Cavern Club Queue Question

[Maplemoose]

My only experience with the Cavern Club/Beatles was on the Epic. The process there was to go maybe 45 minutes ahead of show, get a seat and sip on a drink or 2 while waiting. From what I have seen/read it appears to me that on the Joy, there ars actually long lines of people standing well before the show. So my question for those who have been there lately is: When can you actually claim a table and when does the bar open? It would only make sense that they would open the bar and tables when people started arriving. Staff shortage? Other bars don't just open when there is a show going on for the most part. These 1960's legs aren't much good standing for a long period these days. 😞

[Bronx12]

Following. We are on Joy in September and we were wondering the same thing 🙂

 

[Hmmcminn]

I was just on the Joy in August.  Yes people line up early.  We usually got in line 45 minutes before the show.  They open the doors 30 minutes early.  So we were only in line for about 15 minutes.  The bar is open once the doors open, so you can get drinks while you wait.   I would not recommend cutting it much closer than 45 minutes before showtime.  The first show we attended, my parents were the last to get seats and we stood in the back.
 

Another thing you should know is that cavern club on the Joy is very, very small.  It seemed smaller than the one on the Encore to me.  And they rearrange the seats into rows in front of the stage instead of leaving the tables and having people sit in small groups like on the Encore.  In the end, I didn’t mind this too much because even though they pack you in really tight, you don’t have the problem of people without seats getting up and dancing right up in front of the stage to block your view like happened a lot in the Encore.

[Maplemoose]

What about between shows? Do they empty out the place and close the bar?  Are there already people lined up for the 2nd show? 

[rj59]

I got there 45 minutes early or so on Joy, but the time before that just stood in the crowd in the back. You can also hear the show by standing outside on the Oceanfront with a drink. If you don't want to do that, they usually do a mainstage show, which is more entertaining, because from farther away it's easier to preserve the illusion of them being the Beatles, and they have interesting videos going on behind. 

[podgeandrodge]

On 8/23/2023 at 1:01 AM, Hmmcminn said:

Another thing you should know is that cavern club on the Joy is very, very small.  It seemed smaller than the one on the Encore to me.  

I was on the Joy recently and agree - Cavern Club far too small.  Does anyone know how it compares to the Bliss?

[Wayward Son]

On 8/22/2023 at 7:01 PM, Hmmcminn said:

you don’t have the problem of people without seats getting up and dancing right up in front of the stage to block your view like happened a lot in the Encore.

 

This has certainly changed. In April, no one was allowed to stand (or dance) in front of the stage. If you blocked the view, you were quickly addressed by staff.

 

[BirdTravels]

4 hours ago, podgeandrodge said:

I was on the Joy recently and agree - Cavern Club far too small.  Does anyone know how it compares to the Bliss?

Similar. That’s why the Beatles group plays in the 900 seat main theater during the week. The Cavern club seats 150. 

[ChiefMateJRK]

11 hours ago, podgeandrodge said:

I was on the Joy recently and agree - Cavern Club far too small.  Does anyone know how it compares to the Bliss?

Bliss is better.  Joy is long and narrow with the stage at one end.  Bliss is wide and shallow, but easier to see the stage from anywhere.

[Raleigh Traveler]

On the Joy a year ago. Line started 45-60 minutes before the first show. It is small but then makes for a great show. There is a bar just outside on the Waterfront and they pipe the music through their speakers and on the screen behind the bar. Not sure when they started lining up for the second show but people started coming in immediately as our show ended.