartments, including penthouses, and 100,000 sq.ft. of dock level commercial space and lifestyle amenities. The first residents moved in in October 2021.

Access provision at this venue:

Wheelchair accessible
Gender Neutral Toilets
Parking: Although Tobacco Warehouse does not have a dedicated parking area, parking is available at the carpark located on the corner of Walter Street and Great Howard Street, adjoining Stanley Dock. Visitors are kindly asked not to park on-street or on site as a courtesy to local residents.

Please note that there are no refreshments at Tobacco Warehouse itself. Visitors are advised to bring a refillable water bottle and our Front of House team will be happy to refill bottles with fresh water. For other refreshments, Titanic Hotel and Caffé Riccardo are located nearby for hot and cold beverages and light snacks.

Entrance to Tobacco Warehouse:

The entrance to Tobacco Warehouse is located along Regent Road, just before the grey bridge. Continue past the main parking area with turreted gates and further down the road. The entrance to the venue is a indicated by a large Biennial sign.

Stanley Dock, 21a Regent Road Stanley, Liverpool L3 0BA

Artists showing here

Liverpool Biennial · We Are The Seeds

Meditative Audio Guide: 'We Are The Seeds'

This meditation responds to the theme of growth in Binta Diaw’s Chorus of Soil. It explores the concept of post-traumatic growth and how some people can experience positive psychological change as a result of struggle. It acknowledges the trauma referenced in Diaw’s artwork and focuses on the themes of repair, healing and care. The title of this meditation relates to the idea that those who have suffered immensely can experience new life and bear the fruits of justice later.

Liverpool Biennial · Noli Timere; Don't Be Afraid

Meditative Audio Guide: 'Noli Timere; Don't Be Afraid'

Noli Timere is Latin for ‘do not be afraid’. In this audio audiences are encouraged to not be afraid when grieving. Grief can evoke a range of emotions in us, including the fear of never getting over the loss, which can make our struggle harder. Inspired by the theme of loss in Isa do Rosário’s Dança com a Morte no Atlântico, this meditation reflects on the universal experience of grief and how it connects us all.

Liverpool Biennial · Healing

Meditative Audio Guide: 'Healing'

The theme of healing is interwoven throughout artworks at Tobacco Warehouse and Cotton Exchange. In this meditation listeners are invited to reflect on how kindness and compassion helps us to heal.
The care shown to us from loved ones aids our healing journey, but
self- kindness is just as important, if not more so.
Many of us may struggle with the notion of self-compassion and the reasons for this are explored in this audio.

Liverpool Biennial · The Body Remembers

Meditative Audio Guide: 'The Body Remembers'

Several artworks included in Liverpool Biennial highlight the effects of colonialism on the descendants of people who were enslaved.
They acknowledge the trauma Black bodies have experienced and continue to experience – contemplating the effect on people’s mental and physical health today. This meditation explores the relationship between the body and stress, and how movement is medicine when it comes to processing difficult and challenging emotions.

Liverpool Biennial · Mindful Walking In The City

Meditative Audio Guide: 'Mindful Walking In The City'

Mindfulness is a technique that has been proven to improve our mental wellbeing. This audio recording is an opportunity for you to enjoy a more mindful experience of the Biennial, whether that’s engaging with an artwork or simply walking from one venue to another.

Liverpool Biennial · Slow Looking At Art

Meditative Audio Guide: 'Slow Looking At Art'

Mindfulness is a technique that has been proven to improve our mental wellbeing. This audio recording is an invitation to look more slowly and consciously as a way to enjoy a more mindful experience when engaging with artworks across the Biennial.

Tobacco Warehouse

Access provision at this venue:

Entrance to Tobacco Warehouse: