#threshold14 // Venues We Love: Unit 51

Situated in the heart of the Baltic Triangle inside Baltic Creative, the unique office home of many local creative businesses is the much loved Unit 51. This café and cool meeting place makes the idea of being known by number rather than name a very good thing and with a range of quality breakfast and lunchtime treats and fine teas and coffee to keep the creativity flowing.  We asked Unit 51's Stella Franks about the excellent venue itself and the festival:

One / How did Unit 51 begin?

Unit 51 opened in November 2012, upon seeing the opportunity / space available at the Baltic Creative Campus, we instantly realised the potential for the site.  We knew the area had potential to house something different in Liverpool, an area that offered independent retailers and became a magnet for creatives.

Two / Threshold is an experience all of its own. What do you think makes Threshold such a potent experience?

Threshold has this energy behind it, because Chris and Kaya have the resources, network links and the experience behind them, the final result is something amazing.   I think the love their city and the festival itself, really reflects in their work, hats off to those guys.

Three / You've been involved since 2013's edition of the festival. What have been your highlights?

Last year we were the hub for the Threshold team and the area for purchasing the wristbands, we enjoyed even the buzz this created alone, we are so honoured to be having the performances at Unit 51 this year, this is like, very big for us!!!  We finished work last year and headed over the other venues and danced the night away, this year we will be revelling in our own place, feeling very proud to be part of the best event we could possibly be involved in.

Four / There is an obvious love for music and art in the cafe. What other events have been held in the venue?

We have Hope University displaying some amazing work in April, we invite people to show their work where  possible, it's a great place for creatives to start showing their work.  Last summer, Thom Morecroft hosted some fabulous acoustic nights, Thom is playing at district for Threshold, he is an outstanding performer and knows how to woo the audience.  Unit 51 hosted the Food for Real Film Festival late last year, networking events, summer late opening with wine and tapas.

Five / How would you describe Unit 51 in five words?

Atmospheric, Creative, Community, GoodFood (all one word), Coffee

Throughout the festival Unit 51 and the Baltic Creative Campus  will be a hub of activity and will include all of the below:

Friday: Threshold presents: The Wild Eyes with Hey Bulldog, The Jackobins, Fidel Afro, Henry Pulp (Hosted by Greedy Jesus)

Saturday: Soul Inspired Events feat Harleighblu, DJ 2KIND, Jay Alexzander, Judith Ude
Tyler Mensah, Rawschac, Little Grace, Lauren Housley

Industry Talks & Panels:

Beneath The Beat Screening with Q&A

David Pattie: Kraftwerk

Audio Voyeur talks to Graham Massey & Paddy Steer

Science Grrl & Threshold presents: Science vs Art the Debate

Get Booked: Antipop & Liverpool Bands

Sunday: Farm Feast @ Threshold with Mellowtone feat The Southbound Attic Band
Beaten Tracks DJs, James Munro, One Arm Bandits, John McGrath, Ottersgear

Farm Feast @ Threshold with Dovedale Social feat Paul Straws
Marc Kenny, Mohebbi, The 69watts, Ed Poole, The Wretched Pearls

Threshold presents Robert Vincent & Friends feat Dominic Dunn

Niamh Jones, The Ragamuffins, Joe Symes & The Loving Kind, Anna Corcoran

Words and interview by Sebastian Gahan. Image by Scattershot Photography.